2026 NFL Draft Grade: Philadelphia Eagles -- C-

There was a version of the 2026 NFL Draft where the Philadelphia Eagles walked away with a clean, high-value haul that reinforced their win-now roster and built for the back half of Jalen Hurts' prime. That version did not materialize.

General manager Howie Roseman, working with a modest collection of eight selections, played an aggressive but uneven hand. The Eagles entered the weekend with a critical need at offensive tackle, a high-priority void at safety, and medium-level concerns at tight end, guard, edge rusher, and defensive tackle -- holes carved by free-agent departures and an aging roster. By the time the final compensatory pick was announced, Philadelphia had addressed its biggest need but left evaluators scratching their heads on value more often than not. The result is a class that nets a C- overall (50.4), buoyed by a single spectacular fifth-round steal but dragged down by a series of early-round reaches that lacked the usual Roseman precision.

Let's break down every pick and how it fits the Eagles' present and future.

Pick-by-Pick Breakdown

Pick 20 (Round 1) -- Makai Lemon, WR, USC Acquired via From GB via DAL Grade: C (58.0)

This is the kind of first-round pick that makes sense from a talent standpoint but leaves you squinting at the roster fit. Makai Lemon was a productive, versatile receiver at USC who most boards had ranked in the late teens, so the value is reasonable. But the Eagles already employ A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and a deep supporting cast of receivers that includes Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore. This was not a glaring opening. The Eagles clearly had Lemon graded near the top of their board and trusted their evaluation. Lemon is a smooth separator with run-after-catch ability who can work inside and out, so offensive coordinator Sean Mannion will find ways to use him. However, when your most pressing needs are along the offensive line and in the secondary, spending a first-rounder on a strength is a luxury that limits the class's immediate impact.

Pick 54 (Round 2) -- Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt Grade: D (40.0)

This is the pick that will draw the sharpest criticism. Eli Stowers is an intriguing athlete who converted from quarterback to tight end at Vanderbilt and showed flashes of dynamic playmaking. But the Eagles reached aggressively to get him. Most draft analysts had Stowers as a Day 3 projection, and the tape is still raw -- he lacks polish as an in-line blocker and his route tree is developing. The Eagles need a long-term answer at tight end with Dallas Goedert on the back nine of his career, and Stowers offers a unique skill set. But taking him 37 slots before the predraft community had him ranked is a gamble that strips value from the board. The team passed on several higher-ranked players at positions of greater need, making this a head-scratcher for a franchise that usually maximizes draft capital.

Pick 68 (Round 3) -- Markel Bell, OT, Miami Acquired via From NYJ Grade: C (56.0)

Now we are talking about a pick that directly attacks the roster's biggest vulnerability. Offensive tackle was the Eagles' critical need entering the draft, and Markel Bell steps into a situation where he can develop behind the legendary Lane Johnson and the steady Jordan Mailata. Bell is a massive, powerful blocker at 6-foot-7 who dominated at Miami with his strength and length. He was projected a bit later by most evaluators -- a reach of about 22 slots -- but the premium on tackles and the urgency of the need justify the aggression. The Eagles view Bell as a potential swing tackle who could eventually take over on the right side when Johnson hangs it up. The grade lands at a C because the value isn't ideal, but the fit is undeniable. In Vic Fangio's scheme, having two bookend tackles who can hold up in protection is nonnegotiable, and Bell has the tools to be a long-term starter.

Pick 178 (Round 5) -- Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State Grade: B (73.0)

The steal of the class. Cole Payton is a winner from a powerhouse program who many evaluators had ranked as a top-100 prospect. He slipped all the way to the fifth round -- 105 slots later than his predraft grade -- and the Eagles pounced. Payton is a dual-threat quarterback with a strong arm and the kind of composure under pressure that defined his career at North Dakota State. He steps into a quarterback room that has Jalen Hurts as the unquestioned starter and a capable backup in Tanner McKee. Payton is a developmental project who fits the Eagles' RPO-heavy system and could eventually become a high-end backup or even a trade asset. Getting a player of his caliber this late is exactly how you find value in the draft, and this pick single-handedly boosts the class's overall grade.

