Instant analysis of the Eagles selecting Markel Bell with pick No. 68

TL;DR

The Philadelphia Eagles selected offensive tackle Markel Bell with the No. 68 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, aiming to bolster their offensive line depth. Bell, a former Miami Hurricanes player, is seen as a potential replacement for Lane Johnson.

Key points

Eagles selected Markel Bell with the No. 68 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft
Bell is a former Miami Hurricanes offensive tackle
He offers size, length, and developmental upside
The pick aims to bolster the offensive line depth
Bell may replace Lane Johnson in the future

Markel BellLane JohnsonMakai LemonEli Stowers

The Philadelphia Eagles added depth to the offensive line, and Lane Johnson's potential replacement after selecting former Miami Hurricanes offensive tackle Markel Bell with the No. 68 overall pick in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Eagles continued to invest in the trenches on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting Bell after landing Makai Lemon in Round 1 and Eli Stowers in Round 2.

Bell brings size, length, and developmental upside to a unit that has long been the foundation of Philadelphia's roster-building philosophy, but has seen a change with Sean Mannion as offensive coordinator and Jeff Stoutland out as offensive line coach.

With the move now official, we're looking at an instant analysis and key takeaways of the pick.

Bell offers elite but undeveloped traits

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.

Bell is gigantic

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.