Breaking down most likely positions for Eagles in 1st round of 2026 draft

There are always surprises in the NFL draft. Let’s get that out of the way.

When we did this exercise around this time last year, we didn’t put off-ball linebacker very high on the Eagles’ likely positions for the first round. But Jihaad Campbell was a player they loved and he ended up falling into their range.

During his time as Eagles general manager, Howie Roseman has drafted 15 players in the first round. Here’s a look at how those picks break down by position:

Edge: 4 (Brandon Graham 2010, Marcus Smith 2014, Derek Barnett 2017, Nolan Smith 2023)

DT: 3 (Fletcher Cox 2012, Jordan Davis 2022, Jalen Carter 2023)

OT: 2 (Lane Johnson 2013, Andre Dillard 2019)

WR: 2 (Jalen Reagor 2020, DeVonta Smith 2021)

CB: 1 (Quinyon Mitchell 2024)

iOL: 1 (Danny Watkins 2011)

QB: 1 (Carson Wentz 2016)

LB: 1 (Jihaad Campbell in 2025

Let’s break down the most likely positions for the first round in 2026:

5. Tight end

Even though the Eagles brought back Dallas Goedert for the 2026 season, there’s still a long-term need at the position and it’s time for the Eagles to find Goedert’s replacement. It just seems relatively unlikely that it’s going to come in the first round of the draft. There’s really only one player who would fit as a first-round tight end this season and it’s Kenyon Sadiq from Oregon. Is there a chance Sadiq comes off the board well before the Eagles pick? Sure. Is there a chance he’s still available at 23? Sure. It’s a bit tough to figure out exactly where he’s going to come off the board. While Sadiq (6-3, 241) isn’t a big inline blocking tight end, he is a willing blocker in space and is an elite pass-catching threat.

4. Safety

The safety position in Philly seems unfinished right now. The Eagles are bringing back Drew Mukuba for his second NFL season in 2026 but they let Reed Blankenship leave in free agency. So that other starting spot (for now) is being held by either Marcus Epps or Michael Carter II. Will that be good enough? Maybe … but the Eagles could still look to add. The Eagles have never drafted a safety in the first round and Mukuba was their first second-round safety in over a decade. There might be a couple options in the Eagles’ range this year. While it seems likely that Ohio State’s Caleb Downs is off the board well before the Eagles pick, there are two other potential first-round options in Oregon’s Dillon Thineman and Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. Thienaman was a three-year starter at Oregon and showed off a ton of versatility with the Ducks and showed off his athleticism at the Combine. And McNeil-Warren is an explosive prospect who comes from the same program that produced All-Pro corner Quinyon Mitchell. These two safeties are very different players but are both possibilities. 

3. Receiver

It’s obvious the biggest question facing the Eagles this offseason is about the future of A.J. Brown. Either way, receiver is a need. But it obviously catapults to the top of the list if Brown is eventually traded. While DeVonta Smith appears ready to take over as the Eagles’ WR1 in that event, the Eagles would then need to replace Smith’s No. 2 role and No. 3 Jahan Dotson, who left in free agency. When you look back at Roseman’s history, one of his best first-round picks was at receiver but it followed one of his worst first-round picks the year before. There are always a ton of receivers in the draft and this year is no different. Opinions are split on these guys but even if Carnell Tate from Ohio State is long gone, there’s a chance players like Makai Lemon, Jordyn Tyson slide. And then there’s Omar Cooper Jr., Denzel Boston and KC Conception, who could be in play. There are plenty of options at receiver beyond the first round too.

2. Edge rusher

While it was probably wise for the Eagles to let Jaelan Phillips walk after he got a $30 million-per-season deal with the Panthers, they still haven’t really replaced him. The Eagles signed Arnold Ebiketie and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka to one-year deals but there’s no guarantee either of them work out. The top of the rotation with Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt looks solid but the Eagles clearly want more and there will be options in the first round. Edge rusher is the position Roseman has drafted most often in the first round and he could potentially add to that in 2026. The marquee guys like Arvell Reese, David Bailey and Rueben Bain are probably going in the top 10. But there are other options like Keldric Faulk, Zion Young, Akheem Mesidor, Malachi Lawrence, Cashius Howell and more who might all go in the Eagles’ range in the early 20s.

1. Offensive line

It’s time for the Eagles to restock their offensive line. Health up front was one of their biggest issues in 2025 with Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens and Lane Johnson all dealing with various injuries. The Eagles haven’t drafted an offensive lineman in the first round since 2019 and it seems long overdue. Johnson is going to turn 36 next month and is entering his Year 14 season so it’s time to find his long-term replacement at right tackle. The Eagles could also potentially draft a tackle who has the versatility to play inside as well. The only pure guard in the first round is Vega Ioane, but guys like Spencer Fano and Kadyn Proctor could potentially play inside. There are a bunch of other guys who could be available for the Eagles: Monroe Freeling from Georgia, Blake Miller from Clemson, Max Iheanachor from Arizona State, Caleb Lomu from Utah. If the Eagles draft one of those tackles, they might sit for a year but it would be worth it to find Johnson’s long-term replacement.