When you strip away draft grades, press conferences, and post-April chest-thumping, the Eagles’ roster-building philosophy is remarkably consistent. It’s not about winning headlines in April; it’s about winning in December, January, and hopefully, February, over and over again.
You can usually spot a Howie Roseman draft by seeing what the Eagles need one to two years down the road. Contract timelines, specifically the guaranteed money, because players are easily replaceable financially at this stage.
Despite Nakobe Dean and Reed Blankenship becoming free agents in 2026, the Eagles' selecting a linebacker and a safety in rounds one and two seemed out of character.
Most draft outsiders, including myself, focused on a premium position in round one. I did have Mukuba pegged as a ‘Philly Fit’ in the second round, but it was still a little out of character. Howie didn’t deviate from his one- or two-years-down-the-road focus, but it tested that belief to select an LB in the first round, which hadn't been done in forty years.
So, using that knowledge with the assumption that the past is prologue, thanks to Billy Shakespeare, what do the needs indicate about the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Eagles have 20 free agents, and with an eventual replacement for Lane at RT on the horizon, CB2 is a need. Goedert, possibly leaving behind 11 touchdowns at the tight end position, Edge rusher Jaelen Phillips, and the uncertainty surrounding AJ Brown, there is a lot to look for!
Day 1 and Day 2 draft conversations could even include the center if Cam Jurgens' injuries are career-threatening. He could be moved on after 2026, when his guaranteed money expires.
The big premium picks I see in rounds one and two are OL, WR, and CB. If they identify one they love, they should move up to acquire them, even at the cost of the third-round pick.
The best way to build an NFL roster is boring and, at times, appears heartless.
Quarterback. Offensive line. Interior defensive trench. Outside corners. Those are non-negotiable pillars. Everything else is a value hunt.
Draft and develop the premium positions: QB, OT, EDGE, CB, and occasionally WR, because overpaying for them in free agency is how flexibility dies. Use free agency to patch short-term holes with disciplined contracts. Keep the middle class young, cheap, and disposable.
Most importantly: marry scouting with coaching. Which is something Eagles fans will see this season. Traits don’t matter if they don’t fit the scheme. Talent doesn’t matter if it isn’t developed. Avoid emotional extensions. Avoid dead-cap traps. The best teams aren’t perfect evaluators, but they are relentless about process, timing, and value.
The draft is the engine. Early rounds are for ceilings, traits, and positions that bankrupt teams on the open market, causing years of salary cap hell. Later rounds are for star hunting, depth roles, and development. Drafting a year ahead of need keeps teams from chasing their tail. Trusting your board over consensus gives an advantage. Let contracts dictate urgency so you’re never forced into a reach.
The smartest franchises aren’t trying to “win the draft.” They’re trying to stay young, affordable, and renewable.
And the margins matter. Comp picks. Trading down when tiers and value flatten. Stockpiling Day 2 picks. Prioritizing durability and football IQ. Building special teams through late picks and UDFAs. The difference between good and great rosters isn’t stars; it’s how few snaps go to bad players when injuries hit.
Offensive tackle only has a handful of starters who have revealed themselves to this point. The Eagles have been amazing at developing talent, but expecting all these late-round picks to be unicorns like Jordan Mailata is not realistic. Their new OC and OL coach will be looking at the traits they covet. A different philosophy and offensive brain trust are in Philly, and it will be interesting to see what the front office's priority is. Guards who are quick and athletic, who can get outside, rather than strength and maulers, are one change we may all see.
Interior OL is becoming more expensive, so targeting them earlier in the draft will be necessary. Howie saw this coming, which is why Landon and Cam were selected in round two and extended before the market exploded. It is almost time to add to this well again.
Cornerback is expensive; to get a great one via trade costs 2 first-round picks, as we saw with Sauce Gardner, and buying one in free agency is too costly. You have to acquire them with top draft capital. Moving up to secure the best ones is worth the cost. The Eagles have had a front-row seat to seeing the impact they make on the field.
Past pick 80 is a crapshoot. Howie mentioned the importance of hitting on your day-one and day-two selections; from there, everything else is gravy. Swing for the fences in rounds 4–7. Go for the most talented, and let the chips fall where they may. These rounds are where the BPA (best player available) factor comes into play for me.
Tier Zero
QB — If you don’t have one, everyone else is cosplaying.
Tier One
CB — I need one, and would love two who can live on an island.
OT — Protecting the QB is almost as important as finding him.
After these five, as Andy Reid famously once said, “I’ll figure out the rest.”
Tier Two
EDGE — Pressure the QB and disrupt timing, or be prepared to play in many shootouts.
iOL —Elite centers and guards keep QBs upright, and give RBs clean lanes. It is becoming increasingly more obvious how valuable their role is.
The Rest
TE — These are often dependent on the scheme an offense runs.
LB — They are usually targeted on the field by good offensive coordinators and QBs. They are schemed to exploit.
Safety — They react from the back, opposed to dictating.
RB — Short shelf life. Replaceable production. A top tier is a luxury.
Once you believe in a tier, it is up to the front office and GM to execute draft selections accordingly, staying focused on draft day and not deviating from your core beliefs.
As always, thank you for reading!
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