One of the six deals on Saturday eventually enabled the Eagles to draft Jeremiah Trotter Jr., the son of the legendary Eagles linebacker by the same name, who starred for them two decades ago.
GRADES ARE IN:Eagles draft grades 2024: Analysis for every pick, including Jeremiah Trotter Jr TAKING A RISK:Eagles GM had NFL draft nailed.
Jeremiah Trotter Sr., a third-round pick of the Eagles in 1998, spent nine seasons spanning three stints with the Eagles, making the Pro Bowl four times.
155 to get Trotter Jr.
But the Eagles made perhaps their biggest splash, at least in the eyes of their fans, with the selection of Trotter Jr.
Trotter Jr, who said he’d love to wear his dad’s No.
Trotter Jr. had 88 tackles, 5.5 sacks and two INTs last season.
Incidentally, the 2025 fourth-round pick is the pick the Eagles traded to the Lions in return last year for running back D’Andre Swift.
PHILADELPHIA − In an attempt to capitalize on players who may have fallen outside of the top three rounds, the Eagles hoarded seven Day 3 picks for Rounds 4–7.
By then, they were trading seriously.
During the seven-round draft, the Eagles made nine trades overall. That’s the most since draft trades started being tracked in 1990, according to ESPN.
The Eagles were eventually able to select Jeremiah Trotter Jr. through one of the six deals that took place on Saturday. the renowned linebacker by the same name who played for the Eagles two decades ago, son of the legendary player. The younger Trotter, who was selected at No. in the fifth round, was also a linebacker. 155 in all, not including Clemson.
A comprehensive analysis of each pick, including Jeremiah Trotter Jr., is included in the Eagles draft grades for 2024.
TAKING A RISK: The Eagles general manager was well-prepared for the NFL draft. He then took a chance on a player who had “freaky tools in his body.”.
Being able to play for the same team as his father excites the younger Trotter, who grew up in Lumberton, New Jersey. For Jeremiah Trotter, Sr. was selected by the Eagles in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. During his three stints with the team, he played nine seasons and made four Pro Bowl appearances.
“It holds great significance,” the younger Trotter stated on Saturday. “I am aware of the kind of legacy he left behind with this organization, as well as the fans’ treatment of him and the coaches and players he worked with during his time with the Eagles. It would be a great honor to carry on that tradition and support the team in any way I can.
“Being a native of my hometown, the Eagles were my childhood favorite team. “.
To acquire two additional fourth-round picks on Friday night, the Eagles made three trades. Subsequently, the Eagles completed three trades in just the fourth round. No was sent by them. For a third-round pick in 2025, 120 went to Miami. Next, the Eagles dispatched No. 123 to Houston for the No. 127 and in 2025 a fifth-round pick. Next, the Eagles sent No. 132 and 210 to Detroit in exchange for the No. 164 and 201 in addition to a fourth-round selection in 2025.
With one remaining fourth-round pick, the Eagles selected Clemson running back Will Shipley at No. 127-87. Standing at five feet eleven inches and 206 pounds, Shipley is a logical depth choice behind Saquon Barkley and Kenny Gainwell. Shipley ran for 827 yards, gaining 5 points for each carry. Moreover, he had 244 receiving yards.
Four fifth-round picks were available to the Eagles following the fourth-round trades. First, they employed it at No. 152, on 5-9, 190-pound wide receiver Ainias Smith of Texas A&M, who is a projected slot receiver.
The Indianapolis Colts then acquired them in a trade up to No. For Trotter Jr., pay 155. The Eagles forfeited the No. To get him, use 164 and 201.
Eagles trades weren’t over yet. They did not send. 171 to the Jets in exchange for sixth-round picks 185 and 190, with No. 172-172. The 6-5, 310-pound guard Trevor Keegan of Michigan was the target of the Eagles with that pick. He played left guard for the national champion Wolverines last season, starting all 15 games.
No. 185, Johnny Wilson of Florida State, who is 6-6 and 231 pounds, is another wide receiver the Eagles have added to their roster. In 10 games during the previous season, he received 617 yards. No. In round six, the Eagles also selected N at 190. C. Dylan McMahon, a state center.
It’s interesting to note that the Eagles selected another center with the sixth overall pick (No. A 191. Jason Kelce was that pick, and he played for 13 seasons before he retired in March. It is likely that he will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
However, the Eagles’ choice of Trotter Jr. made perhaps the biggest impression, at least among their supporters.
The older Trotter, known by his nickname “The Axeman,” was an Eagles player from 1998 to 2001, then again in 2004 to 2006 and 2009. Trotter, Jr. earned four Pro Bowl selections, seven interceptions, eleven sacks, and six hundred and sixty-six tackles during his Eagle career.
Trotter Jr. expressed his desire to don his father’s No. 54, is not the same type of linebacker as his father who is heavier. More of a contemporary linebacker with the quickness to move from sideline to sideline, the younger Trotter described himself.
Trotter Jr. 88 tackles, five sacks, and two interceptions during the previous campaign.
“It’s just our body types and sizes,” said Trotter Jr. , who is 220 pounds, said about his father who played at 260 pounds. He engaged in the type of play where he was more up in the gaps, spiking gaps, really going downhill, and taking linemen out of the game.
“I like to run around and go sideline to sideline in today’s game. I have to be able to move around in space. That seems to be the main area where our games differ from one another. “.
In contrast, Smith finished the previous season with 53 receptions for 795 yards. As far as SEC players go, Smith is the only one who has ever recorded 2,000 yards receiving, 250 yards rushing, 250 yards in kick returns, and 250 yards in punt returns in a single season.
Shipley is recovering from a dislocated fibula sustained in the Gator Bowl. He claimed to be fully recovered.
Shipley added that he is a “huge Saquon fan” and that Barkley congratulated him on being drafted as soon as he reached out to him. Prepare to work. “.”.
“To share a backfield with all the great backs we have and learn from someone like Saquon, I could not be happier,” Shipley remarked.
Because his brother James plays lacrosse at the University of Pennsylvania, Shipley claimed he “couldn’t have been more ecstatic to be drafted by the Eagles.”.
With all of the trades, the Eagles were able to increase their 2025 selection total to three, one in the third, fourth, and fifth rounds. Notably, the Eagles sent running back D’Andre Swift to the Lions last season in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick.
Following the Eagles’ selections of cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in Rounds 1 and 2, respectively, general manager Howie Roseman used the selections to address other needs on the roster and add depth.
Subsequently, the Eagles took a chance in the third round when they selected edge rusher Jalyx Hunt, a former safety who played at Houston Christian and Cornell, far from the spotlight in college football.
With two wide receivers, two offensive linemen, and a running back, the Eagles selected five players overall; the other four were selected by the defense (two cornerbacks, a linebacker, and an edge rusher).
Roseman remarked, “We like the location of the draft on Saturday.”. “We anticipate having the chance to add some quality players in the fourth and fifth rounds. “.
By email at mfrank@delawareonline.com, you can reach Martin Frank. Adhere to X @Mfranknfl.
