The 2026 NFL Draft is less than four weeks away, and boards are coming into focus for many teams now that free agency is winding down. The Eagles, as always, head into April with few needs but multiple areas for improvement.
This is my yearly WWDD (What Would David Do) Edition. Four trades, one involving a player, and 8 draft selections. Five on offense, three on defense, and plenty to debate.
A forward-thinking mock that feels like a classic Eagles board targeting high-upside swings that fit Philly’s long-term DNA.
Rd 1- Pick 30 Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
With the news that Lane Johnson will be back for at least another year, I made the decision to draft the tackle with the most upside who was still available at the position to replace Lane long-term, and for me, that is Max, The Anchor, Iheanachor. Max is relatively new to football. He didn’t even play in high school, but that’s also what makes him so intriguing and why his ceiling feels higher than most others. In short, he feels like a perfect succession plan. To borrow a line from The Mandalorian, “This is the way.”
Rd 2 Pick 54- Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
Germie should be a top 60 player in the 2026 NFL Draft. He is a tough, physical, unselfish player who fights for YAC. A reliable 3rd down and red zone target eater, and a willing blocker. His RPO usage ability could align perfectly with the Eagles. His body control, ability to identify soft spots in space, and strong hands have gained a lot of attention throughout the process. A chain-mover who would be a lot more than depth.
Rd 3 Pick 68- Joshua Josephs, Edge, Tennessee
Joshua has speed, bend, and a relentless motor. He has the traits to become one of the best edges in the class. Josephs showed off a 90.6 pass rush grade in 2025, has 81 career pressures, and set the edge against the run. He attacks creatively from multiple angles in passing situations and times snaps with precision. One of my favorite Eagles draft picks, Joshua, is still developing but could contribute as a rotational pass rusher early.
Rd 3 Pick 76 Keylan Rutledge, iOL,
Rutledge is a strong, physical, tone-setting interior lineman. He has shown off violent hands, a strong anchor, and technical soundness. He has an ultra-competitive personality fueled by a compelling backstory. His versatility, having played all three interior positions in college, could provide key depth while he develops into an eventual starter. Keylan reportedly met with the Eagles in Mobile during Senior Bowl week.
Rd 3 Pick 98- Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia
The Eagles have long prioritized tight ends who excel as both blockers and receivers. Oscar checks both boxes. He combines Brent Celek’s toughness with Dallas Goedert’s versatility. Oscar was not utilized frequently in Georgia’s offense, but he is a freak athlete hiding in plain sight. At 6'5, 245 pounds, he has the wheels of a wideout and moves with balance, capable of turning routine plays into touchdowns, while also being a willing blocker who can seal the edge. He is a matchup problem, and his athletic profile screams value pick at this point in the draft.
Rd 4- Pick 117- Zane Durant DL, Penn State
Durant is a havoc-creating interior presence whose quickness off the snap and relentless motor show up across 71 career pressures, backed by durability (658 snaps in 2024, 476 in 2025) and a stronger, more controlled game in 2025, with a reduced 7.7% missed-tackle rate and 4 sacks. His strong lower body gives him leverage, and Zane could be a DT who develops in the mold of Moro Ojomo. Durant is the kind of rotational IDL Philly turns into contributors.
Rd 5 Pick 142- Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas
The Philadelphia Eagles seem desirous of drafting a QB in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Green checks out a lot of the boxes they look for. Taylen’s father compared his son’s physical comp to none other than Randall Cunningham, and while his physical tools are elite, he needs to hone them. Philadelphia could be the perfect landing spot. He has natural arm talent that, once unlocked, could reveal an intriguing dual-threat QB in the NFL. This is the type of talent Howie swings for the fences with, and exactly how he likes to build the QB room.
Rd 5 Pick 178- Michael Taaffe, S, Texas
Michael plays fast and aggressively downhill with strong range, recovery speed, and an 89.3 coverage grade in 2025. He also brings seven career interceptions and leadership traits. He improved his missed tackle rate from over 20% down to under 10% in 2025, and has a high football IQ, suggesting he will grow into a lot more than a core special teams player. He also has one of the greatest lines during the draft process that Eagles fans will love.
“My job is to take my opponent’s soul. That’s what I try to do. No matter if it’s my best friend or the guy I hate the most on this planet. That’s my job, that’s my goal.”
I was aggressive, making multiple trades to move up for the players I wanted, trying to control the board rather than have it dictated to me, and I was not concerned with volume but rather with high-quality players. I stayed balanced while also being trench-heavy and mirrored what I believe to be the best path towards building a yearly contender.
Let me know what you agree with or would have done differently.
My fourth and final mock of the season draft will come out in a couple of weeks, the ‘What Would Howie Do’ Edition.
As always, thank you for reading!
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