Eagles 2026 NFL Draft Preview

Note: I have full scouting reports on every player mentioned in this piece over at Bleeding Green Nation, so rather than repeating them all here, I'll focus on the draft strategy and how each player fits the Eagles click on my profile page to see them article is sort of a summary of all the work I've 's a last minute cram session before the ! I've used consensus rankings a lot in this are taken from the amazing work over at Wide Left.I trust Arif's consensus board more than anything else , covering the Draft takes forever, so I appreciate all the comments I've had on the you want to support the work I do and view a video version of this article and get my full 202Big Board with all tiers and rankings, please check out my three headline needs are offensive tackle, safety, and edge Johnson is entering what is almost certainly his final season, leaving a longterm right tackle vacancy that needs planning for safety room, Andrew Mukuba, alongside Marcus Epps, is functional but not good enough, with nothing credible behind after losing Jaelan Phillips in free agency, the edge rusher group of Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, and Arnold Ebiketie has promise, but nowhere near enough proven production at the tackle depth falls off a cliff after the first 35 picks or top athletic options, players with the movement skills and upside to develop into franchise starters, are almost entirely clustered in Round rusher, by contrast, has extraordinary depth on Day has legitimate starting options available well into Round that in mind when looking at rankings and draft the Eagles want an athletic right tackle who can sit behind Lane Johnson, absorb everything he has to teach, and then take over the job, they almost certainly have to get him in Round window does not really stay open into Round , that doesn't mean you should reach on just anyone!Beyond those three Tanner McKee Jersey, there are secondary needs worth addressing.I think a longterm tight end is also a big wide receiver situation hinges entirely on AJ Brown, whose future in Philadelphia is Brown stays, the Eagles need complementary he goes, the need becomes a lot more makes all of this more complicated is that this is a pretty weak draft class overall.I expect other teams will draft aggressively on scheme fit and positional scarcity rather than pure talent, which means players could go well above their consensus rank once we get out of the top Eagles need to be should have a tradeup number and a tradeback number prepared before Thursday night, and they should not be passive in either 23 Round 1Obviously, everything I outline below depends on the board and who is Case for Offensive TackleMy personal preference is that the Eagles should use pick 23 on an offensive tackle is the only position in this draft where the Eagles face a legitimate scarcity problem across all three they do not address it in Round 1, they are looking at developmental gambles and depth pieces rather than a true longterm edge and safety markets are deep enough that quality options exist on Day is not true of Freeling Georgia, consensus 17 is the is long, explosive, legitimately nasty, and improved significantly as Georgia's 2025 season went has not started at right tackle recently, but he has experience there, and the vision of him spending a year learning from Lane Johnson before inheriting the job is exactly the kind of succession planning that franchisebuilding looks combination of length, athleticism, and drive gives him a ceiling that nobody else in this OT class can Miller Clemson, consensus 33 is my best guess for what the Eagles actually ticks an enormous number of boxes with 54 consecutive starts at Clemson without missing a single does not have Freeling's are legitimate questions about whether he can anchor against elite power rushers, and his playing style has some exposure to inside counter he might be the safest tackle in this Fano Utah, consensus will almost certainly be movement skills and athleticism are the kind that offensive line coaches put on highlight there is a run on skill positions early and Fano somehow falls close to 23, he would be an interesting tradeup Proctor Alabama, consensus 18 is the wild card that I find difficult to land is an enormous human being with rare size, but he is deceptively smooth for a player carrying that much weight, and capable of genuine dominance in the run game when fully , he has an exclusively left tackle background and potential problems in an outside zone system.I could see the scouts falling in love with him.I would understand the pick.I would also have some anxiety about Iheanachor Arizona State, consensus 34 is the rawest option in this range.A player who only started playing football in 2021 was born in Nigeria and whose film does not come close to matching his extraordinary athletic traits are the kind you simply cannot experience gap is is probably going late in Round 1 to a team willing to bet on the upside, and the Eagles may well be that Case for SafetyIf the top tackle options are gone, Dillon Thieneman Oregon, consensus 20 is the pick I would make without much fits the Fangio defense like a glove as a true centerfield safety with a 41inch vertical, elite football IQ, and the kind of communication skills and leadership profile you want from the player anchoring your back he is there, he solves a major Case for Edge and Why I Would WaitThe honest truth about the edge rusher options at 23 is that most of the ones I want for the Eagles will potentially be available Lawrence UCF, consensus 42 is the name I keep coming back lit up the combine with the best overall athletic testing of any edge defender, and his passrush plan is more developed than you might expect from his consensus 42, he