Eagles at Pick 23: Stop Dreaming About Lane Johnson's Replacement and Draft a Starter
Drafting Lane Johnson's heir apparent at pick 23 sounds great in theory. In reality, it's one of the dumbest things the Eagles could do this April.
Eagles at Pick 23: Stop Dreaming About Lane Johnson's Replacement and Draft a Starter
Every year around combine time, Eagles fans start dreaming about the perfect draft. This year's fantasy? Take an offensive tackle at 23 to be Lane Johnson's heir apparent.
It sounds logical. Johnson is 36. He can't play forever. Get ahead of it.
Except it's not logical at all. It might be the worst use of a first-round pick the Eagles could make this April.
The Math Doesn't Work
Lane Johnson was the FOURTH overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. Fourth. You don't replace a Hall of Fame-caliber player taken at 4 with a guy picked at 23 — especially not in a draft class where there are maybe 12-13 legitimate first-round talents.
By the time pick 23 rolls around, you're not getting a franchise left tackle. You're getting a second-round talent who got bumped up because of team needs. The chances of landing another Quinyon Mitchell or Cooper DeJean at 23? A million to one. You're more likely to end up with another Sydney Brown or Nolan Smith — guys who flash but don't change your franchise trajectory.
Draft for Today, Not Tomorrow
The Eagles are installing a brand-new offensive scheme. They have holes at multiple positions. Jaelan Phillips might walk in free agency. The secondary needs depth. And you want to use your first-round pick on a guy who's going to sit on the bench behind Lane Johnson?
Or worse — you draft a tackle, move him to guard, and suddenly Tyler Steen's third-round investment is a bust. Now you've got two third-round picks (Steen and Sydney Brown) collecting dust on the bench while your first-round rookie plays out of position. That's not team-building. That's creating problems.
The smart play is drafting someone who starts Day 1. An edge rusher. A defensive playmaker. Someone who fills a hole that exists RIGHT NOW, not one that might exist in two years.
Steen Fits the New Offense
Here's something nobody's talking about: Tyler Steen might actually be a perfect fit for the Eagles' new scheme. He's athletic, he can get to the perimeter, and outside zone concepts play to his strengths more than the power scheme he was stuck in.
If you believe in your new offensive identity — and the Eagles better, because they just blew up everything to install it — then Steen at right guard makes sense. He's a starter. He's under a cheap contract. And he showed enough last year to earn another shot.
The Bottom Line
Nick Sirianni might not be here in two years. The new offense might look completely different by then. Draft picks should be about winning NOW. With only 12-13 true first-round talents in this class, every pick is precious.
Don't waste pick 23 on a developmental tackle when there are starters to be found. Johnson's replacement can come in next year's draft, or the year after. This year, fill the holes that actually exist. The Eagles need impact players, not insurance policies.
Enjoying this article?
JAKIB members get premium articles, ad-free shows, exclusive content, and community access. Starting at $4.99/mo.
The JAKIB Staff
AI-powered content assistant for JAKIB Sports. Articles generated from show transcripts and Eagles coverage.
Related Articles
Eagles' Edge Rusher Problem Is Bigger Than the Draft Can Fix
Eagles' Edge Rusher Problem Is Bigger Than the Draft Can Fix
Jonathan Grenard's trade window is open. Nolan Smith's ceiling remains a question mark. And the Eagles are heading into the draft hoping one pick can solve a pass rush that ranked among the league's worst in pressure rate last season.
The AJ Brown Trade Is Coming. The Only Question Is When.
The AJ Brown Trade Is Coming. The Only Question Is When.
People around the league have stopped asking if AJ Brown gets traded. They're asking when. The Eagles have the cap flexibility to move him before or after June 1 — and both options are on the table.
Eagles' Safest Draft Pick Has a Name Nobody Can Pronounce
Eagles' Safest Draft Pick Has a Name Nobody Can Pronounce
With 16 days until the draft and Jeff Stoutland gone, the Eagles need an offensive lineman they can plug in immediately. One Penn State prospect checks every box — and his name is giving everyone fits.
Is Saquon Barkley a Hall of Famer? Not Yet — But He Will Be
Is Saquon Barkley a Hall of Famer? Not Yet — But He Will Be
Will Saquon Barkley make the Hall of Fame? Yes. Should he based on what he's done? Not yet. The most honest assessment of his career breaks down the Giants years vs. the Eagles transformation.
Jalen Carter's Shoulder Issues Could Derail His Massive Extension
Jalen Carter's Shoulder Issues Could Derail His Massive Extension
Jalen Carter ranked 115th of 130 in run defense last season because he couldn't lift weights due to chronic shoulder pain. Now his contract extension talks just got a lot more complicated.
The Eagles Have 9 Picks and a Masterplan: Inside Howie Roseman's Reload Blueprint
The Eagles Have 9 Picks and a Masterplan: Inside Howie Roseman's Reload Blueprint
With nine draft picks, key free agency additions on prove-it deals, and the A.J. Brown question looming, Howie Roseman is executing one of the most calculated roster reloads in recent Eagles history. Here's how every piece fits together.