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NFL
NFL Draft Results: Eagles pick intriguing Uar Bernard at No. 251
TL;DR
The Philadelphia Eagles selected Uar Bernard with the No. 251 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Bernard, a Nigeria native, has never played football before and is considered a high-risk, high-reward project.
Key points
- Uar Bernard was drafted No. 251 by the Philadelphia Eagles.
- He has never played football before.
- Bernard is considered a high-risk, high-reward project.
- He is listed as a defensive tackle.
- The Eagles' coaching staff faces a new challenge with his development.
Uar BernardJordan MailataPhiladelphia Eagles
With the No. 251 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles select … Uar Bernard!
Bernard is an intriguing selection because — not unlike how when the Eagles drafted Jordan Mailata back in 2018 — he’s never played a snap of football in his life. The Nigeria native is a total projection but he’s an athletic freak show.
Bernard is listed as a defensive tackle. Eagles defensive line coach/senior defensive assistant/associate head coach Clint Hurtt has done a good job with his position group in Philly but this is an entirely new challenge for him. It’ll be fascinating to see if Bernard can become anything. It’s quite possible he won’t. Even if he does, it could take multiple years for him to become a playable player.
Lots of theoretical upside, very little risk to take him this late in the draft.
Scouting report via NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein:
Bernard is a defensive line prospect from the same International Player Pathway program that produced Eagles OT Jordan Mailata. Bernard has not played organized football, but he displayed a rare blend of size, length and explosiveness at the IPP pro day in March. He could garner consideration as a defensive tackle, defensive end or even offensive tackle if he takes to the training. He will require work on every facet of his technique and fundamentals, so a team will need to be patient with a long-term plan for him. As one of the rarest of physical specimens I’ve seen in the sport, Bernard warrants a late-round selection. His ability to incorporate and execute upon the coaching he receives will determine his future in the sport. The odds might be against him earning snaps, but the exceptional traits will be hard for teams to ignore.
Grade the pick
Remaining Eagles draft picks
1 (20) – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
2 (54) – Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
Q&A
Who is Uar Bernard and why was he drafted by the Eagles?
Uar Bernard is a Nigeria native selected by the Philadelphia Eagles as a defensive tackle with the No. 251 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, despite having never played football before.
What are the expectations for Uar Bernard after being drafted?
Expectations for Uar Bernard are low initially, as he is viewed as a project player with potential upside that may take years to develop into a playable athlete.
How does Uar Bernard's selection compare to Jordan Mailata's draft experience?
Similar to Jordan Mailata's selection in 2018, Uar Bernard is an intriguing pick due to his lack of football experience, making him a high-risk, high-reward choice for the Eagles.