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Introducing the Philadelphia Eagles' 8-player 2026 NFL draft class
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- Introducing the Philadelphia Eagles' 8-player 2026 NFL draft class
Philadelphia talked about swinging the pendulum towards the offense, and the Eagles finished Saturday with f ive offensive players, with their first five picks going to offensive players who'll play key roles in the future. Of the five, only Makai Lemon and Eli Stowers appear set for Day 1 roles. Markel Bell, Micah Morris, and others may not seed the field until 2027 at the earliest. On defense, the Eagles added Texas Tech safety Cole Wisniewski and New Mexico pass rusher Keyshawn James-Newby, with an intriguing International Pathway Program participant, Uar Bernard, sandwiched in between.
Eagles' eight-player draft class
1st round-20th overall: Makai Lemon, WR, Southern Cal
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The last time Philadelphia traded up for a wide receiver, they landed Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith . Smith was a Biletnikoff Award winner, and the Eagles landed another one after GM Howie Roseman traded picks No. 23, 114 & 137 to Dallas for pick 20 and a 7th round pick to select USC wide receiver Makai Lemon. With the move, the expectation is that A.J. Brown will be traded after June 1, when his dead cap hit drops significantly.
2d-54: Eli Stowers , TE, Vanderbilt
In his first season at Vanderbilt, he recorded 638 yards and five touchdowns, earning first-team All-SEC honors. In 2025, Stowers had a standout season with 62 receptions for 769 yards and four touchdowns, once again receiving first-team All-SEC honors for the second consecutive year. Additionally, he was named a unanimous All-American, won the Mackey Award, and received the Campbell Trophy.
3d-68: Markel Bell, T, Miami
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At Miami, Bell showed flashes of strong pass-protection ability and physicality in the run game, traits that align with what the Eagles prioritize at the offensive line. While he may not be expected to start immediately, his addition provides valuable depth and competition behind the starters.
At 6'9", ~346 pounds, Markel Bell is a massive offensive tackle for the Miami Hurricanes and a developing NFL Draft prospect known for his rare size and power. He earned Third-Team All-ACC honors in 2025.
5th-178: Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State
From Carson Wentz to Trey Lance , North Dakota State produces solid prospects. A 2025 Walter Payton Award finalist (3rd), Payton led the Bison to a 12-1 record, including an 8-0 record in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in his first year as a starter. Payton Set NDSU single-season records for pass efficiency. After missing the final eight games of the 2024 season with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder, he bounced back in 2025, finishing with 3,188 passing yards, 29 total TDs (16 passing, 13 rushing), and four interceptions.
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6th-207: Micah Morris, G, Georgia
Morris played in and started all 14 games during the season, contributing to an offense that averaged 32.1 points, 182.1 rushing yards, and 220.3 passing yards per game. He was also part of a Georgia offense that ranked third in the NCAA for first downs with 316 and was first nationally in fourth-down conversions at 76.5% during the regular season.
7th-244: Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech
Wisniewski was named one of 15 semifinalists for the Comeback Player of the Year award after missing the entire 2024 season. He became a key player in the Red Raider defense, playing safety and starting all 14 games during his only season at Texas Tech. He finished as the third-leading tackler on the team with 78 total tackles (38 solo), leading all defensive backs and trailing only linebackers Jacob Rodriguez (128) and Ben Roberts (90). Wisniewski was one of four Red Raiders to record 70 or more tackles, marking a first for the team since 2015. Along with Arizona , Texas Tech was one of only two Big 12 programs to have four players with 70-plus tackles that season.
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7th-251: Uar Bernard, DT, Nigeria
The Philadelphia Eagles used another pick in the 2026 NFL Draft with one of the most intriguing selections of the weekend, taking defensive tackle Uar Bernard with the No. 251 overall pick through the International Pathway Program. Bernard, a native of Nigeria, brings a rare blend of size and athleticism, measuring in at 6-foot-4½ and 306 pounds with 36-inch arms, 11-inch hands, a 39-inch vertical, and a reported 4.63 40-yard dash.
7th-252: Keyshawn James-Newby, Edge, New Mexico
The Philadelphia Eagles select New Mexico outside linebacker Keyshawn James-Newby in Round 7 of the 2026 NFL Draft with the No. 252 overall pick (via a trade with the Los Angeles Rams ). An undersized edge rusher, James-Newby, 6-foot-2, 245 pounds, started his college career at Montana Tech Junior College in Butte, Montana, where he had 4.0 sacks as a freshman and 9.0 in his second year. He transferred to Idaho after the 2022 season and had five sacks in 2023 and 10.5 in 2024 before finishing one season in Albuquerque.
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So in five seasons at three colleges at three different levels, he had 37 ½ sacks.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Introducing the Philadelphia Eagles' 8-player 2026 NFL draft class
