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Don’t overlook Eagles' seventh-round edge rusher Keyshawn James-Newby
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- Don’t overlook Eagles' seventh-round edge rusher Keyshawn James-Newby
Seventh-round picks aren’t supposed to generate buzz, but sometimes, they do anyway. The Philadelphia Eagles closed out their 2026 draft class with three of them. Two are trench defenders: International Pathways Player Program standout Ura Bernard and edge rusher Keyshawn James-Newby.
The latter has, in many ways, taken a backseat to the former. If you noticed, the Eagles selected a guy who never played American football one spot before him, and much of the post-draft talk has involved Bernard . Still, during a post-draft press conference , while most attention had been directed elsewhere, general manager Howie Roseman explained to everyone why this pick matters.
"He can rush. I think when you turn on the tape and you see him in must-pass situations, he can get off the ball, he can bend, he's got production as a rusher. Obviously, you're looking for traits late in the draft. That's one of the reasons we wanted to get picks there, we had a bunch of guys we wanted to take."
That's not filler praise. That's an explanation of genuine interest and possible value. James-Newby’s resume backs it up. He has traits that translate to the professional level. Try 52 tackles, nine sacks, five pass breakups, and two forced fumbles during his final NCAA season for size. Production is production, regardless of where it comes from, and as the saying goes, always scout the player, not the helmet.
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Yes, the level of competition he faced while playing for the New Mexico Lobos will be questioned. It always is. What can't be ignored are the traits: burst off the line, the ability to bend the edge, and a natural feel for getting after the quarterback.
Those are the exact tools teams gamble on late in the draft. Philadelphia made that gamble. He joins a crowded room at the edge rusher. The path to immediate playing time seems doubtful. With Jonathan Greenard added to a group that already includes Jalyx Hunt , opportunities will be limited. Nolan Smith's fifth-year option was exercised . The numbers game alone suggests a practice squad spot is the most realistic outcome, at least early on.
That isn't the whole story, though. Don't close the book on Keyshawn James-Newby yet. This is only the beginning. Late-round picks don’t come with guarantees, but they do come with opportunity. Sometimes, that’s more than enough.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles see upside in under-the-radar rusher James-Newby
