The Eagles' general manager Howie Roseman executed a strategic NFL draft, making a significant trade and selecting unconventional players. This approach has been described as a masterclass in draft strategy.
Key points
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman executed a strategic NFL draft.
The Eagles traded with the Vikings for edge rusher Jonathan Greenard.
Eagles selected tight end Eli Stowers with the 54th overall pick.
The Eagles interrupted the Steelers' call to wide receiver Makai Lemon.
Roseman's approach has been described as a masterclass in draft strategy.
EaglesSteelersVikingsJonathan Greenard
How Eagles turned major trade, 'unusual' picks into NFL draft masterclass
PHILADELPHIA − It only seems like Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is putting on an NFL draft clinic.
Just minutes after the Eagles used their second-round pick, No. 54 overall, on tight end Eli Stowers, who up until three years ago was a college quarterback, Roseman showed everyone what he thought of the edge rushers in the draft by trading with the Vikings for Jonathan Greenard.
Then he signed Greenard to a four-year contract worth as much as $100 million.
The Eagles emerged less than an hour later by taking Miami left tackle Markel Bell in the third round, pick No. 68. Bell happens to be 6-foot-9, 346 pounds, and the tallest in the draft.
And as Bell put it, "I may still grow, you know?"
Q&A
What major trade did the Eagles make during the NFL draft?
The Eagles traded with the Vikings to acquire edge rusher Jonathan Greenard.
Who did the Eagles select with their second-round pick in the NFL draft?
The Eagles selected tight end Eli Stowers with the 54th overall pick.
How did the Eagles embarrass the Steelers during the draft?
The Eagles interrupted the Steelers' call to wide receiver Makai Lemon by trading ahead of them.
What makes the Eagles' draft strategy considered a masterclass?
The combination of strategic trades and selecting unconventional players has showcased Roseman's innovative approach to the draft.
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Then the Eagles were done − for a while. They traded away their other third-round pick (No. 98) for Greenard. They traded away both of their fourth-round picks (Nos. 114 and 137) to move up for Lemon in the first round.
Their next scheduled pick is at No. 178, a compensatory pick at the end of the fifth round on April 25. That means the Eagles are going a span of 110 spots without making a pick.
Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers (9) makes a catch as he warms up before playing against Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.
Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers (9) celebrates his touchdown against Ball State during the second quarter at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.
Nov 8, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Eli Stowers (9) against the Auburn Tigers during pre-game warmups at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Eli Stowers of the Vanderbilt Commodores participates in the 40-yard dash during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers receives a pass during football pro day at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, March 20, 2026.
Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers (9) makes the catch under coverable by Tennessee defensive back Andre Turrentine (2) in an NCAA college football game in Nov. 29, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Oct 25, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Eli Stowers (9) celebrates a catch against the Missouri Tigers during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Nov 8, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Eli Stowers (9) runs with the ball after a made catch against the Auburn Tigers during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Oct 25, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Eli Stowers (9) makes a catch against the Missouri Tigers during the second quarter at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
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Meet Eli Stowers, Eagles second-round draft pick in photos
Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers (9) makes a catch as he warms up before playing against Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.
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Meet Eli Stowers, Eagles second-round draft pick in photos
Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers (9) makes a catch as he warms up before playing against Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.
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Meet Eli Stowers, Eagles second-round draft pick in photos
Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers (9) celebrates his touchdown against Ball State during the second quarter at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.
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Meet Eli Stowers, Eagles second-round draft pick in photos
Nov 8, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Eli Stowers (9) against the Auburn Tigers during pre-game warmups at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
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Meet Eli Stowers, Eagles second-round draft pick in photos
Eli Stowers of the Vanderbilt Commodores participates in the 40-yard dash during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Meet Eli Stowers, Eagles second-round draft pick in photos
Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers receives a pass during football pro day at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, March 20, 2026.
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Meet Eli Stowers, Eagles second-round draft pick in photos
Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers (9) makes the catch under coverable by Tennessee defensive back Andre Turrentine (2) in an NCAA college football game in Nov. 29, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Meet Eli Stowers, Eagles second-round draft pick in photos
Oct 25, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Eli Stowers (9) celebrates a catch against the Missouri Tigers during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
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Meet Eli Stowers, Eagles second-round draft pick in photos
Nov 8, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Eli Stowers (9) runs with the ball after a made catch against the Auburn Tigers during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
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Meet Eli Stowers, Eagles second-round draft pick in photos
Oct 25, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Eli Stowers (9) makes a catch against the Missouri Tigers during the second quarter at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
You think Roseman cares in a draft that has as much depth as a wading pool?
"You tell me who’s going to be available at the pick, and I’ll tell you how good the draft is," Roseman said. "There’s not going to be a pick that we have in this draft that we won’t be excited about taking, I’ll promise you that. It was more about the quality of the player. It was more about the impact they could have on the team."
In other words, Greenard, who had 12.5 sacks in 2023 and 12 sacks in 2024 before dropping down to 3 sacks last season, was better in the Eagles' eyes than any edge rusher the Eagles could have drafted in the first, second or third round.
Greenard, thus, is a plug-in replacement for Jaelan Phillips who left in free agency to sign a four-year deal worth as much as $120 million, or $20 million more than what the Eagles are paying Greenard through the 2031 season.
"We just felt like we had a really good D-line, but we really wanted to elevate it to another level," Roseman said. "Obviously, we saw how that happened last year (with Phillips). As we went through the draft, it really made sense with where our football team was to acquire this player."
It was the same with the draft picks.
Sure, the Eagles could have addressed the offensive line with the second-round pick. But why force a pick when there was a freakish athlete at tight end in Stowers, who had a 45.5 inch vertical leap at the NFL scouting combine? That set a Combine record for tight ends, and was the second best for all positions since 2003.
Yes, Stowers needs to improve as a blocker, refine his routes, and so on. But wow, that potential.
"The guy is super talented," Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. "Athletically, he does some things that nobody else can do. And just to be able to create mismatches with him on third downs, and first and second down situations, he is a tough cover. He catches everything, good after the catch, speed, quickness, so really excited to have him."
The same is true with Bell in the third round.
Bell was on a Hurricanes team that reached the national championship game. He didn't allow a single sack last season. And he's just 21 years old.
Roseman said Bell was a "passion player" for the Eagles in that he hasn't reached his potential. And he'll have at least a season to learn behind future Hall of Fame right tackle Lane Johnson and left tackle Jordan Mailata.
Roseman said had Bell gone back to Miami instead of declaring for the draft, he would've been drafted much higher next year.
"When we were studying both of those guys, the word ‘unusual’ came up a lot," Roseman said about Stowers and Bell. "Both of those guys are unusual. And with that comes the character … and the willingness to learn and get better.
"We know that these guys aren’t finished products. But we’re really excited about what the ceiling can be with both of those guys."
They don't have to be finished products right now. Stowers can learn behind Dallas Goedert and Johnny Mundt, a blocking tight end signed in free agency. Bell can learn from Johnson and Mailata.
"Dallas is actually one of the guys I used to watch on film a lot, just to learn at the tight end position," Stowers said. "Tight end is a new position to me still. So the last few years, I’ve been trying to soak up as much film as I can and learn … Being able to learn from him and Johnny, too, I’m just so excited to be around them and be able to help me in my career."
If those picks reach their potential, along with Lemon, the Eagles could have the equivalent of three first-round picks. Make it four with Greenard.
