Why the Eagles Should Trade Up in the Draft for a Star Pass Rusher
Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) passes the ball under pressure by Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. (4) in the third quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Howie Roseman has never been a man to sit on his hands when the roster has a massive deficiency. Seriously, when has he? This off-season has followed his typical script of aggressive roster-shuffling gymnastics. The signing of Hollywood Brown on a one-year deal is the kind of low-risk, high-reward move that fits the current offensive philosophy, providing a vertical threat that forces safeties to respect the deep third and creates the necessary underneath space for A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert to operate in their preferred windows. It’s smart business. It addresses the lack of a deep receiving option, but while the offense looks largely settled, the defensive front remains a glaring, unresolved mess.
The departure of Jaelan Phillips in free agency created a void that hasn’t been filled to this point. While the interior remains a strength with the extension of Jordan Davis and the continued development of the young Georgia core, the edge rotation currently feels like a collection of high-end situational players rather than a group led by a foundational game-wrecker. We saw late last season how the pressure rate dipped when the rotation was forced to stretch, and relying solely on a jump from Nolan Smith Jr. or the veteran consistency of the remaining group is a gamble on a thin margin. This season, there is nothing in the Georgia defensive pipeline that will help the Eagles late in the first 2 rounds.
This draft presents a rare alignment of need and opportunity within the top 15 picks, where elite prospects like David Bailey out of Texas Tech or Rueben Bain Jr. from Miami are projected to land. These aren’t just developmental projects; they’re the kind of explosive edge rushers who change the game for Vic Fangio. The board is particularly top-heavy with defensive talent because the 2026 quarterback class lacks depth beyond Fernando Mendoza, which creates a unique marketplace for a trade. Teams like the Saints at eight, the Jets at nine, or the Cardinals at three are sitting in a range where they might be hesitant to reach for a second-tier passer like Ty Simpson or Garrett Nussmeier when a “generational” 2027 quarterback class featuring Arch Manning, Sam Leavitt, and Dante Moore is already looming on the horizon for the 2027 draft.
If the Eagles feel compelled to pull the trigger this season on a premier rusher within striking distance, moving up from pick 23 becomes reasonable. For organizations stuck in quarterback purgatory, trading back to acquire future capital, specifically top 2027 draft assets that could be bundled to move for Manning or Moore, is a logical move. The Eagles could package their 23rd pick along with their first-round pick for 2027 and perhaps a future asset to leapfrog into the top 12. We know the history here. When Roseman identifies a specific player he wants, he won’t wait for the phone to ring. Trading into the top 10 or 12 to secure a high-motor pass rusher would turn a glaring weakness into a strategic advantage, allowing the rest of the defense to play downhill. The question is, will Bailey or Bain be worth mortgaging next year’s draft for? The tape on both shows that both are worth making the bold move that it’s going to take to move that far up the board.
Addressing the edge early doesn’t mean the secondary is being ignored, especially given the depth of this particular defensive back class. The beauty of securing that top-tier pass rusher is that it alleviates the stress on the corners, and the Eagles are well-positioned to find starting-caliber secondary help in rounds two and three. With an extra third-round pick at 68 from the Jets, there’s ample room to find a physical boundary corner who can thrive in press-man or a versatile safety who can contain over the top.
The pressure point for this franchise is clear as we approach April. The front office has built a roster that can compete, but the sustainability of the defense hinges on the ability to hit the home run at the most valuable position on that side of the ball, the edge. As the veteran talent at edge rusher dwindles, it’s becoming more and more obvious that the gap left by Phillips will happen in the draft, and the Ravens set the trade market for an injured All-Pro edge rusher in the trade market with 2 first round picks, and the tape on Bailey and Bain show that they are worth the same attention, without the huge cap hit right now.
The stakes are as high as they’ve ever been, and the margin between a deep playoff run and an early exit often comes down to one player getting home on a four-man rush when the game is on the line.
Steve Hamilton
Steve may have been born in California, but don’t let that fool you. After dating a local woman and clashing with her and her family over sports for decades, he has an affinity for Philly sports. Balancing love for Philly and Bay Area sports teams may seem impossible, we can all agree that the Cowboys are the true evil.
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