Pick 207 (Round 6) -- Micah Morris, OG, Georgia Acquired via From HOU via LAR, TEN and LAR Grade: D (40.0)

Another reach that feels disconnected from the board. Micah Morris is a powerful interior lineman from a Georgia program that churns out NFL-ready blockers, and he fills a medium-level need at guard where Landon Dickerson and Tyler Steen are the current starters. But the Eagles took him 56 slots before most evaluators had him ranked. Morris is a mauler in the run game but lacks the athleticism to handle elite interior pass rushers on an island. In a draft class with several guards available later, this felt like reaching for a need when better value could have been found. The pick addresses depth, but the opportunity cost stings.

Pick 244 (Round 7) -- Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech Acquired via From HOU via MIN Grade: C- (53.0)

This is a classic seventh-round swing at a position of high need. Safety was listed as a critical need for the Eagles entering the draft, and while the team did not address it in the early rounds, they finally circled back here. Cole Wisniewski is a ball-hawking safety from Texas Tech who showed instincts and range in coverage. He was projected as a late-round priority free agent by many draft analysts, but the Eagles saw enough to use a pick. Wisniewski is a long shot to become a starter, but in a safety room that lacks proven talent beyond Marcus Epps, he has a legitimate path to a roster spot. The grade reflects the position's urgency and the minimal cost.

Pick 251 (Round 7) -- Uar Bernard, DT, Nigeria Acquired via Compensatory Pick (From LAR) Grade: D (40.0)

Uar Bernard is a project in the truest sense. A Nigerian-born defensive tackle with a raw but explosive skill set, Bernard is far from a finished product. He has rare physical tools -- length and quickness that translate to disruption -- but he is learning the game at a high level and will need significant development in Fangio's system. The Eagles have a deep interior rotation with Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo, so Bernard can afford to develop slowly. The reach of 221 slots ahead of his predraft ranking makes this a dart throw that likely doesn't hit.

Pick 252 (Round 7) -- Keyshawn James-Newby, EDGE, New Mexico Acquired via Compensatory Pick (From LAR) Grade: D (43.0)

The final pick of the class is another developmental edge rusher. Keyshawn James-Newby was a productive pass rusher at New Mexico who showed bend and a motor that earned him attention. The Eagles need depth on the edge after losing a premier pass rusher in free agency, and James-Newby offers a low-cost lottery ticket. He was projected as a late-round or undrafted player, so the reach of 144 slots is significant. But in the seventh round, you are looking for traits and effort, and James-Newby has both. He will compete for a roster spot in a group that includes Nolan Smith Jr. and Arnold Ebiketie.

Overall Grade

Overall Grade: C- (50.4)

The best pick of the class is unquestionably Cole Payton in the fifth round. He was a top-100 talent who fell into Philadelphia's lap, and the Eagles did not overthink it. Payton provides long-term depth at the most important position and gives the franchise a developmental asset who could either back up Jalen Hurts or become trade bait down the road. That is the kind of value Roseman's best drafts are built on.

The worst pick is Eli Stowers in the second round. Reaching for a raw tight end with a seventh-round grade in a class where higher-ranked players at premium positions were still on the board is the kind of misstep that drags down an entire class. The Eagles need a tight end of the future, but they could have found better value later.

Did the class address the team's critical and high needs? Partially. Markel Bell at offensive tackle was a direct hit at the biggest roster hole. Cole Wisniewski at safety is a late-round flier at a position that needed far more attention. But the Eagles failed to address edge rusher or linebacker with any meaningful investment despite those being significant needs on paper.

The verdict on this haul is mixed. The Eagles got a potential starting tackle in Bell and a future QB asset in Payton. But the early-round reaches on Stowers and Micah Morris, combined with a first-round luxury pick at a deep position, left too much value on the board. In a competitive NFC, this class adds depth and a few intriguing pieces, but it does not feel like the kind of foundational draft that keeps a contender on top. Roseman has earned the benefit of the doubt with his track record, but this class will test that trust.

Pick-by-Pick Summary