NFL writer urges Eagles to take an aggressive first-round draft approach

The closer the Philadelphia Eagles get to the NFL Draft, the clearer one thing becomes. They can go in almost any direction. Holding the 23rd overall pick, Howie Roseman and his staff sit in one of the draft’s most fascinating positions.

They’re close enough to land impact talent, but far enough back that waiting comes with risk. That’s why opinions vary so widely about what they must do. Some believe the Eagles should stay patient and let the board fall to them. Others see a scenario where sitting still could cost them the player they actually want.

Bill Barnwell believes the Eagles' best option is to trade up.

No general manager in football has built a stronger reputation for reading a draft room and acting on instinct than Howie Roseman. Whether it's trading up, trading back, or jumping ahead of a run, he has rarely been passive when an opportunity presents itself.

That's why a recent suggestion from Bill Barnwell feels worth examining. He recently authored '2026 NFL draft: Which teams should trade up, down in Round 1?' for ESPN. He mentions the Eagles, and his idea is simple. Philadelphia shouldn't wait. They should be aggressive.

"It's also about time for the Eagles to start shifting their draft picks to offense. Eight of Philly's nine Day 1 or Day 2 selections over the past three years have been on defensive players... Roseman has to start thinking about what the future looks like on offense now. At No. 23, he's stuck behind teams that could be thinking offensive tackle, including the Panthers at 19, Cowboys at 20 and Steelers at 21. Moving up ahead of them might be necessary to get Johnson's long-term replacement on the right side."

Barnwell suggests this mostly because of the Lane Johnson angle. The legend nears the latter stages of his career. That said, the idea of finding a successor makes sense. There are also questions surrounding depth, which leads to a few thoughts. Let's say the Eagles stand pat at the 23rd selection. Might they miss out on an opportunity to land an elite tackle based on where they are positioned if they aren't aggressive?

Replacing Johnson is nearly impossible. It isn't like Hall of Famers grow on trees, but securing a long-term answer along the offensive line can be found. Several teams picking just ahead of Philadelphia could also be targeting offensive tackles. Teams lurking behind them may be eyeing some of the top prospects and exploring trade-up options of their own. That creates pressure from both directions. If the Eagles sit still, they risk watching their preferred options disappear. Move up, and they control the outcome. Of course, that doesn't make the decision any easier.

This is a deep offensive line class, one that could allow Philadelphia to find value without sacrificing additional picks. Trading up comes at a cost, and the Eagles have multiple needs to address. In some ways, patience might be the smarter play, but history tells a different story.

The Eagles don't often wait for the draft to come to them. They shape it, and if there's a player they believe solves a long-term problem, standing still may never truly be an option. Philadelphia doesn't just react to the draft. If history holds, they'll force the moment rather than wait for it to arrive.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Bill Barnwell urges Eagles to trade up in the first round of NFL Draft