Grading The Eagles’ 2026 Draft Picks

The 2026 NFL Draft has officially passed, and the Eagles have added eight new players to their 2026 roster. Ranging from ages 21-24, the Birds have added multiple brand new young weapons to an already loaded roster.

Add on the fact that the Eagles used extra draft picks from this year to acquire wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks and edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, so that truly brings their total to 10.

Overall, it was a solid draft for the Eagles, who have built up their depth and have new players in place to take over veterans who may be leaving in the near future. Here’s how I would grade each selection the Eagles made during the 2026 NFL Draft.

Round 1, Pick 20: WR Makai Lemon, USC – Grade: A

Over the past few years, the first round of the draft has felt the very same for the Eagles. A top talent player who should’ve been a top pick falls in the draft, and then the Eagles swoop in with a trade to steal the player.

Well, Howie Roseman did it again, trading up from 23 to pick 20 to draft the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner, USC wide receiver Makai Lemon. Lemon is a 5’11’, 192 lbs, but makes up for it with his route running, playmaking, and speed.

Many have dubbed Lemon the top wide receiver in this year’s class, and somehow he dropped to the twenties and was the third wide receiver drafted. With the pick, the Eagles will likely be moving on from AJ Brown once his cap hit lowers on June 1st. Once Brown is dealt, it will be the DeVonta Smith and Lemon show for the Eagles moving forward

So when you factor all of that in, the value that the Eagles gain in Lemon soars even higher. Lemon has the potential to turn into an All-Pro wideout, compared to the likes of Puka Nacua and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Receivers who dominate in the slot and in the middle of the field who can turn a five-yard catch into a 50-yard touchdown. Pairing him with Smith creates a still dynamic receiver duo who are both on manageable contracts.

READ MORE ON LEMON:

What Makai Lemon Means to the Eagles and A.J. Brown’s Future

Round 2, Pick 54: TE Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt – Grade: B+

The second round has been a gold mine for the Eagles when it comes to tight ends over the decade-plus. From Zach Ertz to Dallas Goedert, Howie Roseman has found two of the franchise’s top players at the position in this round, and time will only tell how this pick will go.

Eli Stowers was the second graded tight end in the draft, and the Eagles managed to grab him in the second round. The highs and lows of Stowers are easy to see, as he’s a fantastic pass catcher and will likely act as a fifth wide receiver in Sean Mannion‘s offense.

His blocking is awful, and downfield work isn’t his strong suit, but he can play well off defenders, be dominant in short-yardage plays, and move the sticks when needed. The second round is maybe a little early to grab Stowers, but they likely wouldn’t have gotten him if they took him when they did. He’ll back up Goedert for 2026, but moving forward, this will likely be Stowers’ tight end room.

Round 3, Pick 68: T Markel Bell, Miami – Grade: B

This is a perfect example of drafting based on size and build, as tackle Markel Bell stands at a frightening 6’9′ tall while weighing 346 lbs.

His strength is the biggest positive you can give a prospect, as on the field, he’s been a monster in all aspects of the tackle game. Whether it’s in the run game, pass blocking, or double-teams, Bell excels at all parts, but the big weakness has to be his inability to move his feet against fast edge rushers.

Luckily for Bell, he will have time to improve his play with both tackle spots filled by Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata. Once he learns to be a pro and continues to grow his skills, Bell feels like the perfect player to take over for Johnson when he eventually retires in the next few years.

Round 5, Pick 178: QB Cole Payton, North Dakota State – Grade: B-

The quarterback factory continues to grow as they select another quarterback from North Dakota State. Cole Payton is a dual-threat lefty quarterback with alright mechanics and a below-average arm, but excels at play-making with his feet and on the run outside the pocket.

It’ll be unlikely that Payton ever becomes a full-time quarterback talent in the NFL, never say never, though, but getting a player like him gives you a sort of Taysom Hill type player that can be a threat to do multiple things when he gets on the field. I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s used in trick plays, option runs, or even on the tush push as an option to fake throw or run, or push.

