Seems like Eagles like Nolan Smith for their first pick

The always entertaining, made-for-TV first round of the NFL draft begins Thursday at 7 p.m., with the draft’s second and third rounds conducted Friday and the final four rounds Saturday.

Centered in Kansas City, the lottery features a lot of the same talking heads and analysts as well as some stimulating bands in Fallout Boy, Motley Crue and Thundercat.

It is not the be all and end all for teams seeking considerable help like the Arizona Cardinals and the Houston Texans or a few missing pieces such as the Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. What the draft reveals are the philosophies of the franchises. It’s what they do, not what they’ve said that counts.

With that in mind, let’s go to the mock draft:

1) PANTHERS >> Bryce Young, QB, Alabama: The pick should be C.J. Stroud or Anthony Richardson, not this talented yet injury prone QB1. Best of luck to new Panthers head coach Frank Reich.

2) TEXANS >> C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State: No, they aren’t stupid enough to pass on a quarterback and let Davis Mills run the show again. That said, the Texans might be able to trade down and get Stroud a spot or two later.

3) CARDINALS >> Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia: Demand for quarterbacks might benefit them by trading down a spot or so. Carter has been a game-wrecker, not the potential team-wrecker forecast by critics.

4) COLTS >> Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida: Coach Shane Steichen won’t overthink this because Richardson is a pure talent, just not the Hall of Famer predicted by ESPN’s Screaming Dan Orlovsky.

5) SEAHAWKS >> Will Anderson, DE, Alabama: He is Haason Reddick with speed and fills a major pass rushing need for the Hawks.

6) LIONS >> Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon: Too tough to pass on the best defensive back in the draft and an almost certain star. He can play anywhere in the back end. Maybe even linebacker.

7) RAIDERS >> Devon Weatherspoon, CB, Illinois: Skinny guy with good instincts who fills a big need for Vegas, which also could go with an offensive lineman here like Paris Johnson or Peter Skoronski.

8) FALCONS >> Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas: Perfect, every down back for head coach Arthur Smith, who hasn’t been comfortable game-planning since the days of Derrick Henry.

9) BEARS >> Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee: Got talked into this pick watching highlights of Wright muting Anderson in SEC action. Excellent technique.

10) EAGLES >> Nolan Smith, DE, Georgia: Big time pass rusher when healthy, as he is now, and the Birds might be able to trade back slightly and still get him.

11) TITANS >> Will Levis, QB, Kentucky: Commute shouldn’t be a major problem for Levis, who probably has the top arm in the draft but is slightly less maneuverable than a pickup truck.

12) TEXANS >> Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech: Why so late for this pass rusher? He’s coming off Lis-franc surgery, and that’s never a good thing.

13) PACKERS >> Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State: Huge pickup for a team that needs O-line help as it transitions to quarterback Jordan Love.

14) PATRIOTS >> Brian Branch, S, Alabama: Might be a little early for Branch but he’s a worthy playmaker who will quarterback the Patriots’ defense.

15) JETS >> Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern: Don’t think this proven plug and play talent will slip this far, even with his stubby arms. Plays with the passion and physicality of Landon Dickerson of the Eagles.

16) COMMANDERS >> Joey Porter, CB, Penn State: Solid talent unfairly questioned for his alleged lack of physicality.

17) STEELERS >> Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia: Gives the Steelers a bit of relief up front.

18) LIONS >> Lukas Van Ness, DE, Iowa: Not a lot of quality finishes against good teams in his highlight reels but considerable inside-outside versatility and potential.

19) BUCS >> O’Cyrus Torrence, G-C, Florida: Versatile, hostile and so local the Bucs can save on his travel expenses.

20) SEAHAWKS >> Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame: First down machine for Geno Smith, although a cornerback also could be in play here.

21) CHARGERS >> Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan: Can never have enough tackles, as the Bolts discovered last season. Receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba also is a consideration.

22) RAVENS >> Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee: Anybody else think this is a one-and-done season for Lamar Jackson? Hooker is a much more conventional quarterback.

23) VIKINGS >> Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland: Raw around the edges, Banks is long and fast, as he clocked a 4.35 40-yard dash at the combine.

24) JAGUARS >> Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU: Johnston’s scouting report is that he plays bigger than his 6-4, 215-pound frame. Can’t wait to confirm that.

25) GIANTS >> B.J. Ojalari, DE, LSU: They need more than one pass rusher but this is a start. The Giants also could use a cornerback.

26) COWBOYS >> Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Legit receiver with a high motor and the ability to split wide in the offense.

27) BILLS >> Myles Murphy, DT, Clemson: Forgotten, 6-5, 276-pound talent would come off the board in the top 10 if teams were more comfortable with his level of commitment.

28) BENGALS >> Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma: Insurance for a Bengals squad with Jonah Williams so unhappy about being shifted from left to right tackle he’s asked for a trade.

29) SAINTS >> Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State: Polished and productive, he’s Deebo Samuel without the open field burst.

30) EAGLES >> Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State: The up-and-coming Jones (6-8, 359) played right guard and right tackle for the Buckeyes. He also has basketball skills that will serve him well in the Eagles’ auditorium.

31) CHIEFS >> Calijah Kancey, DT, Pitt: Not your traditional pass rusher but coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will have little problem finding a role for the 6-1, 281-pound Kancey.

Contact Bob Grotz at rgrotz@delcotimes.com; you can follow him on Twitter @bobgrotz.