Philadelphia Eagles NFL Draft 2025 Positional Needs: Interior Defensive Line

Let’s talk about some Big Fellas.

While I have watched highlights from the Super Bowl every day since it happened, apparently a NEW season of football is still going to start in September. Before that can happen however, each team gets to select a number of former college standouts in the annual NFL Draft (April 24-April 26) which takes place in Green Bay, Wis. this year.

The Philadelphia Eagles will have the last pick in the first round, due to being the defending Super Bowl champs of course, and seven picks in rounds two through five, although Executive VP/GM/Wizard Howie Roseman has been known to make a deal or two on draft weekend.

2025 Picks:

1st round (PHI), No. 32
2nd round (PHI), No. 64
3rd round (PHI), No. 96
4th round (DET), No. 130
5th round (HOU), No. 161
5th round (CLE via DET), No. 164
5th round (WAS), No. 165
5th round (PHI), No. 168

2026 Picks:

1st round (PHI)
2nd round (PHI)
3rd round (PHI)
3rd round (NYJ)
4th round (PHI)
5th round (PHI)
5th round (HOU)
7th round (PHI)

four compensatory picks too (3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th rounds)

Potential Team Needs (2025 free agents in parentheses):

EDGE (Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham)
LB (Zack Baun, Oren Burks, Ben VanSumeren; Nakobe Dean FA in 26)
OG (Mekhi Becton, Fred Johnson)
OT (Jack Driscoll; Darian Kinnard, Brett Toth FAs in 26)
TE (C.J. Uzomah FA; Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcatarra, E.J. Jenkins FA in 26)
CB (Isaiah Rodgers, Avonte Maddox FA; Darius Slay, Tristin McCollum, Eli Ricks, James Bradberry FAs in 26)
RB (Kenneth Gainwell)
IDL (Milton Williams; Jordan Davis, Thomas Booker IV FAs in 26)

Now that a number of free agent decisions have been made, we have a better idea of what the Birds might do during the draft.

The Eagles lost: Sweat (Cardinals), Rodgers (Vikings), Gainwell (Steelers), Williams (Patriots), Slay (Steelers), Burks (Bengals), Becton (Chargers), Maddox (Lions), Johnson (Jaguars), Graham (FA), Bradberry (FA)

The Eagles retained: Baun, VanSumeren

Undecided: Uzomah, Driscoll

The Eagles signed free agents: LG Kenyon Green (Texans), EDGE Joshua Uche (Chiefs), RB A.J. Dillon (Packers), CB Adoree Jackson (Giants), LS Charley Hughlett (Browns), TE Harrison Bryant (Raiders), TE Kylen Granson (Colts), EDGE Patrick Johnson (Giants), PR/KR/WR/RB Avery WIlliams (Falcons), EDGE Azeez Ojulari (Giants)

It seemed unlikely that the Eagles would be able to offer Milton Williams the contract he wanted due to salary cap constraints and, well, he’s on the Patriots now. If I’m understanding the roster correctly, the Birds currently have two “defensive tackles” under contract: Jordan Davis and Byron Young.

Davis is obviously a burgeoning star while Young, who was picked up by Philadelphia last off-season after he was cut by the Raiders, spent most of last year on the injured reserve list and did not play a snap for the Birds. He was a third round pick out of Alabama in 2023, but he is the definition of Unproven Commodity. The Eagles could probably use another body or two at the position for, at minimum, some competition in training camp.

So, with that being said, let’s take a look at three potential run stuffers the Eagles could draft in April. (Age listed is “age on first day of the season.” Height and weight is as listed on NFL.com draft profile.)

Tyleik Williams, Ohio State, 6-foot-3, 334 pounds, senior, 22 years old

• extremely thick through the trunk, making him rather difficult to dislodge at the line of scrimmage by just one offensive lineman
• moves with the quickness of a much smaller player
• apparently he has short arms which will make it tough for him to strike first against lengthier guards
• 2024 accolades: Second Team All-Big Ten (coaches)
• 2024 stats: 46 tackles (16 solo), 8.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 pass defended
• Fun fact: made an All-Big Ten team each of his four years at OSU
• The Eagles should draft him in: 2nd round

Deone Walker, Kentucky, 6-foot-7, 331 pounds, junior, 21 years old

• absolutely massive human…just breathtakingly enormous
• showed flashes as a pass rusher in 2023, racking up 7.5 sacks, and often did well when kicked out over a tackle instead of in the A/B gaps
• did not have a particularly impressive NFL Combine, but you can’t teach size!
• not a three-down player and could stand to play meaner

Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

• 2024 accolades: Second Team All-SEC (AP), Third Team All-SEC (coaches, Phil Steele), Honorable Mention All-SEC (CFN)
• 2024 stats: 37 tackles (13 solo), 5.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 2 passes defended, 2 passes broken up
• Fun fact: after he’s done playing football, his dream job is to be in real estate
• The Eagles should draft him in: 3rd round

Joe Evans, UTSA, 6-foot-2, 323 pounds, sixth year senior, 24 years old

• played in only five games last year before suffering a season-ending knee injury
• did not participate in NFL Combine, but did get measured at UTSA Pro Day and performed 28 reps on the bench press (tied for second most of all DL at Combine)
• played at LSU for three years before transferring to UTSA
• can be overpowering at the point of attack and is also quick in short bursts
• if his medical report looks clean, I think that Evans can be a real steal late in the draft or as a free agent
• 2024 accolades: N/A
• 2023 accolades: Third Team All-AAC
• 2024 stats: 5 tackles (1 solo), 1.5 TFL, 1.0 sacks
• 2023 stats: 18 tackles (11 solo), 2.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks
• Fun fact: his cousin is Super Bowl Champion, and 10-year NFL vet, Doug Evans
• The Eagles should draft him in: 7th round/UDFA