As the 2026 pre-draft is in full swing for the Philadelphia Eagles, Blake Brockermeyer of CBS Sports released his first-round mock draft as teams begin sending their scouts to Mobile, Alabama, for the Senior Bowl.
With questions at wide receiver, Brockermeyer believes the Eagles will make a push for Zachariah Branch out of Georgia with the 23rd pick in this year's draft.
"Zachariah Branch had his most productive season yet, catching 81 passes for 811 yards with 17 explosive catches. He's elusive in space, can stop and start on a dime, and is always a threat to score as a punt and kick returner."
Eagles get WR help with Zachariah Branch in mock draft
The Eagles saw a lot of extra "noise" from standout wide receiver A.J. Brown, and despite offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo no longer calling the shots on offense, it appears Brown could be a trade piece moving forward for the Eagles. Brown, who has four years left on his contract, has been the center of disruption despite his on-field production, which most likely has Philadelphia heading toward a divorce with the talented Wide Receiver.
With the Eagles most likely moving on from Brown, and WR3 Jahan Dotson a free agent, the team is in full force looking for a complementary piece to the talented former first-round pick in DeVonta Smith. Smith still managed another 1,000-yard season despite inconsistent play with the Eagles' offense. With the Eagles missing two key veteran pieces, it makes sense that Howie Roseman will turn to the draft to replenish their wide receiver corps.
Bringing in an experienced draft pick like Branch, who has appeared in 37 games over three seasons, could be the remedy to not only boost production but also build a cohesive unit in Philadelphia. The Georgia/USC alum has similar qualities that made scouts believe Jahan Dotson was worthy of a first-round pick; however rose to the occasion playing in the SEC, especially during the SEC conference championship game and the College Football Playoff loss to the Ole Miss Rebels.
Read more: Eagles' uncertain future at pivotal position just got cloudier with new signing
Regardless of Brown's status moving forward, the Eagles do need to consider adding a high-impact player like Branch to gain leverage when dealing with their troubled star receiver. With Branch, it would not only free up cap space and financial flexibility on a team-friendly rookie contract but could also make Brown an expendable piece of the offense, especially with needs at Cornerback and Tight End extremely glaring as well.