2026 NFL draft: 8 edge rushers Eagles fans should know

Q: Who did the Eagles lose in free agency before the 2026 NFL draft?

The Eagles lost edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, who signed a contract with the Panthers.

Q: What position are the Eagles focusing on for the 2026 NFL draft?

The Eagles are focusing on edge rusher prospects in the 2026 NFL draft.

Q: Why did the Eagles need to pivot in their draft strategy?

The Eagles needed to pivot in their draft strategy after failing to re-sign Jaelan Phillips, which left a gap in their edge rusher position.

Q: What is the timeline for the 2026 NFL draft related to the Eagles?

The 2026 NFL draft is approaching in the next 10 days, prompting the Eagles to evaluate their roster needs.

The 2026 NFL draft is rapidly approaching, and the Philadelphia Eagles are almost on the clock.

Over the next 10 days, PennLive will be breaking down each position on the roster, looking at what the Eagles have and what general manager Howie Roseman might need in the draft.

The early hours of free agency didn’t go the Eagles’ way.

They not only wanted to re-sign standout edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, but they were optimistic that it would happen. Instead, Phillips signed a massive contract with the Panthers, forcing the Eagles to pivot.

Roseman brought in Arnold Ebiketie and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka on one-year deals. But edge rusher is still a position of need in the draft, and Roseman knows that.

“It’s always been a position that we like to have a lot of players,” Roseman said at NFL owners meetings last month. “We like waves of edge rushers. ... There’s still an opportunity to add.”

It’s unlikely that the Eagles will use their first-round pick on an edge rusher. The expectation is that Roseman will target an offensive difference-maker, whether that’s a wide receiver with A.J. Brown’s murky future or a successor for right tackle Lane Johnson.

But this is a deep edge rusher class, giving the Eagles plenty of options to choose from to complement Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, Ebiketie and Tryon-Shoyinka.

The Eagles have three Day 2 picks (Nos. 54, 68, 98) with a collection of edge rusher prospects worth keeping an eye on in that range.

DRAFT OPTIONS

(Player round projections courtesy of The Athletic’s Dane Brugler.)

Keldric Faulk, Auburn (1st round): If the Eagles are going to take an edge rusher in the first round, it’ll be because a top-tier talent fell to them. Faulk (No. 15 overall on Brugler’s big board) is that kind of a player. The 6-foot-6, 276-pounder has a freaky athletic profile and would be worth taking a swing on as a straight-up Phillips replacement.

TJ Parker, Clemson (1st/2nd round): Parker was a top-10 projected pick eight months ago, but his stock fell after a dip in production (19 1/2 TFLs, 11 sacks, six forced fumbles in 2024; 9 1/2 TFLs, five sacks in 2025). The talent is still there, though. Maybe Roseman would move up from No. 54 to snag Parker if he’s available early in the second round.

Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State (2nd/3rd round): The Eagles have shown interest in Dennis-Sutton throughout the pre-draft process, meeting with him at the Senior Bowl and Combine and hosting him for a top-30 visit. We outlined recently in greater detail why the 6-foot-5, 256-pounder makes so much sense for the Eagles.

Gabe Jacas, Illinois (2nd/3rd round): Like Dennis-Sutton, Jacas would be a plug-and-play rotational player. He was a force for Illinois, recording 19 sacks over his last two seasons. He’s a bit on the smaller side at 6-foot-3. But Jacas’ motor and technique are top notch.

Romello Height, Texas Tech (3rd round): Height is another edge rusher who the Eagles hosted for a top-30 visit. He’s already 25 years old; Roseman typically prefers prospects who are younger with more upside. But Height’s floor as a pass-rushing specialist is high. And considering the Eagles’ short-term needs, the Texas Tech star might be a perfect fit.

Derrick Moore (3rd round): Moore checks a lot of boxes as a well-rounded, rotational piece. The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder had 10 sacks last season. He’s aggressive in setting the edge as a run defender. He was a team captain. There’s a lot to like.

Caden Curry, Ohio State (4th/5th round): Curry burst onto the scene with 11 sacks in 2025 after having only 3 1/2 in his previous three seasons. He’s shorter at 6-foot-2 and might get swallowed up by NFL offensive tackles. But his motor is admirable, and his special teams experience (608 career snaps, two blocked punts) is a bonus.

Nadame Tucker, Western Michigan (6th/7th round): If the Eagles wait to add an edge rusher until late on Day 3 (or if they wanted to add a second), Tucker would be a solid option. He’ll be 26 years old at the start of his rookie season. But his get-off and motor are impressive, and he had 21 1/2 TFLs last season. Not a bad dart throw.