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Owning the last pick in the first round of the NFL draft is a spot the Philadelphia Eagles want more often because it goes to the Super Bowl champions.

"That's the goal Dre Kirkpatrick Jersey ," Eagles vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas said.

With no picks in the second or third round, Philadelphia could trade down and add an extra pick or two.

"We're open for business in every round," said Howie Roseman, the executive VP of football operations.

Roseman is known for making moves. He's one of the most aggressive executives in the league. It's an organizational philosophy that's also reflected by coach Doug Pederson's playcalling.

"From our perspective, we're going to keep swinging," Roseman said. "That starts with (owner) Jeffrey (Lurie). Coach Pederson showed that from a coaching perspective. We're going to keep swinging. When we're wrong, we're going to study why we're wrong, and we're going to get back up to the plate and we're not going to take that called third strike."

The Eagles enter the draft with only six picks. After the first round, they'll wait until No. 130 in the fourth round. They have another fourth-round pick at No. 132 and picks in the fifth Mark Barron Jersey , sixth and seventh.

Here's some things to know about the Eagles heading into the draft:

HOT SPOT

Philadelphia bolstered its defensive line by adding three-time Pro Bowl DE Michael Bennett and five-time Pro Bowl DT Haloti Ngata in the offseason. Both players along with DEs Brandon Graham and Chris Long are entering the final season of their contracts so a defensive lineman in the first round is a strong possibility. Ohio State DE Sam Hubbard and Michigan DT Maurice Hurst could be nice fits.

HOT SPOT NO. 2

RB LeGarrette Blount left in free agency and Jay Ajayi is entering the final season of his rookie contract. Even if veteran Darren Sproles returns for another season, the Eagles could choose a running back in the first round. The team hasn't selected a back in the first round since Keith Byars in 1986, but the draft is loaded at this position. LSU's Derrius Guice and Georgia's Sony Michel are possibilities at No. 32.

BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE

Many personnel guys around the league insist they will pick the best player available when their team is on the clock. The Eagles are in the enviable position of being able to carry out that plan 鈥?unless the best player at No. 32 is a quarterback. They have Carson Wentz, Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles and Nate Sudfeld. But if they stay put, the 32nd pick could be a player at any other position.

GETTING ALONG

One of the main reasons why the Eagles won the Super Bowl last season was unselfishness. Players bought into a team-first mentality, put personal goals aside and formed a strong bond. Chemistry is such a big deal for Philadelphia that the scouting department invests time and resources into making sure potential draft picks would fit in.

"I think that's one of the conversations that we probably have the most," Roseman said. "Background is really important. We've had some guys who've come here, who've maybe had a (bad) reputation and fit really well, and there's also the flip side of that. So you try to balance all of those and really rely on Coach Pederson and his leadership council and the ownership he gives them."

HITS Nathan Peterman Jersey , MISSES AND BARGAINS

Wentz at No. 2 overall in 2016 is possibly the best pick in franchise history. Other hits over the past five drafts: RT Lane Johnson (No. 4 overall, 2013) and TE Zach Ertz (second round, 2013). Recent misses in the early rounds: LB Marcus Smith (No. 26 overall, 2014) and CB Eric Rowe (second round, 2015). Some of the best bargains were: CB Jalen Mills (seventh round, 2016) and OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai (fifth round, 2016).

AP NFL website: pro32.ap.org and AP_NFL

Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: s://AP_RobMaaddi


Tom Brady has thrown touchdown passes to many receivers during his 18 NFL seasons. He’ll likely be adding new names to the list.

The Patriots receiving corps took a hit this offseason: the trade of Brandin Cooks to the Rams; the free-agency departure of Danny Amendola to Miami; and Julian Edelman’s suspension for the first four games for a drug-policy violation.

That leaves New England’s top returning wide receiver as Chris Hogan, who had 34 catches for 439 yards and five touchdowns in 2017.

It means there will be an opportunity for others. The candidates are a mix of familiar names of newcomers.

Hogan earned Brady’s trust the past two seasons and will certainly be a major part of the passing offense, along with All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski. But it will also be a chance for the likes of Phillip Dorsett Brad Nortman Jersey , Jordan Matthews and Kenny Britt to become factors in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ system.

Dorsett said going through his first offseason program in New England has been big help.

”I’m just light years past where I was last year when it came to just knowing the playbook (and) knowing what to do,” said Dorsett, a 2015 first-round pick by the Colts, who was traded to New England for Jacoby Brissett just before the start of last season. ”I feel comfortable at every position.”

And Dorsett seems to be a guy the coaching staff is looking to play multiple positions. He was lined up both in the slot and on the outside during spring drills.

The wild card in the discussion is third-year receiver Malcolm Mitchell, who spent all of 2017 on injured reserve with a knee injury. He missed the opening day of training camp Thursday. He was on the field Friday, though he joined the team only for warmups before heading to a separate field for rehabbing players.

Coach Bill Belichick declined to say whether Mitchell might be on the trade block this preseason, but his presence is a welcome sign for a player who showed lots of potential as a rookie in 2016.

Mitchell appeared in 14 games that season, hauling in 32 passes for 401 yards and four touchdowns. He also had six catches for 70 yards in New England’s Super Bowl win over Atlanta.

Matthews has a similar injury history. He was plagued by knee and ankle issues the past two seasons before being signed by the Patriots to a one-year deal in April.

Meanwhile, Britt’s situation mirrors Dorsett’s Cody Parkey Jersey , with Britt having just gone through his first spring in New England after signing in December and appearing in only three games last season.

Hogan is just two years removed from being a wide-eyed newcomer to the Patriots when he arrived in 2016. Now entering his third season in New England, Hogan said he wants to be the veteran presence that players like Edelman and Amendola were for him.

He likes the group and expects there to be tough decisions for the coaches to make by the end of camp.

”The competition brings out the best in people,” Hogan said. ”It’s great that we have such a great room and a lot of guys that want to compete. … When we come out here, we’re not going through the motions.”

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