should theoretically be available at 23, but he is rising fast, and I would not be shocked if he goes in the late he is still there at 23 and the OT and safety targets are gone, this is a completely defensible Howell Texas A M, consensus 30 is the purest pass rusher in the class with the fastest first step, elite production in the SEC, and a feel for rushing the passer that some players never concerns are welldocumented already.I like Howell as a late Round 1 or early Round 2 23, it is probably too early, but I would not hate it.R Mason Thomas Oklahoma, consensus 52 is almost certainly available at 23 but is better value at same is broadly true of Akheem Mesidor Miami, consensus 21, whose age, injury history, and medical concerns will push him down boards, but whose pure passrush ability is arguably the best in the the medicals come back clean and he is there at 23, the Eagles have a significant decision to make.I know I am lower on options like Keldric Faulk Auburn, consensus 19 here, but I just think you can get runstuffing edge defenders later in the 's always the pass rushers who go earlier.I wouldn't hate the Round 1 ConsiderationsIt would be remiss not to mention the wide receiver question, because the AJ Brown situation makes this incredibly annoying and Brown is still a Philadelphia Eagle next year, the Eagles do not need a wide receiver in Round , I expect him to be traded later this Lemon USC, consensus 13 is outstanding and almost certainly gone, but Jordyn Tyson Arizona State, consensus 15 and KC Concepcion Texas A M, consensus 2are both names that, depending on medicals and board fall, could be in range at 23.I would not prioritize either over tackle, safety, or edge, but the AJ Brown situation means no position can be entirely of those, I don't think there is a receiver worth taking at Up Trade DownIf Freeling or Fanu starts sliding toward the late teens and the Eagles are confident in their evaluation, trading up a handful of spots is absolutely worth cost of moving from 23 to somewhere in the 1820 range should not be prohibitive, and in a weak class, the difference between the right player and a consolation prize could be the board falls badly with Freeling, Miller, and Thieneman gone, trading back into the late first or early second to stockpile picks is equally 54 Round 2SafetyIf Thieneman is gone and the Eagles did not take a safety at 23, this is the most important need to McNeilWarren Toledo, consensus 25 is the big upside option, but at consensus 25, he may well be gone before he falls to the top of the 2nd, I would support a trade Haulcy LSU, consensus 62 should be is a zoneheavy split safety with 10 career interceptions, outstanding processing, and controlled, intelligent run fits precisely how Fangio builds his man coverage limitations and lack of elite burst keep him out of Round 1, but at 54, he is a legitimate startingcaliber Stukes Arizona State, consensus 6is the chess piece I find most is a safetynickel hybrid who absolutely demolished the Eagles could deploy him alongside Cooper DeJean and create genuine interchangeability based on the does not have a defined positional home, which is a real risk, but Vic Fangio's system is built for exactly this kind of versatile defensive depth at edge in Round 2 is Young Missouri, consensus 32 could fall, and he is a physical rundefending edge with developing passrush upside and a legitimately high Parker Clemson, consensus 39 had a disappointing 2025 season after two strong years, which has depressed his Faulk Auburn, consensus 19 is the strongest pure run defender in the class and will probably be gone before 54, but is worth monitoring if he does fall is worth noting that Peter Schrager did not have Faulk going in the 1st round of his most recent mock, which suggests teams may feel similarly to me about not drafting a runstuffing edge too are also options that I would be interested in if the Eagles moved Josephs Tennessee, consensus 91 is a name I rate significantly above consensus, as he is explosive off the line, can drop into coverage, and will thrive in the Eagles' stuntandtwist him at 54 would feel above the market price, but the scheme fit is Height Texas Tech, consensus 92 is a chaos merchant.A pure passrush specialist with a 39inch vertical and a genuinely unique movement is a subrusher only, but an interesting name to keep an eye Barham Michigan, consensus 83 is the hybrid I keep coming back 's an EDGElinebacker who can rush, cover, and play in multiple Eagles love this profile, and he would be an asset for this are more names I could discuss here! This is a very deep edge LineIf the Eagles did not take a tackle at 23, the second round gets Lomu Utah, consensus 27 will be is an athletic tackle who needs physical development and is raw in the run game, but whose pass protection profile is exceptionally lacks snaps at right tackle, and the power questions are real for a runfirst offense, which is why I wouldn't consider him at Rutledge Georgia Tech, consensus 57 is a mauler.A physically dominant interior lineman who would add a nasty streak to the Eagles' run game, even if he excels in gap scheme more than Bisontis Texas A M, consensus 45 is an outstanding zone blocker who would be a perfect Eagles fit if they were willing to spend a second on a ReceiverThe AJ Brown situation forces at least a mention the Eagles are operating without Brown next year, they almost certainly need to address the Bernard Alabama, consensus 43, Chris Bell Louisville, consensus 68, and Chris Brazzell II Tennessee, consensus 59 are all realistic secondround is the highfloor complementary piece who just looks like a good football player every time you watch him, and his run blocking fits this offense has rare sizespeed and is an interesting secondround option