An Elite Eight Formed for the Eagles in 2026 NFL Draft
It’s another huge draft weekend win for Howie Roseman and the Eagles.
What Will It Mean for 2026?
That wasn’t Tyrese Maxey who was ringing the bell before the Sixers Game on Friday night in South Philadelphia. It was Philadelphia Eagles 1st Round Draft selection Makai Lemon in a Maxey Jersey.
WR Makai Lemon // USC
His selection with the 20th overall pick — trading with the Dallas Cowboys and scooping him up before the Pittsburgh Steelers could take him with the 21st pick.
It could very well be the final indication that A.J. Brown will be traded after June 1st.
A former Pop Warner national champion , Makai Lemon was an All-American on MaxPreps as well as an Under Armor All-American. In three seasons, he had over 137 receptions and 2,000 yards.
He was a unanimous All-American and a Fred Biletnikoff Award Winner in 2025.
TE Eli Stowers // Vanderbilt
What do 1948, 1949, 1960, 2018, and 2025 all have in common? You guessed it — all championship years for the Eagles — and all of them partially thanks to having an elite tight end.
Now, in what seems to be the final years of Dallas Goedert’s tenure in Philadelphia, he will most likely give way to Eli Stowers — a first-team All-American honors and won the Mackey Award in 2025 — and the team’s 54th selection in the second round. In his last two years at Vanderbilt, Stowers racked up nearly 1,500 yards and nine scores.
T Markel Bell // Miami
In the third round, the Eagles picked Markel Bell from the University of Miami. It’s been a decade since an offensive lineman of his size has been selected — and the pick that the Eagles utilized is the final piece of the Haason Reddick trade.
QB Cole Payton // North Dakota State
It’s been a decade since the Eagles selected franchise quarterback Carson Wentz from North Dakota State. Now they have selected left-handed quarterback Cole Payton (number 178) in the 5th round , which may also signal that the team is ready to part with backup quarterback Tanner McKee. In five years at North Dakota State, Payton has thrown for nearly 3,200 yards and 21 touchdowns.
G Micah Morris // Georgia
Then in the 6th with the two hundredth and seventh selection — the Eagles selected another offensive lineman in Georgia Guard Micah Morris, who’s not only 6-foot-5 and 334-pounds — he’s also a winner. He helped Georgia earn two National Championships and three SEC titles.
S Cole Wisniewski // Texas Tech
Safety Cole Wisniewski from Texas Tech joined the Eagles in the seventh round with the 244th selection.
Last season for the Red Raiders — he had 78 tackles in 14 games.
DT Uar Bernard // International Player Pathway Program
The Eagles continued their interest in international talent as well this weekend — selecting International Player Pathway Program’s Uar Bernard. At 6-foot-4, 306 pounds, Bernard was impressive at the HBCU Showcase and International Player Pathway Pro Day in March. He clocked in at 4.63 in the forty-yard dash and registered a thirty-nine-inch vertical.
OLB Keyshawn James-Newby // New Mexico
One pick later, they selected OLB Keyshawn James-Newby from the University of New Mexico.
Trade for Jonathan Greenard
But perhaps — the biggest news of the Draft was indeed the second trade that the Eagles made on Thursday night. Philadelphia traded two third-round picks (a third-round draft pick now and a third-round selection in 2027) to the Vikings for Jonathan Greenard.
The Edge Rusher was then signed to a 4-year, $100 million extension (including $50 million guaranteed).
NFL.com has given the Eagles a B+ for the 2026 NFL Draft.
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