Can the Eagles Hit Again on Their First Round Draft Pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Philadelphia Eagles have a reputation for making the most out of their draft picks. The organization’s last six draft picks since 2021 are all current starters on the roster. Philly’s only slip-up came in 2020 when they drafted Jalen Reagor, who only stayed with the team for two seasons. To the Eagles' credit, they drafted their franchise quarterback with their second-round pick that same draft.
Recent Draft Trends Since 2022
The Eagles have had six first-round draft picks since 2020. Of those six, two have been named to a Pro Bowl. One player has made the First Team All-Pro in his second season. To make it even more impressive, Philly only had two picks in the top 10, neither higher than nine. Drafting immediate-impact players has kept the Eagles competitive year in and year out.
Five of the last six first-round picks were all defensive players. More precisely, every year after 2021. A strong defense is a trademark of one of the NFL’s oldest franchises. For Philly, defense is more than just a football tradition; it’s a feature of the city’s culture. Continuing the city’s tradition, the Eagles have fielded top 10 defensive units in three of the last six seasons.
The Eagles have focused their offensive acquisitions on free agent signings and trades. Two of their best skill players and offensive cornerstones came from outside the draft. Philly acquired A.J. Brown through a draft-day trade with the Titans in 2022. In 2024, they signed Saquon Barkley, who helped them win the Super Bowl that year. Hard to argue with results like that.
What Can We Expect in 2026?
The curse of great drafts is that you can’t pay everyone. The Brown trade and Barkley signing made them two of the NFL's highest-paid skill players. Alongside franchise quarterback Jalen Hurts’ $255 million extension, wiggle room is sparse. We haven’t even started with the offensive line numbers either. The result has been the departure of defensive talent. Sitting with the 23rd pick, most of the big names will be gone, but that’s been the story of the Eagles’ drafts.
The 2026 offseason has been no different. Especially noticeable at the safety position with the departure of Reed Blankenship. The safety position is now a whole new room, with player that haven’t had their time to shine yet. Depending on how Philly feels about them, they might take a safety. The talent is in the room; it's just a matter of seeing the results.
Another position of need is the offensive line. On the surface, it’s an elite offensive line that is the heart of the Eagles team. Below the surface, the line is aging, even if they can keep up their production. Outside of the aging problem, they lack depth. Draft analysts have predicted Philly to take a tackle here. Usually, where there’s smoke, there’s fire, so it’s not outside of the realm of reality.
The last option is still a bit of a mystery. Rumors have swirled in Philly since the offseason about trade talks around Brown. General manager Howie Roseman said that Brown is an Eagle, and has maintained that stance since. It could be smoke. Roseman and the Eagles have been at work this offseason, bringing in two receivers. Definitely some smoke here.
Given their track record, I can’t see the Eagles taking a receiver here. They haven’t done so since 2021, when they took DeVonta Smith with the 10th pick, not after the two recent signings. Philly embraces the idea of drafting the best player available. Another strong defensive player is likely where I’d put my money. The Eagles are famous for their offensive line development, but that has changed with the departure of their longtime offensive line coach. Only time will tell.
