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Eagles’ biggest roster needs heading into the 2026 NFL Draft
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- Eagles’ biggest roster needs heading into the 2026 NFL Draft
Nolan Smith Jr. #3, Philadelphia Eagles (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The Philadelphia Eagles have never been shy about reshaping their roster, and this offseason has been no different. General manager Howie Roseman has once again worked to plug holes through free agency and short-term deals, but the reality is clear: this team still has areas that require long-term answers. With the 2026 NFL Draft approaching, Philadelphia finds itself balancing immediate needs with future planning, a familiar but delicate exercise. What makes this year different is the small margin for error. Then again, that can also be viewed as a similarity.
Several key positions are either lacking proven depth or leaning on aging veterans and short-term solutions. The Eagles have enough talent to compete, but sustaining success will depend on how well they identify and address these roster gaps . Whether it's reinforcing the trenches or adding stability to the secondary, the draft will play a critical role in shaping the next phase of this roster.
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1. Edge Rusher
Nolan Smith has shown flashes but has also battled injuries. Some of that has led to inconsistent play, but he simply hasn't gotten as good as the Eagles need him to be fast enough. Jaelan Phillips is gone , and he has now been replaced by Arnold Ebiketie , which is sort of a drop-off.
Jalyx Hunt is a very good football player, but the Eagles need more than that. They can't keep asking Brandon Graham to delay his retirement ( even if he wouldn't mind ).
2. Offensive Tackle
We saw how one of the game's best units can fall off when injuries occur. Lane Johnson and Landon Dickerson will return in 2026 despite the concerns about their long-term health.
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Speaking of health, why aren't we discussing Cam Jurgens ' back issues in more detail? Remember how debilitating those were for Tim Jernigan?
Philadelphia drafted Myles Hinton and Cameron Williams in 2025, but no one knows if they're a long-term answer. Fred Johnson re-signed for a year , but he's more of a bridge player. This team must find a successor for Lane Johnson and possibly Dickerson.
3. Safety
Sydney Brown was traded for picks . The new guy, J.T. Gray, is more of a special teams player (and he's older) . Marcus Epps , another one-year rental , isn't a long-term answer, and with Reed Blankenship gone, Andrew Mukuba might be the best player at the position, but there is fear that he is injury-prone.
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That brings us to Andre' Sam. Decent player... High upside... Minimal results so far. Philadelphia must invest some draft capital into this position.
4. Wide Receiver
A.J. Brown , at the time of this story's release, is still on the roster. Few expect that to be the case when the regular season arrives. DeVonta Smith is a star, and adding Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown has to be seen as an upgrade for the loss of Jahan Dotson .
Elijah Moore isn't enough for insurance, and we may have already seen the best that Johnny Wilson , Britain Covey , and Danny Gray have to offer. Someone had better cross their fingers and hope that Darius Cooper is still on an incline.
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5. Tight End
Getting Dallas Goedert back was a victory, but we see how the rest of the league views him. Past him, there isn't much. There are bodies ( Grant Calcaterra , Johnny Mundt , Cameron Latu , and E.J. Jenkins). Latu is a good special teamer. Jenkins can be 'okay' when forced into action, but if Goedert gets hurt, which happens from time to time, the complexion of this team changes in a hurry.
Final thoughts
The Eagles don't need a complete overhaul, but they do need impact additions in the right places. If they can turn these needs into strengths through the draft, Philadelphia won't just remain competitive. They'll position themselves to contend at the highest level again.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles' biggest roster needs heading into the 2026 NFL Draft
