Philadelphia Eagles‘ six-time All-Pro and future Hall of Fame center Jason Kelce may have played his last NFL game in the wake of the Eagles’ playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Who could replace him at the fulcrum of Philadelphia’s line?
Eagles Potential Replacements for Jason Kelce in 2024 NFL Draft
After a 32-9 Wild Card round loss to the Buccaneers, Kelce appeared to be visibly emotional on the sidelines. Later, NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that after the game, Kelce had told his teammates in the locker room that he planned to retire.
The news isn’t unexpected, as Kelce just finished his age-36 season. But it isn’t any less shocking, given that he has been a fixture of the entire NFL for over a decade.
Kelce, a sixth-round pick in 2011, has been one of the league’s best centers for almost the entirety of his career, and he never experienced a drop-off in play. In fact, in 2023, he earned his sixth All-Pro bid and seventh Pro Bowl selection.
Crushing losses make up the most recent portion of Kelce’s postseason career, but he won’t leave the NFL empty-handed. He won a Super Bowl ring in 2017, when the Doug Pederson-led Eagles beat Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the final game.
With his combined athleticism, intelligence, power, tenacity, and passion for the game, Kelce was a revelation for the Eagles. It’ll be difficult to replace him, but Philadelphia has three picks in the first two rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft to work with. Who might be able to fill his shoes?
Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon
Jackson Powers-Johnson is my top pure center in the 2024 NFL Draft. He’ll be just 21 years old as a rookie, and there’s a chance the 2023 Rimington Award winner could lock down Philadelphia’s center spot for a decade-plus, just like Kelce did.
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At 6’3″, 320 pounds, Powers-Johnson is a stellar athlete and a swift mover in space, who doubles as an elite power and torque generator at the point of attack. And for his age, he’s impressively quick to react, synergetic, well-leveraged, and calculated with his hands.
Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia
If the Eagles want to bank on pure upside and physicality with their next center, Sedrick Van Pran makes a ton of sense. Van Pran has experience regardless, but he’s arguably the most explosive prospect at his position, and he’s an absolute finisher in space.
Even with his experience, Van Pran still has trouble managing his pad level and absorbing power at times. But he’d be an integral run-blocking presence right away in Philadelphia, with the stout frame, play strength, and alertness to improve in pass protection.
Zach Frazier, West Virginia
If the Eagles want someone who can mirror Kelce’s elite athleticism, range, and drive as a space blocker, Powers-Johnson and Van Pran might be preferable. But if they want someone who can take the reins without breaking stride as a high-IQ starter, Zach Frazier has merit.
Frazier has enough athleticism and flexibility to work with as an interior gap blocker, but it’s his angle IQ, awareness, and assignment-sound nature that makes him so compelling as a center prospect.
Graham Barton, Duke
Graham Barton isn’t a pure center prospect — he’s more of a hybrid offensive lineman with all-encompassing positional versatility — but he does have pre-existing center experience from his early days at Duke.
Barton would probably be the most expensive option of this group, given his versatility. If the Eagles zero in on him, they won’t want to risk letting him fall out of Round 1. But that cost is offset by Barton’s high-end tools and his picture-perfect fit in Philadelphia’s run scheme.
Barton is one of the best moving blockers in the 2024 NFL Draft class with his instant explosiveness, high-energy athleticism, elite power drive, and gnawing physicality. In pass protection, Barton also has the combative hands and recovery athleticism to hold strong.
Eagles’ Best Option Could Already Be on the Roster
The Eagles have options at center in the 2024 NFL Draft, but Philadelphia’s top option to replace Kelce could already be on the roster.
When Cam Jurgens was drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, he was tabbed by many as Kelce’s eventual successor. In college at Nebraska, Jurgens was a full-time, multi-year starter at center, who excelled in space with his athleticism at 6’3″, 290 pounds.
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However, when the Eagles lost Isaac Seumalo in the 2023 offseason, positional need forced Jurgens to slide to right guard. Jurgens’ stint at guard came with its ups and downs, but Kelce’s retirement could give him an opportunity to return to his more natural position.
In the 2022 draft cycle, Jurgens was my second-ranked center prospect behind Ravens first-round pick Tyler Linderbaum, and he profiled well as Kelce’s successor. Here’s what I had to say about Jurgens in his 2022 scouting report:
“Jurgens stands out with his athleticism. He moves well in space, but he also has the short-range athleticism to recover and match blockers on the interior. Jurgens generally plays with good knee bend and pad level and has enough density to absorb power in certain settings. He’s also violent with his hands and can time his extensions properly.
“Jurgens brings a lot of positive qualities — chief among them is his athleticism, natural leverage, and physical edge. Jurgens at least holds up in pass protection, but he may need to get stronger in order to be a high-level starter at the next level.
“As of now, Jurgens fits best in zone schemes, where he’ll be able to get out in space more and attack mismatches with linebackers at the second level. For scheme fits, he could be worth a top 100 pick.”
If the Eagles move Jurgens to center, they’ll need to find a starter at right guard. Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland could develop 2023 third-round pick Tyler Steen into that player, or Philadelphia could add a guard on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Nevertheless, the center position is not one to neglect, especially after losing an asset like Kelce. Jurgens is still young, has some of the athletic qualities that made Kelce so effective in his zone-heavy role, and he also has familiarity with the system.
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