After going from zero seventh-round picks to three in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles certainly found some hidden gems, with one that might be something more than meets the eye.
Philly's last selection in the draft went to seventh-round pick New Mexico edge rusher Keyshawn James-Newby. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman spoke about the decision to pick James-Newby and what he could bring to the table.
"He can rush," Roseman said via The Athletic's Zach Berman. "I think when you turn on the tape and you see him in must-pass situations, he can get off the ball, he can bend, he's got production as a rusher. Obviously, you're looking for traits late in the draft. That's one of the reasons we wanted to get picks there, we had a bunch of guys we wanted to take."
Howie Roseman might have revealed Keyshawn James-Newby's role on Eagles
James-Newby had 52 tackles, nine sacks, five pass deflections, and two forced fumbles last season with the Lobos. He was a first-team All-Mountain West selection in 2025 and a first-team All-Big Sky selection in 2024 with Idaho.
The chances of James-Newby playing a big role in this Eagles defense in 2026 feel very slim. This is a deep unit that just added former Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard to a group that already has Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt starting.
If James-Newby wants to play, he'll have to beat out veterans like Arnold Ebiketie and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka for playing time and a spot on the 53-man roster. The best way for James-Newby to do that, though, is to win a spot on the roster based on what he can do on special teams.
Roseman hinted that James-Newby's strength is rushing the passer in passing situations. That might be another opening for him to prove that on third and longs, he can jump into the lineup and pressure the quarterback.
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Training camp is going to show a lot about James-Newby and whether he can keep up with the other edge rushers, but if his tape matches his potential, he can be an underrated piece to this defense.
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