Note: This is probably the longest and most team comprehensive draft report you’ll read this year. You’re welcome.

 

Round 1: WR Makai Lemon 5’11, 192 – It was weird to see the Eagles trade up from 23rd to 20th, to select a smallish slot receiver. Before anyone gets pissed that I called him that, GM Howie Roseman and Head Coach Nick Sirianni already conceded as much, during their press conference about drafting him.

So yeah, it was weird drafting a slot, especially one who runs a 4.53 Forty, and doesn’t generate much buzz about his run after the catch skills. There is talk that he can play on the outside, and is competitive for jump balls. At least he has been in college. Well that talk had better be true at the NFL level, too.

No team moves up to draft a player at #20, for him to ride pine. Clearly the Eagles expect an early contribution from Lemon. His drafting signals that the rumors are true, about WR A.J. Brown being traded soon. If Lemon is the direct replacement, he lacks the speed, vertical leap, tackle breaking and size (at 6’1, 226 Brown is 2 inches taller and 34 pounds heavier) of Brown.

So if the Eagles are looking for Lemon to make his living on the Go routes, Slants and Hitches that Brown did, that would be sort of unfair. Lemon might be better suited to Drags, Screens and Quick Outs, all run from the slot. Then of course that can be built on, as Sirianni suggested right at the end of the presser.

Round 2: TE Eli Stowers 6’3, 239 – Seems like he can catch and make yards after contact, but the knock on him is that his run blocking is poor. That was the knock on TE Grant Calcaterra, right? The whole conversation we Eagles fans have been having around the TE position, is “Who can replace TE Dallas Goedert?”

This pick doesn’t help us with that. A TE who can’t run block, means we get less out of our 20M$ per year RB. It means our brand new system, operating with a rookie WR instead of a perennial All-Pro, top ten WR; starts out half-handicapped for our never called plays before Offensive Coordinator.

Whether you like the athlete or not, is beside the point. The question are: How will we use him? How will he fit? At this rate it would be wise to extend Goedert beyond the one year deal that we have him on.

Round 3: OT Markel Bell 6’9, 346 – When we talk about premier NFL pass rushers, we mention how they can flatten and bend the edge. That means they get low to exploit an OT’s center of gravity. The average OT is 6’4 – 6’5. Bell is 6’9, and he’s not all a knee bender.

Here is a link to some of his highlights. You may notice that they all feature opponents engaging him upright. You never get to see him facing a bender. Going against NFC guys like OLB Brian Burns, and OLB Micah Parsons, his elevated center of gravity is a liability that we’re going to have to work on, before he gets pressed into playing.

That’s not to dismiss his strength or ability to anchor. However, his weakness is built-in and easy to access for even the most average of opponents. He’s really a high ceiling low floor sort of pick, and he feels like a reach at the moment.

Round 4: NONE

Round 5: QB Cole Payton 6’2, 232 – I like this athlete and I love the value on this pick. One knock on him is that his mechanics need work, and really his back leg IS atrocious. He tends to drag it, instead of step with it on throws. That said, the ball goes where he wants it to go. Another knock is his passes are said to lack velocity. I don’t see that.

The real knock, is that he’s a lefty. Teams with really good offensive lines won’t want to flip their blockers, to accommodate a different blindside. A shitty or re-building o-line? Sure no problem. But an annual All-Pro LT won’t want to be flipped to RT.

I love his athleticism and his competitiveness. What I really love, is how much closer his game is, to QB Jalen Hurts. Like Hurts, Payton is a dual threat. Our current back-up QB Tanner McKee is a pure pocket passer. With McKee already eying the door, having a back-up that doesn’t require the OC to change his play-calling style, is a huge help.

Round 6: Micah Morris 6’5, 334 – I heard that his issue is keeping his weight down. Okay. But I’m also not in love with how he anchors in pass pro. I see that he hasn’t allowed a sack in 900 snaps, but my eyes also show me how often he almost backs into his QB. That has to stop with college.

He looks like a better puller than outright run blocker off the line. For such a big man his lateral movement is smooth and even better, it’s controlled. I see depth, but not necessarily a starter. I would be surprised to find him on this roster in three years.

Round 7a: S Cole Wisniewski 6’3, 219 – The word on him is “Box S” and that he doesn’t have the most natural hands. Watching him play, I also didn’t see a S, I saw an underweight LB. I saw a guy who can discard blocks, make secure tackles, and doesn’t let the rat out the back door, but who needs a little more bulk to hold up to 17 games.

I saw a guy who needs to spend a couple of months in the weight room, and at Reading Terminal eating cheesesteaks, cheesecake, roast pork, gumbo and ice cream… Basically we need to put eleven to eighteen pounds on this guy, and move his position.

Note: He had 8 interceptions in 2023 when he played for North Dakota State, but those stats aren’t simple to find. He sat out 2024 with a foot injury, and the only thing easily on record for him, is his 2025 season. The man played five seasons of football (2020 – 2023 and 2025) , and only one is easily searchable. That’s bullshit, Internet. Boooo.

Round 7b: DL Uar Bernard 6’4, 306 – Alright, here is where most Eagles fans and I won’t agree. It seems like I’m the only one is who NOT excited about this pick. Sure, as an Eagles fan and as Human being, I’m rooting for the guy. That said, I don’t get why we used a pick on him? Who else was looking to snatch him up?

I don’t want to get into measurables. Workout warriors never impressed me. You know, ‘Look like Tarzan, play like Jane’. This guy was discovered while playing basketball, then signed to the International Player Pathway program. LT Jordan Mialata had at least played a similar sport to Rugby, when he was discovered.

Bernard has never played a down of football. So we don’t even know how he will react to being hit. Can he take one? Can he dish one? Oh, and many of the hits he takes, will be served with a side of ill will. Can he keep his cool when those hits pile up, or is he a pile of laundry waiting to happen? Don’t show me muscles. Show me mentals.

Round 7c: OLB Keyshawn James-Newby 6’1, 240 – Normally I wouldn’t be very enthusiastic about a third or fourth round pass rusher, but we got this guy in the seventh. He’s a got a low center of gravity, and has that bend that GM’s covet in pass rushers.

Even if he doesn’t make the active roster, he’s a guy to keep on the Practice Squad so that our back-up OT’s can get reps dealing with the exact problem that he presents. If he’s not going to be a player, he’ll still be an excellent teaching tool. The same way that WR Danny Gray has been for our CB’s, for the last couple of years.

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You wish I was more enthusiastic and didn’t always lead with a criticism. I get it. We’re fans and it’s a fan’s nature to cheer. Mostly.

Coming into this draft, aside from maybe S, the Eagles didn’t have a starting hole to fill. So this was mostly restocking the pantry. Grabbing supplies for the future. Well, like any time you do that, you have to look at what you have already, and make sure that you aren’t about to spend on several things that you don’t use, and already have four or five of.

So going from an All-Pro WR to a rookie who we hope isn’t a bust? Hard to cheer about that. So getting stuck with another TE who can’t block? Hard to cheer about that. The complete unknown that we used a pick on? I fail to see the wisdom there. There are however some things to be happy about.

We have enough depth on our Offensive Line, that our rookies won’t have to step up immediately in case of injury. They have time to learn. This is fine. Got a couple of LB types who will be good for Special Teams and even the Practice Squad. Those are hidden value picks. Nice. The QB, hopefully won’t see action this regular season.