The Eagles must steer clear of these draft prospects following the 2024 NFL Combine at all costs.

Year after year, a familiar pattern emerges: mock drafts foresee the Philadelphia Eagles selecting a defensive back in the first round to bolster their secondary or provide a foundational piece for the team. Yet, time and again, this expectation fails to materialize.

Instead, the Eagles tend to opt for defensive or offensive linemen, occasionally adding a wide receiver in the first round for variation. Despite occasional interest in top defensive back prospects like Jaycee Horn, Patrick Surtain, Sauce Gardner, and Kyle Hamilton, the Eagles often veer in a different direction when it’s their turn to pick, as evidenced by their selection of Jordan Davis over Hamilton, who was subsequently chosen by the Baltimore Ravens.

It’s not a criticism of Jordan Davis’s selection; the Ravens likely would have taken him had the situation been reversed. Simply put, the Eagles have shown a tendency to prioritize other positions in the first round, with their last first-round defensive back selection being Lito Sheppard in 2002.

In essence, the message is clear: don’t be swayed by mock drafts suggesting the Eagles will choose a defensive back in the first round, as history indicates otherwise. However, there are exceptions, such as the 2022 NFL Draft, where the Eagles selected DeVonta Smith.

Among the defensive backs, Kamren Kinchens and Kool-Aid McKinstry are two names that should be avoided as potential first-round targets for the Eagles, based on recent evaluations from the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.