EXCLUSIVE
Jason Kelce rocked an entire city when he decided to retire in early March.
The Philadelphia Eagles center called time on his Hall of Fame-worthy career after 13 illustrious seasons that included six postseason appearances, two Super Bowl appearances and a Lombardi Trophy.
5
꧂Beloved Kelce was one of the key leaders on the team♛ from the City of Brotherly Love and the organization now has a dilemma on their hands about what to do next.
Do they promote someone from within or do they look to fill the Kelce-sized hole in this month's NFL Draft?
If it's the latter, ESPN draft expert Matt Miller🙈 says there are two obvious choices in a draft class decidedly lacking in top-end center talent.
"It’s not a great center class this year, it’s really not," Miller exclusively told panalo88.net.
READ MORE NFL
💝"Jackson Powers-Johnson from Oregon might be a late first-round pick.
𒈔"After that it’s a lot of second-round picks, like Zach Frazier from West Virginia.
"He’s a lot like Jason Kelce🐭, he’s that undersized, super agile type player."
5
5
Oregon star Powers-Johnson has been one of the top center prospects in this year's class꧋ and is widely expected to be a late first-round pick or early second-round pick.
Most read in NFL
The 6ft 3in, 328 lbs offensive lineman won the Rimington Trophy as the nation's top center in 2023 and has the ability to play both center and guard in the pros.
ꦰIn three seasons at Oregon, Powers-Johnson allowed zero sacks, one quarterback hit and three quarterback hurries, but injuries have become a concern.
🤡He withdrew from the Senior Bowl following a hamstring injury and has suffered with groin and hip issues as well as multiple concussions over his career.
♛West Virginia’s Zach Frazier, meanwhile, has also had his own injury issues.
🦩Frazier suffered a fractured fibula in a November game against Baylor but is now thought to be fully recovered.
൩He has 3,200 career snaps, 542 of which came at left guard during the 2020 season.
🎉His versatility may prove attractive but it is at center where he has most impressed.
5
5
ಞIn 2023, Frazier allowed zero sacks and only six pressures while ranking 13th in pass-blocking efficiency.
Most mock drafts🌼 have the him pegged to go early in the second round.
However, according to Miller, the most likely outcome for the Eagles at center is to slide someone over who's already in their ranks.
𒁃"The great thing for Philly is they anticipated this really well," Miller told panalo88.net.
ꦬ"Two years ago they drafted Cam Jurgens from Nebraska.
ඣ"He played guard last year but he’s in waiting, so they’ll slide him over."
𒈔The Birds have eight picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, including the 22nd overall pick.
๊Whether they stay there on draft night remains to be seen as Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has a habit of making a ton of first round trades in the draft.
Roseman has moved out of the team's original first-round draft slot in five of the last six years, including each of the past three (WR DeVonta Smith in 2021, DT Jordan Davis in 2022, and DT Jalen Carter in 2023).
🎶As things stand the Eagles also currently hold the 53rd overall pick, which has unearthed some gems for them in the past.
Two-time Pro Bowl quarterback and NFL MVP runner-up Jalen Hurts🌠 was the No. 53 pick in the 2020 draft, while Philly has also used the same selection on Miles Sanders (2019), and their all-time leading rusher, LeSean McCoy (2009).
🍌The Eagles have already made a number of interesting roster moves this offseason following the retirement of Kelce and fellow franchise legend Fletcher Cox.
They released All-Pro safety Kevin Byard, who joined the Chicago Bears, before acquiring New York Giants superstar RB Saquon Barkley.
Read More on talkSPORT
🙈Bryce Huff, C.J. Gardner Johnson and former Steelers QB Kenny Pickett are other notable additions.
More recently Philly traded two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Haason Reddick to the New York Jets for a conditional 2023 third-round draft pick.
Topics