Eagles' Top 2024 NFL Draft Targets to Benefit Jalen Hurts

The 2024 season is a crucial one for Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles. Hurts found out firsthand the pressure and responsibility that comes with being a franchise quarterback with a huge contract.

His production took a clear step backward from the 2022 campaign that preceded his five-year, $255 million extension. He threw more than twice as many interceptions (15 after throwing six in 2022) and saw his QBR dip from 68.3 to 60.1.

The Eagles have done their best to beef up the offense this offseason with the resources they've had. The big move was adding Saquon Barkley, but they also signed wide receivers DeVante Parker and Parris Campbell to smaller deals as well as veteran center Matt Hennessy.

The draft is where teams go to keep the cupboards full, though. If they want Jalen Hurts to get back to cooking in this offense, they have to continue to go out and re-stock the unit.

Here's a look at a few draft targets that could make that happen and help Hurts get back to elite play in 2024 and beyond.

Stealing this suggestion from the latest mock draft put together by the Bleacher Report Scouting Department. Their predictions include Georgia tackle Amarius Mims heading to Philly with the 22nd pick.

It's not a common selection in mocks, but it's still a logical one.

The Eagels have aggressively addressed needs in free agency to the point that they don't have many glaring weaknesses. They are free to take the best player available approach with their first selection.

Amarius Mims is a prodigiously talented blocker, but the biggest concern is that he only has eight collegiate starts. He's still a bit of a project with massive potential at this point.

We know the affinity the Eagles have for Georgia players. We also know that they have one of the best offensive line coaches in the game in Jeff Stoutland. Lane Johnson is 33 years old.

If the Eagles have an inclination that Johnson could be close to calling it a career, then Mims should be on their radar.

Selecting Mims in the first would be a win-win-win. Mims would find a home that could develop him at the right pace, the Eagles would have a clear succession plan for Johnson at right tackle and Jalen Hurts would continue to have one of the most talented offensive lines in football playing in front of him.

The addition of DeVante Parker and Parris Campbell means they don't have to add a No. 3 wide receiver right now. That's not a good enough reason to avoid drafting one, though.

The reality is that the Eagles are already paying A.J. Brown a lot of money. DeVonta Smith's fifth-year option decision is coming up after the draft. They are about to have an expensive tandem of receivers, assuming that they decide to keep them together.

That's going to create an annual need to find a cheap, but effective third receiver every year.

They could continue to go the veteran route, but the upside is limited and the fit is not guaranteed.

Or they could utilize a draft pick to bring in a dynamic rookie with a four-year contract that locks him in at a good price.

If they choose to go that route, Jalen McMillan would be a great pick. McMillan is already used to fitting in with two other talented receivers. He took a backseat to Rome Odunze and Ja'Lynn Polk in the Washington Huskies offense this season, playing in the slot to accommodate for them.

However, in 2022, he was the Huskies No. 2 option with Odunze leading the way and Polk serving as the third option. He led the team with 79 receptions and nine touchdowns but was second in yards with 1,098.

B/R scout Derrik Klassen is higher on the Husky than most.

"McMillan should contribute right away in the NFL. His well-rounded athletic profile, route-running chops and reliable hands will allow him to be productive from day one, both from the slot and outside," he noted in his scouting report.

That's the kind of versatile weapon that would pair well with Brown and Smith.

Even if the Eagles don't plan on investing a year early on a tackle they will need to consider drafting offensive line help. They did a good job of getting out ahead of Jason Kelce's retirement by draft Cam Jurgens who is a logical option to replace their longtime center.

However, it does leave the right guard position open with Tyler Steen as the potential starter there. The former Alabama tackle could be the answer, but he hasn't done enough to be an unchallenged starter there.

Instead, the Eagles should look to draft another prospect who could compete for the position.

Dominick Puni could be an option. The 6'5", 313-pound Jayhawk made starts at left tackle, left guard and right tackle in his collegiate career that started at Central Missouri before heading to Kansas.

B/R scout Brandon Thorn believes that Puni, "boasts the steer and sustain skills to compete and win a starting guard job within his first contract. He also has the ability to play tackle in a pinch."

That's a similar role to the one that Steen was drafted for, but competition will yield the best offensive line and the Eagles have to have an elite group if they want to maximize Hurts' abilities as a runner and passer.

Visit B/R's NFL Scouting Department hub for scouting reports on all of the top prospects.