2026 NFL Draft: 11 Ideal prospects for the Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles enter the 2026 NFL Draft with a familiar blueprint: build through the trenches, stay flexible, and let the board dictate the move. Under general manager Howie Roseman, the organization has consistently focused on targeted high-upside players who can contribute immediately or develop into long-term starters.

The Eagles don't need to force a pick—they need to stay disciplined. Whether it's reinforcing the trenches, adding secondary help, or grabbing another offensive weapon, Philadelphia is in a position to take the best player available. If history is any indication, expect the Eagles to trust their board, lean into value, and walk away from the 2026 NFL Draft with multiple players who can contribute both immediately and in the long term.

With roster turnover on defense and added depth at wide receiver, the Eagles have multiple directions they can go. Here are 11 ideal prospects who fit Philadelphia's scheme, philosophy, and roster needs

OL Monroe Freeling

A raw player who's still developing, Freeling is an intriguing prospect offering elite size and athleticism for the right tackle spot. Freeling is a 6'7", 315-pound offensive tackle prospect who turns 22 years old in July. The former Bulldog finished his career with 16 career starts at left tackle, including 12 in 2025 in his lone season as a full-time starter.

WR Denzel Boston, Washington

The second coming of Alshon Jeffery, Boston could be a player to watch if the Eagles trade Brown for a first-round pick. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Boston hauled in 76.9% of his contested targets at Washington last year.

Peter Woods, DL, Clemson

A disruptive interior presence, Woods fits perfectly with Philadelphia's tradition of dominant defensive line play. His strength and quickness would immediately impact the rotation.

Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

One of the most instinctive defensive backs in the class, Downs offers range, tackling, and leadership—traits the Eagles covet in the secondary.

Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State

An explosive edge rusher with high upside, Dennis-Sutton fits Philadelphia's pass-rush philosophy and rotational approach.

Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSU

A versatile playmaker, Perkins can rush the passer, cover, and play sideline-to-sideline—making him a perfect chess piece for a modern defense.

Jalen Stroman, S/Nickel, Notre Dame

Notre Dame safety Jalen Stroman returns an interception for a touchdown in the first half of a NCAA football game against Syracuse at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in South Bend.

A versatile and hybrid defensive back in the mold of Ar'Darius Washington, Stroman offers versatility and special teams ability, which should give him a chance to contribute immediately. Stroman is a hybrid defender and would thrive in Philadelphia.

DB A.J. Haulcy, LSU

Haulcy, a transfer from Houston, led LSU with a total of 88 tackles. He showcased impressive performance during a four-game stretch, achieving double-digit tackles against Ole Miss (13 tackles), South Carolina (12 tackles), Vanderbilt (13 tackles), and Texas A&M (12 tackles). Over the course of 702 defensive snaps, Haulcy recorded three interceptions, four pass breakups, a forced fumble, and one tackle for loss. While in pass coverage for 406 snaps, he allowed only one touchdown and limited opponents to just 24 receptions.

EDGE R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma

Thomas was named to the 2024 All-SEC Second Team and received recognition as a second-team All-American by both the Associated Press and the AFCA. He was selected for the All-SEC First Team by the coaches and the All-SEC Second Team by the Associated Press. He was also a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award. Thomas is a dynamic pass rusher with speed and agility, recording 15.5 sacks over the last two seasons, including 6.5 sacks in 10 games in 2025. He also had 25.5 tackles for loss for the Sooners' defense in 2024 and 2025. Among edge players in the SEC with at least 106 pass rush snaps, Thomas finished ninth in pass rush productivity, according to Pro Football Focus.

EDGE Gabe Jacas, Illinois

Jacas is a versatile edge rusher whose combination of size (6'3", 270 pounds) and athleticism aligns well with the Ravens' style. He led the Big Ten with 11.0 sacks during the regular season, ranking sixth in the nation. He also tied for 13th nationally (and third in the Big Ten) with three forced fumbles, bringing his career total to seven, which ties him for sixth in Illinois' career record book. With 27.0 career sacks, he holds the record for the most among active Big Ten defenders and ranks fifth nationally in FBS. Jacas started all 12 regular-season games, recording 43 total tackles (23 solo), 13.5 tackles for loss, 11.0 sacks, six quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, and one pass breakup. In a rivalry win against Northwestern on November 29, 2025, he contributed four tackles (two solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, and two QB hurries.

EDGE Zion Young, Missouri

Young, a transfer from Michigan State, started all 13 games at the JACK position last season. He recorded a total of 23 tackles, including 9 solo tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss (TFL), and a team-high 9.0 sacks, along with one interception. His average of 0.69 sacks per game ranked him 19th nationally and fourth in the SEC. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the 34th-ranked pass rusher in the nation with a grade of 80.9. He ranked 13th nationally among all edge players in Pass Rush Productivity (PRP) with a score of 10.5, which is calculated using a formula that combines sacks, hits, and hurries relative to the number of times he rushes the passer. PFF credited him with 37 quarterback hurries and nine quarterback hits. Young was also named to the Second Team All-SEC by league coaches.

CB D'Angelo Ponds, Indiana

During his final season, Ponds started 14 games and missed one due to injury (at Iowa). He was named the Defensive MVP of both the Rose Bowl and the Peach Bowl. He was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and received first-team All-America honors from The Sporting News. Additionally, he earned second-team All-America selections from the Associated Press, the American Football Coaches Association, and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. He also received All-America recognition from The Athletic (2nd team), CBS Sports (2nd team), On3 (2nd team), and Sports Illustrated (1st team). Furthermore, he was named first-team All-Big Ten by both the conference's media and coaches panels.

EDGE Romello Height, Texas Tech

A first-team All-Big 12 selection, Height has 32 tackles, including 8 1/2 sacks, last season.

EDGE LT Overton, Alabama

Overton is a versatile edge rusher standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 278 pounds, showcasing significant potential as a pass-rusher. In his final season, he played in 13 games, starting 12. He recorded a total of 42 tackles, including six tackles for loss (totaling 28 yards) and four sacks (for a loss of 23 yards). Additionally, he contributed four quarterback pressures and had one pass breakup. Overton received preseason All-America recognition from ESPN.com, earning first-team honors, and was named a third-team preseason All-American by Athlon. He was also selected for the Nagurski Trophy Watch List, which is awarded annually to the top defensive player in college football. Furthermore, he was included on the watch lists for the Wuerffel Trophy, the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, and the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.

Ole Miss WR De'Zhaun Stribling

The 6-foot-2, 207-pound Stribling ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine last month. A player who has moved around, Stribling played at Washington State and Oklahoma State before transferring to Ole Miss for his final college season.

Andre Fuller, Toledo

Fuller only registered 29 total tackles and five pass breakups in his first two seasons. During a healthy final season, Fuller became a first-team All-Mid-American Conference selection for the first time in his career, recording 49 total tackles, an interception, and 11 pass breakups. According to Pro Football Focus, Fuller graded as top 50 in defense grades and coverage grades, respectively.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: 11 ideal prospects for the Eagles in the 2026 NFL Draft