Eagles 2026 draft targets: Trade ups, lucky falls, trade downs, and who I’m passing on

Well, we are a month out and I’m pretty locked in on draft strategy.

It’s a bit leaner year with fewer 1st round targets on my list than past years when I have made this same list. Two reasons: first, this draft does have fewer top-end guys and, second, after last years LB-SAF top picks, I am really focusing on premium positions of need over the next 1-2 years.

Here’s who I am targeting, including the few guys I’d make a move up for, who I would take if they fell, and if the board just doesn’t fall in our favor, who I would trade down to take.

Of course, there other guys like Mansoor Delane and Carnell Tate that I’d love to take but left them off given their current high EDP.

Boy do the boards change. In late January, I had Monroe as the most likely Eagles R1 pick when he was projected around pick 40… after the Combine, he’s now projected in the top half of the 1st and as high as pick 6 to CLE. His current EDP at 13 probably costs a future 1st to move up to which is too much, but I will keep him on the list as a guy – for the right price – I would trade up for. And that price for me would be some pick package that avoided a future 1st.

The second of the three OTs I like, another guy that was solidly on day two and has risen a lot. He’s still projected after the Eagles pick but there are 4-5 teams ahead of the Eagles that could take OT including the Steelers at 21 and Lions at 17. Sending one of the R3 picks would get the Eagles in range if they wanted their guy and a move I’d gladly make to ensure you got your guy. He’s probably the most likely pick at this point.

A guy who could drop due to injury concerns but I don’t think he drops far enough. If he does, he’d be well worth a small trade up. Only 22 years old, even if the Eagles kept AJ Brown, Tyson would be a great pick that set the Eagles up for the next 5 years. Yes, he’s risky with the injury history, but if he clears medicals, he’s a WR1-level talent. Do I expect this to ever happen? No, but I’d take him.

Just going off of current EDPs, there isn’t a big list of guys I get excited about at 23, although this will surely be different on draft day. But here are three that should be there and are worthy to take without dropping.

He’s projected well ahead of our pick, but you have to go back to 2018 and Derwin James for the last time SAF2 went before pick 23. With Caleb Downs most definitely going SAF1, there’s a real chance Dillon could be there at the Eagles pick. While not a good positional value pick and one of only two non-premium positions on my list, he’s a versatile defensive piece, competitive, and does everything well. Safety is such a strong class this year and it could be Howie again grabbing a player that should have gone much higher.

Yeah, we signed Riq. But if Jermod is somehow there at our pick, you take him. Half of the years, CB3 goes at or after pick 23 and I would not be surprised if somebody took Avieon Terrell before Jermod. He won’t be 21 until August, Riq is signed for one year, and as I repeat over and over, you must draft CBs as it’s the only place you can get them. If another team gets cold feet because of his injury, you thank the league and walk the card up.

He’s still projected early day two, but I think if you believe in him (and I do) and think you are taking Lane’s replacement, you don’t get cute and try to trade down a few spots – the only three OTs I see taking high that fit what the Eagles want are Freeling, Miller, and Iheanachor. He does need to clean a bunch up, but what better landing spot for him than Philly where he doesn’t have to start this year.

Howie usually isn’t in the business of trading down in the 1st as he will prioritize getting his guy with his premium picks (Howie’s trade downs almost always come later in the draft to add picks to be later used for in-year trades or move ups). But, this year could be a year for a trade down given the leaner top-end talent.

He’s a guy the Eagles have shown a ton of pre-draft interest in and I see why – for what we expect of the Mannion offense, I’m not sure there’s a better WR fit in this class. He’s an underrated route runner, creates after the catch better than almost anybody in this class, is a willing blocker, and can play inside or out. Neither Hollywood Brown nor Elijah Moore (who I’m not sure even makes the team) is an exciting answer.

There’s a lot of focus on Vega Ioane, but he won’t make the Eagles pick and not somebody I’d trade up for. But I like Bisontis a lot, there may not be a better pass protecting guard in this class. He’s projected mid-R2 which I don’t buy – if our targets are gone at 23, drop down some and if you wanted to replenish the OL, Bisontis would be my pick here.

I have an admittedly smaller list of R1 targets than past years for two reasons: there’s less top-end talent in this class and if I’m Howie, I’m really focused on premium positions after last year. Here are some picks and positions I’m passing on in R1 and why:

EDGE

It’s surging again as a high mock draft pick because of the “need” after missing out on Jaelen Phillips. But there are two reasons I’m not taking one high:

• Production profiles for this class are weaker than past years, especially with the top guys like Keldrick Faulk and TJ Parker
• The value at EDGE is on day two with guys like Derrick Moore, Dani Dennis-Sutton, and Joshua Josephs.

TE

Howie’s plan at TE the past two years has been baffling. First, in last year’s historic class and a very good TE sitting there at his day two picks, he didn’t take one. Second, instead of grabbing your guy in free agency, he just brings back last year’s guys. But that doesn’t force a pick in this draft and there isn’t a TE in this class that would have been in the top 4 or 5 TEs last year. Take one later in the draft.