The Philadelphia Eagles are looking forward to the 2026 NFL Draft after a disappointing end to the 2025 NFL season.
There are going to be a lot of positions of interest for the Eagles as they look for a wide receiver, tight end, offensive lineman, edge rushers, and a new CB2. This has the potential to be the busiest draft the Eagles have ever had as they need young players in key positions to develop.
ESPN NFL Draft expert Jordan Reid gave some early insights into what the Eagles could be doing with their draft picks in the first two days.
"Cornerback could be addressed early, but Philadelphia is known for pouring resources into the trenches. Offensive tackle and edge rusher are two positions the team will have good Round 1 options, such as Texas A&M's Cashius Howell (Texas A&M). If the team wants to wait until Day 2, Romello Height (Texas Tech) and Akheem Mesidor (Miami) are also difference-makers off the edge."
Eagles could still target offensive and defensive linemen in the NFL Draft
This would not be the most surprising strategy, as the Eagles have followed this template in the NFL Draft over the last two decades. Just in the last six years alone, the Eagles have found great talent up front with Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Jalyx Hunt, and Nolan Smith. That doesn't even include the guys that aren't in Philly anymore, like Milton Williams.
Jaelan Phillips' arrival in the Eagles' midseason trade was proof that the edge position was a concern for the team, as they didn't find a suitable replacement for Josh Sweat before Phillips came. Using the draft could be a good way to fix that issue.
As for the offensive line, Lane Johnson might be closer to retirement than Eagles fans want to admit, so they still need to find the right replacement for the future. This must be the draft to do it, as the new rookie could either develop behind Johnson or must be ready to start from Day 1.
Philly also can't ignore the lingering problem at wide receiver, as they will either need a WR3 or WR2. Jahan Dotson is a free agent and most likely won't be back, and A.J. Brown might demand another trade, which could force the Eagles to find DeVonta Smith's new partner in crime at wide receiver.
Cornerback can't be forgotten as the Eagles most likely move on from Adoree' Jackson despite a strong close to the 2025 campaign. They had success developing Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, so adding another corner in the first two rounds could help in shaping the future of the secondary.
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This draft is not going to be easy for the Eagles, and they might have to make some trades to pick up more picks as they look to save money while getting younger with strong talent.