The Philadelphia Eagles just finished an 11-6 campaign that felt a lot more stressful than the record suggests. Honestly, after that Wild Card exit to the 49ers, the vibe in Philly is a mix of "we're almost there" and "everything needs to change." Howie Roseman is sitting on a mountain of draft capital for the 2026 NFL Draft—potentially twelve picks when the compensatory formula settles—and if you think he's going to stand pat at No. 23, you haven't been paying attention for the last decade.
The roster is at a weird crossroads. Lane Johnson is 35 and missed a huge chunk of 2025 with injuries. Jaelan Phillips, whom they snagged in a mid-season trade, is a free agent. Even the tight end room is looking thin with Dallas Goedert’s future up in the air.
Building an Eagles NFL mock draft right now isn't about finding a "missing piece." It's about a total insurance policy for a roster that’s starting to show some gray hairs.
The Lane Johnson Succession Plan
You can’t talk about the Eagles without talking about the offensive line. It’s the law. Jeff Stoutland is a wizard, but even wizards need high-end clay to work with. Lane Johnson is the greatest right tackle of his generation, but we saw the offense sputter when he was sidelined this year.
Most experts, including Dane Brugler, have the Eagles looking at the interior or the right side early. One name that keeps surfacing is Spencer Fano from Utah. He’s got that "Stoutland University" profile—nasty, athletic, and versatile enough to play both tackle spots. If Fano is there at 23, it’s a no-brainer.
But what if Howie gets aggressive?
There's a world where they move up for a blue-chip tackle like Kadyn Proctor. The Eagles have five picks in the top 100. They have the ammo to jump into the top 15 if they think a franchise tackle is sliding. Roseman hates being reactive. He’d much rather draft a "redshirt" tackle a year early than be forced to start a turnstile in 2027.
Defense: Finding the Next Edge Monster
The pass rush was... fine in 2025. Just fine. For a team that relies on relentless pressure, "fine" doesn't cut it. Jaelan Phillips was a great rental, but his projected market value is north of $17 million a year. With Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis due for massive extensions soon, the Eagles might have to let Phillips walk and find his replacement in the draft.
Keep an eye on Keldric Faulk from Auburn. He’s a massive human being with the length of a defensive tackle but the bend of a speed rusher. He’s had an up-and-down season at Auburn, which is exactly why he might be available in the late first round. That’s the "Howie Special": a high-pedigree player who is slightly undervalued because of team context.
If it’s not Faulk, the Georgia pipeline is always open. Daylen Everette is a name popping up in the second round. He’s a physical corner who fits the Vic Fangio system like a glove. He’s aggressive at the line and won't get bullied by the bigger receivers in the NFC East.
The Mid-Round Wildcards
- Tight End: With Goedert, Calcaterra, and Granson all hitting free agency, the Eagles need a "Y" tight end. Joe Royer from Cincinnati is a name to watch. He’s a developmental blocker who can actually catch, basically a younger, cheaper version of what they have now.
- Wide Receiver: There’s a lot of noise about A.J. Brown’s "discontent," though most of that is probably just Twitter being Twitter. Still, adding a guy like Makai Lemon from USC in the mid-rounds would give Jalen Hurts a dynamic slot option they’ve lacked.
- Safety: Reed Blankenship is a free agent. Keon Sabb is a local kid currently at Alabama who would be a massive hit with the fanbase. He’s a thumper in the run game and would allow Sydney Brown to play more of a rover role.
Why This Mock Draft Matters More Than Usual
The 2026 offseason is going to be a financial headache. The Eagles have about $22 million in cap space, which sounds like a lot until you realize they have ten contracts set to void in March. They are the kings of "pushing the money down the road," but eventually, the bill comes due.
Drafting well in rounds three through five is where this team will be won or lost. They have those extra picks from the Haason Reddick and C.J. Gardner-Johnson trades. If Howie can turn those into three starters, the window stays open. If he misses, the roster starts to look very top-heavy and brittle.
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Realistic 3-Round Eagles NFL Mock Draft
- Round 1 (Pick 23): Spencer Fano, OT, Utah. The heir apparent to Lane Johnson. He might play guard for a year, but he's the future at RT.
- Round 2 (Pick 54): Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn. High-upside pass rusher to replace the production of Jaelan Phillips.
- Round 3 (Pick 69 - from NYJ): Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia. Because you can never have enough Georgia defenders on this roster.
- Round 3 (Pick 83): Joe Royer, TE, Cincinnati. Insurance for the impending tight end exodus.
What You Should Watch Next
The Senior Bowl and the Scouting Combine are going to be huge for this specific group of prospects. Pay close attention to the 10-yard split times for the offensive linemen and the arm length measurements for the edge rushers. These are the "thresholds" that the Eagles front office obsesses over.
If Spencer Fano shows up and tests like an elite athlete, he won't be there at 23. If he doesn't, he becomes a perfect "Stoutland project." Keep an eye on the compensatory pick announcements in early March; that will officially confirm just how many "lottery tickets" Howie has to play with during draft weekend.
Actionable Insights:
Check the NFL underclassmen tracker to see if the top tackles like Proctor officially declare. Also, monitor the A.J. Brown situation leading up to June 1st—if he's traded after that date, the Eagles' draft strategy flips entirely toward high-volume receiving threats.