Perfect Picks 2026 – Philadelphia Eagles
By Rhys Knott
Howie Roseman might have won the PFWA Executive of the Year Award twice in the last nine years, but he’s arguably been the best GM in football for a decade. That man could win a draft in his sleep.
The Eagles’ 2026 offseason saw Howie juggling some metaphorical chainsaws. While the Eagles only had 19 players hitting free agency, Roseman had an A.J. Brown-sized problem to deal with.
The arrivals of Hollywood Brown and Dontayvion Wicks virtually guarantee Brown will be traded to the Patriots after the 1st of June.
The Eagles have fired Kevin Patullo and replaced him with former Vikings’ quarterback Sean Mannion. That all points to a more pass heavy offense, but A.J. Hurts might have something to say about that.
Sam Howell and A.J. Dillon both departed in free agency. Howell is replaced by Andy Dalton and Dameon Pierce and Carson Steele both occupy the running back room Dillon once called home.
If reports suggesting that Hurts’ refusal to run play-action and objecting to other parts of the Eagles’ offense are true, then Dalton could play more than he has in the last three seasons!
Round 1 – Kadyn Proctor (OT, Alabama)
At 352 pounds, Alabama tackle, Proctor is the heaviest tackle in this draft class! He’s almost the same size as Jordan Mailata. Proctor is just 13 pounds lighter and one inch shorter. Safe to say Proctor is very Nick Sirianni coded.
The Anthony Munoz Award winner would bring a the same forboding presence as Mailata to the opposite end of the offensive line.
Current right tackle, Lane Johnson is still one of the best lineman in the NFL. He has only played one full season during his 13-year career though! And the Eagles’ “swing tackle” Fred Johnson ranked 69th in PFF’s list of 89 offensive tackles in 2025.
Proctor isn’t just a gargantuan human though, he’s an exceptional athlete too. His 8.79 relative athletic score ranks 199th of 1,642 offensive tackles tested since 1987.
Proctor’s 5.21 40-yard dash time is only in the 61st percentile of this tackle class. But who wants their right tackle sprinting 40-yards?
20-year-old Proctor demonstrated his athleticism and explosive power with a 32.5 inch vertical jump. It ranks in the 92nd percentile of this tackle class and is the same as JuJu Smith-Schuster’s in 2017 combine
Some analysts have raised concerns about Proctor’s pad level when he pass blocks, and he can look ungainly when he’s pass protecting on an island. He is a very effective, if ugly blocker. Proctor’s quick first step and smooth footwork mean the former number 1 overall recruit from the State of Iowa only allowed two sacks on 878 snaps last year!
A consensus All-American and First Team All-SEC selection in 2025, Proctor received an 85.4 grade from PFF. That is the 9th best tackle in college football in 2025! His 81.8 pass blocking grade was better than Lane Johnson and Mailata, who both received 80.4, grades and considerably better than Fred Johnson’s 64.2!
Proctor won’t have to start if Mailata and Lane Johnson are both healthy in Week 1. But he can provide excellent injury cover and with Lane Johnson turning 36 in May Proctor will help futureproof the Eagles offensive line.
Round 2 – L.T. Overton (EDGE, Alabama)
Overton is more of an unstoppable force than a straight-up pass rusher!
Three of the Eagles’ current EDGE defenders are about to become free agents, and Brandon Graham could well re-retire. Overton would be an almost perfect replacement for Graham. 6-foot-3 Overton is the same height as Graham and 13 pounds heavier.
The Alabama EDGE should not fall all the way to the 53rd pick, but not every GM can identify talent like Roseman can. More than enough GMs are willing to make rash trades or leftfield selections. One of the best EDGE defenders in the class could well fall into the Eagles’ lap. That’s how they ended up with Jihaad Campbell!
Campbell’s former Alabama teammate Overton racked up 42 tackles when the two played together in 2024. In two seasons with the Crimson Tide, Overton recorded nine tackles for a loss, six sacks, forced a fumble and batted down two passes.
Overton might not blow scouts away at the combine, but his explosive strength and technique allow him to beat blocks for fun. He is projected as the 55th overall pick, but Roseman would be delighted to scoop him up at 54.
Mid Round Gem – Eli Raridon (TE, Notre Dame)
Dallas Goedert has been a central figure of the Eagles’ passing attack since 2019! Only A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith caught more passes than Goedert for the last four seasons; in 2021, it was just Smith. And in 2020, only Greg Ward caught more balls; in 2019, only Zach Ertz saw more action!
The veteran tight end is 31 now, and while there’s no reason to expect a dramatic decline, it is time for a little succession planning.
Eli Raridon doesn’t look like Goedert, but he could be just as effective. 22-year-old Raridon wasn’t a prolific redzone threat in college, but averaged 15.1 yards per reception during his senior year!
Depending on whom you believe, Raridon will clock somewhere between 4.7 seconds and 4.5 seconds when he runs a 40-yard dash. Goedert definitely ran a 4.64; let’s call it a draw!
Unsurprisingly, 6-foot-7 Raridon was a highly decorated basketball player in high school before following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a Golden Domer. When Johnny Wilson returns from his knee and ankle issues, the Eagles will have two pass catchers that even Jalen Hurts can’t overthrow.
Notre Dame product Raridon isn’t an elite blocker, but he has all the physical tools to develop into an effective run blocker in the NFL. Predictably for a former hooper, Raridon has great footwork, but he sometimes misses his hand placement. Once he refines that, he will be able to explode into contact and move defenders out of the way. Fortunately, there are plenty of guys in Philadelphia who can help him out with that.
Late Round Sleeper – Tyreak Sapp (EDGE, Florida)
If that surname sounds familiar, it’s because Tyreak is the nephew of 1999 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Warren.
Florida EDGE defender Tyreak is a very big man with a very big motor. He stands 6-foot-3 and tips the scales at 273 pounds!
Za’Darius Smith may have only started two games for the Eagles in 2025, but Sapp is the perfect Za’Darius Smith replacement. The former Baltimore Ravens’ stay in Philly was a brief one, but the 33-year-old still recorded 1.5 sacks and two tackles for a loss.
Sapp projects as the 141st overall pick. If the Lions are being linked to him, you know he’ll be a perfect fit in Philadelphia. Roseman loves an SEC defensive lineman; Sapp would be a persistent threat alongside Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter.
Full Draft
23 (R1) – Kadyn Proctor (OT, Alabama)
54 (R2) – L.T. Overton (EDGE, Alabama)
68 (R3) – Jake Slaughter (IOL, Florida)
98 (R3) -Xavier Nwankpa (S, Iowa)
122 (R4) -Eli Raridon (TE, Notre Dame)
137 (R4) – Mike Washington Jr. (RB, Arkansas)
RHYS KNOTT
NFL/FANTASY FOOTBALL ANALYST
Rhys has been watching the NFL for 30 something years and still hasn’t managed to pick a team to support. When he’s not fixatED on pass rushers you can find him blithering on about most sports on Twitter @wrhys_writes