The Philadelphia Eagles came out of the 2022 NFL draft with two extremely talented Georgia Bulldogs in Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean. They must have liked what they saw from them as they drafted two more Georgia defenders in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Thursday night.
Philadelphia’s defense was already historically good last season. The Eagles finished with 70 sacks combined in the regular season and postseason, which was second in NFL history behind the 1984 Chicago Bears.
Some would assume that means that the defense is solidified and they would add offensive weapons early in the draft. That was not the case, as they moved up to No. 9 to select Georgia star defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
Jalen Carter to the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 9. 🏈#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/gOfFzQMxkL
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 28, 2023
They followed that up later in the first round by adding Georgia defensive end Nolan Smith with the No. 31 pick in the first round (after a long Dude Perfect skit).
Donna Kelce and Dude Perfect announce the Eagles' pick (with a skit included), for some reason. 🏈📺 #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/3qcVy0SLET
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 28, 2023
Four Georgia players in the last two drafts certainly shows that general manager Howie Roseman likes what head coach Kirby Smart has going on with his program.
Many around the NFL world agreed with and praised Roseman and the Eagles organization for these selections.
Howie Roseman when another stud Georgia defender falls to the Eagles pick pic.twitter.com/sp0dAILAvF
— FantasyPros (@FantasyPros) April 28, 2023
Eagles draft Another Georgia defender, this time edge rusher Nolan Smith. He now joins Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean, four college teammates reunited in Philadelphia.
Georgia has become the Eagles’ unofficial training ground.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 28, 2023
Howie Roseman drafting Georgia defensive players every year: pic.twitter.com/wig2RCaEoj
— Kendall Beck (@KBeckEagles) April 28, 2023
Leaving the draft with Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith is incredible.
The Eagles have re-built the 2021 Georgia defense. pic.twitter.com/5ZOOQb7zLG
— Brenden Deeg (@BrendenDeeg_) April 28, 2023
You get another Georgia Bulldog!
Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Nolan Smith, Nakobe Dean on Eagles
Eagles are Georgia on defense. Alabama on offense pic.twitter.com/lDzdnW9mXx
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) April 28, 2023
The #Eagles are re-creating the Georgia defense in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/JI85z9YCwp
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 28, 2023
THE EAGLES HAVE BECOME GEORGIA 2.0!!!
NOLAN SMITH TO PHILLY!!
THE DAWGS GIVE ANOTHER PLAYER and LEADER TO THE NFL IN THE 1ST ROUND!!!#GoDawgs #DawgsInTheNFL 🏆🏆#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/tKMlpqKGDv
— Nate 🐶🏈 (@NateDawgUga) April 28, 2023
The Eagles becoming “Georgia 2.0” certainly seems like a winning strategy to add to an already elite defense.
The Georgia Bulldogs’ defense over the past two years was the biggest factor in the program winning back-to-back National Championships. Each player taken by the Eagles over the past two drafts from Georgia were integral pieces of those teams.
There are still rounds 2-7 remaining in the draft, but it already seems hard to say that any team did better in the draft than the Philadelphia Eagles.
[Awful Announcing on Twitter] Photo Credit: ESPN