The addition of him likely means that backup quarterback Tanner McKee may be on his way out as he’s in the last year of his contract, while Andy Dalton will likely be Jalen Hurts‘ backup for 2026, with Payton the third QB. Normally, they wouldn’t dress Payton, but getting him in certain packages, as I mentioned, will be his normal role moving forward, a do-it-all gadget type of player who can throw if you need him to.

Round 6, Pick 207: G Micah Morris, Georgia – Grade: B

The Micah Morris pick, in my opinion, feels like one of the biggest steals for the entire draft for the Eagles, and that’s even including the Lemon pick. Now I’m not gonna sit and tell you I’ve known about Morris forever and this and that, but I’ve heard his name through watching Georgia games and reading more about him, it seems like he can be a great pro.

At 6’5, 334 lbs, Morris brings tons of strength, especially up top with his hands. His feet are great as well, but his inability to stay low and contained in blocks is his big downside. However, it hasn’t affected him much so far in his career, as last season he didn’t allow a single sack against some of the nation’s best in the SEC.

Like Bell, Morris has a lot to learn as a pro, but he has all of the tools to turn himself into a long-time player in the league. With an offensive line that’s full and not in need of any new players, he’ll have the reps in practice to help improve his game before he’s truly needed.

Round 7, Pick 244: S Cole Wisniewski, Texas Tech – Grade: C

Safety felt like a pick that the Eagles could’ve made earlier in the draft, mainly at pick 54 with Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren on the board. However, the Eagles waited, feeling there likely wasn’t a player worth it after round three, so the lone safety they selected was Cole Wisniewski out of Texas Tech.

Wisniewski is an ok player, a bigger safety sitting at 6’3′ with a keen eye for stopping the run; however, the coverage game is a major weakness and the reason he was still available in the final 20 picks of the draft.

Special teams will likely be the only major action he sees in his rookie year, but look at what Reed Blankinship was able to accomplish after being an undrafted free agent. There are still major holes at safety heading into the summer, so it’s anyone’s spot to take, and if Wisniewski plays well enough, it could be his.

Round 7, Pick 251: DT Uar Bernard, International Player Pathway Program – Grade: Too Soon To Tell

For me, this is the exact type of seventh-round pick that more teams should make throughout each draft, especially with the NFL’s International Player Pathway program growing every year.

Uar Bernard out of Nigeria has not played a single snap of organized football, and guess what, that’s ok. Neither did Jordan Mailata, and he’s one of the best offensive linemen in the league. Bernard is a freak athlete, running an insane 4.63 40 time, which is the fastest for a player over 300 lbs. He’s freakishly strong as well, benching 29 reps during the program’s combine.

Now I give this pick a “Too Soon To Tell,” as I have no idea what this pick could bring for the Eagles. What they’re hoping is that they’ve found the defensive Mailata who, after a few years of work with actual coaches, can turn him into a pro. And if he doesn’t work out, so be it; it’s a seventh-round selection that won’t kill the Eagles in the end.

It’s really a win-win for Philadlephia who get the opportunity to turn this raw athlete into the next stud defensive tackle.

READ MORE ON BERNARD:

Uar Bernard Never Played Football. The Eagles Just Made Him the First African Drafted From the IPP

Round 7, Pick 252: OLB Keyshawn James-Newby, New Mexico – Grade: C-

Rounding out this draft is a pick that can be described as just throwing a dart at a board and hoping it hits something good. Keyshawn James-Newby is a 23-year-old, will be 24 when camp starts for the Eagles, edge rusher from Pocatello, Idaho. James-Newby has bounced around multiple schools during his college career, spending two seasons at NAIA Montana Tech, two years at Idaho, and one year at New Mexico.

Every year, he’s seen improvement, putting up better stats each season against better competition; however, his build and lack of strength will be the main reasons his shot of being a long-time pro in the NFL will be an uphill battle.

James-Newby is a hard worker, so he’ll probably see most of his playing time on special teams throughout his rookie year, especially with a now-loaded pass-rush after the Jonathan Greenard trade. Improving his rushing ability has to be priority one if he wants to continue his NFL dream moving forward.

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