NFL Draft 2018: Eagles Trade First Round Pick

ARLINGTON, TX — The Philadelphia Eagles defense of their Super Bowl championship began on Thursday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington at the NFL Draft.

However, fans will have to wait for any concrete returns from the draft as they traded their only first round pick, No. 32 overall, to the Baltimore Ravens.

Details of the swap, announced later Thursday night, included the Eagles sending the Ravens their fourth round pick (132 overall) for the Ravens' second round pick (52 overall), fourth round pick (125 overall), and the Ravens second round pick in 2019.

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The Eagles finished tied for the NFL's best regular season record last season at 13-3, and thus will select last in the first round of the draft. It has been suggested that the team will seek help at linebacker. Rumors have linked them to both offensive line prospects and a wide receiver ready to make an immediate impact.

It's not impossible the Eagles could make a trade or two in order to gain a higher pick, as Howie Roseman has shown a penchant for doing this in the past. One of the biggest questions will revolve around the man who led them to victory in the Super Bowl in February: Nick Foles. Does he remain in Philadelphia as a backup to Carson Wentz? Or will Roseman look to capitalize on Foles' value - it's never been higher - and trade him to a team that looks at him as a starter?

The NFL released the 2018 football schedules last week, revealing the Birds will kick off the season at home against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday Sept. 6.

Below is the full order of selections for the Eagles, who have six picks in this year's draft. After their first round pick they are not slated to draft again until the fourth, where they have two picks, and then once each in the fifth, sixth, and seventh rounds.

The draft was opening with one of the deepest quarterback classes in years, which is good news for the Cleveland Browns, who pick No. 1 overall and have had disaster after disaster “leading” their team to disappointing season after disappointing season. That left the only mystery as which quarterback they would choose.

Available:

• Sam Darnold, USC. 6-foot-3 3/8, 221 pounds.
• Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma. 6-0 3/4, 216 pounds.
• Josh Allen, Wyoming. 6-4 7/8, 237 pounds.
• Lamar Jackson, Louisville. 6-2 1/4, 216 pounds.
• Josh Rosen, UCLA. 6-4, 226 pounds.

With two-time Super Bowl Champion Eli Manning approaching the end of his career, the New York Giants could choose to select a quarterback as well.

The Browns also hold the No. 4 pick, leaving open the possibility they would eye a one-two offensive punch of their QB pick teamed with Penn State running back Saquon Barkley, considered by most the No. 1 backfield prospect.

A number of defensive standouts were on the top-picks list, too, which left teams jockeying to see who might land that game-changing pass rusher or shut-down defensive back.
After Thursday’s first round, the draft resumes Friday for rounds 2-3, and then again at noon on Saturday.

Here’s Sports Illustrated’s rundown of top overall players available on the board:

1. SAQUON BARKLEY, RB, PENN STATE

2. SAM DARNOLD, QB, USC

3. BRADLEY CHUBB, EDGE, NORTH CAROLINA STATE

4. QUENTON NELSON, G, NOTRE DAME

5. JOSH ALLEN, QB, WYOMING

6. MINKAH FITZPATRICK, S, ALABAMA

7. BAKER MAYFIELD, QB, OKLAHOMA

8. JOSH ROSEN, QB, UCLA

9. DENZEL WARD, CB, OHIO STATE

10. ROQUAN SMITH, STACK LB, GEORGIA

Here are the updated Eagles picks by round, pick and overall selection.

2-22-52

4-25-132

4-30-130

5-32-169

6-32-206

7-32-250

AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File