Brian Baldinger leans offensive line for the Eagles’ first pick at No. 23

“Neither of those guys would be projected to start, though through time, they could start for you,” Baldinger said. “You would be looking at Lane Johnson’s possible replacement in Lomu, but I don’t see lane’s possible replacement in this draft. I don’t think (Eagles’ general manager) Howe Roseman is going to sit still. The Eagles will probably lose A.J. Brown after June 1st. It looks like it. The Eagles will have two years to get A.J.’s money off the books. If you unload A.J., with a new offensive coordinator in Sean Mannion from the Green Bay system, which is very tight end-centric, maybe Howie makes a huge splash and goes after Kenyon Sadiq, the tight end out of Oregon.

“The Eagles don’t have tight end on contract for 2027. Why not help Jalen Hurts with a tight end that helps you in the middle of the field. Sadiq can go somewhere around 15. Some people have him higher. He had one great year of production. He could go somewhere between 15 to 20. Carolina is someplace where Sadiq can go. I can see them going tight end at 19. Look at Howie’s track record. My gut feeling says he will look at the trenches. Lane will be coming into his 14th year. Howie knows the Eagles have to start beginning on the offensive line.”

In general, Baldinger likes 6-foot-3 5/8, 316-pound Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge as a possible third-round pick and is someone Baldinger feels could start quickly in the NFL. Another interesting selection Baldinger likes is former Penn State quarterback Drew Allar. Allar has a plus arm, played in a pro system and would have a top five, maybe a top 10 arm in the NFL. With a year of quality coaching, Allar could develop into an NFL starter.

“There is a lot to like about Allar,” Baldinger said. “Another real steal for someone would be Josiah Trotter, who looks like his dad (former Eagle great Jeremiah Trotter). Josiah is a great kid, who has a great work ethic.”

Josiah Trotter, out of Missouri, is projected to be a second or third-round pick.

The NFL Combine scouting report says: “Ascending inside linebacker with NFL bloodlines and alpha energy. Trotter’s heavy hands allow him to fit and choke off gaps, but he’s inconsistent in doing so. Block collisions need to be balanced with efficient play-arounds to create more tackle tries. Pursuit speed to the flanks is average, but he is quick to cut and accelerate so he stays close to runs bouncing wide. He stacks backfield production with well-timed run blitzes and crafty rush work. Coverage is the concern, with spotty zone awareness/spacing and the risk of being mismatched in man. Trotter’s wiring and disruptive qualities make him easy to project as a productive, long-time starter in the middle but a defense might need to protect him in coverage.”