Eagles Draft Standout Cornerback in First Mel Kiper Mock Draft

Mel Kiper’s Debut Mock Draft Has the Eagles Adding to Their Secondary

It is officially the offseason in Philadelphia, following the Eagles’ disappointing conclusion to the 2025 season. This means it’s time for the Eagles to shift their focus to free agency and the NFL draft. With the 23rd pick in the first round, the Eagles’ draft could start multiple different ways. The team could decide to reinforce their offensive line depth or look for their offensive tackle of the future. With Dallas Goedert likely to depart in free agency, the Eagles could target a tight end like Kenyon Sadiq. They could also look to draft a wide receiver if they end up trading A.J. Brown. In Mel Kiper’s debut mock draft, he predicts the Eagles will add to their secondary.

Eagles Add Another First-Round Cornerback

The Eagles broke tradition in the 2024 draft when they selected Quinyon Mitchell in the first round. It was the first time in over 20 years that the Eagles had done that with their first-round pick. This may be the new norm in Philadelphia, though.

With the 23rd pick, Kiper predicts that the Eagles draft cornerback Avieon Terrell from Clemson University:

“Philadelphia could go a lot of directions, especially if it moves on from wide receiver A.J. Brown this offseason. But one spot that has received a lot of attention is actually on defense. The Eagles tried to fix the CB2 position opposite Quinyon Mitchell (Cooper DeJean is in the slot) with trades for Jaire Alexander and Michael Carter II, but neither move did the trick. Carter barely played down the stretch, and Alexander stepped away from football in mid-November.

Terrell, though, would be a reliable answer. He broke up nine passes and forced five — yes, five — fumbles in 2025. He’s terrific in man coverage, and coordinator Vic Fangio had his defense in man 55% of the time this season, third most in the NFL.”

Eagles Draft Ensures Elite Secondary

While they already have two elite corners in Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, the Eagles’ secondary would reach new heights by adding Terrell. The younger brother of Atlanta Falcons star cornerback A.J. Terrell, he has experience and a lot of production in college. He has 31 starts under his belt in three seasons at Clemson, and started every game in the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

Obviously, DeJean and Mitchell are excellent players, and this may not seem like much of a position of need based solely on them. That does not consider the Eagles’ lack of an answer on the outside opposite of Mitchell, though. Adoree Jackson eventually settled in nicely for the Eagles in 2025. He is a free agent, though, and is far from a long-term solution. The other cornerbacks on the roster going into next season leave a lot to be desired as well. Jakorian Bennett and Kelee Ringo struggled mightily in limited opportunities. On the rare occasions opposing teams had consistent success against the Eagles, they often attacked the weaker cornerback.

This would allow the Eagles to find a long-term fix to one of their Achilles heels. Terrell would be a day one starter, giving the Eagles the best young group of cornerbacks in the NFL.