The Philadelphia Eagles aren't hiding what they value at this time of year. If there's one theme that continues to surface as the NFL Draft approaches, it's the organization's ongoing commitment to strengthening the trenches. More specifically, the long-term conversation about replacing Lane Johnson refuses to go away.
That brings us to an interesting name entering the discussion. According to Saints Wire’s Arye Pulli, Missouri offensive tackle Keagen Trost recently held a virtual meeting with several teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles. It's another sign the Eagles are doing their due diligence on a deep offensive line class. At first glance, Trost's profile raises eyebrows for one reason. He's 25 years old. For some, that immediately sparks memories of a past decision (Danny Watkins) that didn't quite pan out.
But the landscape has changed. The NIL era has created a new wave of older prospects entering the draft, and teams are adjusting their evaluations accordingly. More importantly, Trost's resume speaks for itself.
The former Missouri Tigers standout earned First-Team All-American honors and posted a staggering 92.4 Pro Football Focus grade last season, ranking first among hundreds of collegiate tackles. Even more impressive, he allowed just one sack across 834 snaps. That level of consistency doesn't happen by accident. He may currently project as a Day 3 selection, but players with that kind of production and experience tend to outperform their draft slot more often than not. For the Eagles, this is about more than just adding depth. It's about building for what's next.
They don't need to rush a successor to Johnson onto the field immediately, but identifying the right prospect now allows them to develop that player properly. Whether Trost becomes that answer remains to be seen, but the interest itself tells you everything you need to know. Philadelphia is already thinking about the future, and as history has shown, that’s usually when they make their best decisions.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles had a predraft meeting with offensive tackle Keagen Trost