if his ACL medicals check 's 4.37 at 6'4 is the kind of number that gets teams excited, even if the film trails the EndEli Stowers Vanderbilt, consensus 53 sits right at the 54 number and is worth a serious look.I have told myself I do not want a tight end who cannot hold up inline and then I watch him need a plan for his blocking limitations, but he would add a real receiving dimension to this second round is probably right for him, but I'd like 68 Round 3Let's just get into some names I , when we get to round 3, I'm less worried about get me good Roush Stanford, consensus 87 is my personal favorite target for this team in the tight end class, and I would be delighted to see him is the heaviest tight end at the combine and a proper oldschool inline blocker who can develop as a Delp Georgia, outside top 100 and Max Klare Ohio State , consensus 68 are options I really like, too.I think Delp is massively underrated and his profile reminds me of Dallas Hecht Kansas State, consensus 84 is an excellent widezone center who would provide real competition for Cam are some other options at center if the Eagles want someone to compete with Orange Mississippi State, consensus 75 https://www.philadelphiafootballshop.com/collections/darren-sproles-jersey, akaig Citrus, is the runstuffing DT4 the Eagles need if Ty Robinson cannot establish is enormous, carries his weight well, and plays with the effort and leverage the position DennisSutton Penn State, consensus 67 sits almost exactly at this 's a combine star whose film has real inconsistencies, but whose size and athleticism make him a worthwhile edge Ramsey USC, consensus 97 offers starting safety upside at good value and would be worth considering if the Eagles have not addressed the position the corner front, Keith Abney II Arizona State, consensus 71 excels in offman coverage, fits the Fangio scheme, and could develop behind Tariq Woolen before stepping into a starting Scott Miami, consensus 50 is the versatile defensive back who could play nickel or safety.I think this pick is too early for an outside corner, and I would only consider a hybrid nickelsafety the Eagles are preparing for life after AJ Brown, Zachariah Branch Georgia, consensus 58 is the gadget player I always end up too high 's electric in manufactured touches, limited as a fulltime receiver, but the kind of changeofpace weapon the Eagles have lacked for Hurst Georgia State, consensus 82 is a bigbodied boundary receiver with outstanding film against lower 's a personal favorite of talent is Sarratt Indiana, consensus 79 is the possession receiver who kept growing on me the more I watched 98 Round 3 CompensatoryBud Clark TCU, consensus 73 is a ballhawking safety with 15 career interceptions and genuine size concern next to Mukuba is an issue but the production and instincts are hard to dismiss in Round Muhammad Texas, consensus 78 is a developmental corner who fits the Fangio scheme and could develop behind Crawford Auburn, consensus 69 brings the motor Avery Williams Jersey, versatility, and effort level the Eagles will love at McClellan Missouri, outside top 100 has enormous hands, elite arm length, and positional versatility across the defensive strikes me as a useful DT4 who can fill multiple roles and is outstanding value this Golday Cincinnati, outside top 100 is the EDGElinebacker hybrid who fits the profile the Eagles processes slowly and has a lot of work to do, but as a developmental chess piece in Round 3, he makes a lot of Hill , consensus 41 is a fascinating player who can rush off the edge as well as play 's unlikely, but if he is there in the third round, his versatility is hard to the offensive side of the ball, Caleb Tiernan Northwestern, consensus 77 has experience at right tackle despite playing left tackle in recent years, and could contribute as a swing tackle and depth Slaughter Florida, consensus 89 is a proready widezone center and a legitimate Jurgens competition piece if Hecht is already gone at wide receiver, Skyler Bell consensus 81, Antonio Williams Clemson, consensus 66, and Malachi Fields Notre Dame, consensus 60 are all in this range for is the contestedcatch specialist who fits what Jalen Hurts likes to throw, and his blocking is outstanding for the 3At this stage, the consensus top100 is largely exhausted, and the Eagles are looking for players they rate significantly above the market.I watched 133 prospects, so I'm taking some throws of the dart when it comes to Day I give a number, just assume these players did not make the top 100 consensus Eagles aren't going to land a starting tackle here, but if they couldn't get one earlier, Jude Bowry Boston College is an explosive developmental tackle Bell Miami is the kind of generational freak you roll the dice on is a threeyear project at minimum, but the frame alone justifies the should still be some interesting names at receiver and tight end Burks Oklahoma, consensus 95 is a combine riser whose 4.30 speed and 42.5inch vertical have pushed him up Lance NDSU is the most fascinating Day 3 wide receiver in the 'Kobi Lane USC played behind Makai Lemon at USC, which naturally suppressed his numbers but his contestedcatch ability and size project well at the next Joly NC State is a big receiving tight end with a good catch radius and the frame to develop as a Trigg Baylor plays more like a wide receiver than a tight end, which is a problem for the inline stuff, but the catch radius is absurd and the receiving talent is Endries Texas is a reliable receiving tight end with the willingness to develop as a Claiborne Wake Forest is the lateround running back with the explosive thirddown profile the Eagles should be defense, Kaleb Proctor Southeastern Louisiana has arguably the most explosive athleticism of any DT in the class at any level.