NFL News

Home

Teams

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

Power Rankings

Gary Cosby-Imagn Images

Eagles’ perfect 2026 NFL Draft trade

Originally posted on NFL on ClutchPoints
By Matty Breisch, ClutchPoints | Last updated Apr 9, 2026 12:59 AM ET

What is the Philadelphia Eagles’ biggest need heading into the 2026 NFL Draft?

Is it additional depth at wide receiver to help weather the uncertainty of AJ Brown’s future in new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion’s system? Or maybe a long-term tight end to replace Dallas Goedert once and for all? Should the Eagles target a high-profile tackle to eventually replace Lane Johnson, even if it’s not for a few more seasons? Or would it be better to replace a departing starter like Jaelan Phillips, Reed Blankenship, or Adoree’ Jackson with a young, long-term answer once and for all?

On paper, those are all solid options, even if none of them really stick out like a sore thumb as the obvious option. As a result, the Eagles may be wise to simply focus on adding as many quality players as possible in order to load up their roster, and especially their offense, with as many good, cheap players as possible to offset the huge contracts of Jalen Hurts, Jordan Davis, and beyond.

Fortunately, Howie Roseman has done Howie Roseman things and the Eagles currently have nine picks at their disposal in the 2026 NFL Draft, including one in the first, one in the second, two in the third, two in the fourth, two in the fifth, and a sixth-rounder, with the potential to move up and down the board as they see fit to add really good players and even more assets on the busiest three days of the year. While the 2026 NFL Draft is widely considered light on blue-chip prospects, with Todd McShay noting there are just 14 true blue first-round-caliber players in this year’s class, there is still expected to be plenty of quality talent available on Day 2 when the Eagles have three selections in their warchest.

But what if they have four?

For the most part, the talent available in the 20s and 30s isn’t expected to be too different at most positions, but there is one that has a massive drop-off that could be the difference between a potential franchise savior and a long-term backup: quarterback. With Fernando Mendoza locked in at QB 1, there’s only one other option, Ty Simpson, who is viewed as more than a backup option in this year’s class, which, when there are multiple teams like the New York Jets, the Arizona Cardinals, the Cleveland Browns, and the Pittsburgh Steelers all in the market for a new arm, could create a seller’s market for a team in the mid-20s that is willing to trade down.

If the Jets take Simpson at pick No. 16 or the Steelers take him five picks later at No. 21, the Eagles will likely be thankful, as that means one more no-QB will be on the board for them to pick from. But if he’s still there, a team like the Cardinals may rush to the phone and call a 215 number to try to leapfrog the Browns at No. 24 in order to secure Simpson’s services on a four-year contract with a fifth-year option. If that happens, Roseman should accept it, as it could set the Eagles up for success beyond just the 2026 NFL season.

Gary Cosby-Imagn Images

The Eagles should trade down with the Cardinals

While the 2026 NFL Draft is kind of a mixed bag, 2027 is shaping up to be an all-timer, with about a half dozen quarterbacks projected to be taken in the first round, elite playmakers like Jeremiah Smith eligible to declare, and a host of other options sure to see their stock rise over the next 12 months.

As a result, few teams appear eager to give up a bag to trade up for a top player this year when they could just sit pat and patiently add an even better player next year, regardless of where they land in the pecking order. Unlike in years past, the Jets and Browns have seldom been credibly linked to a trade up for Fernando Mendoza despite their abundance of draft picks, leading most to assume that they will instead use that ammunition in 2027 instead.

And yet, as fans saw in 2025, if a quarterback falls into the 20s, there is plenty of upside for a team to trade up from the second round to secure that fifth-year option, with the New York Giants now looking brilliant for landing Jaxson Dart when he was available for all 31 other teams.

The Cardinals, like the Giants last year, probably won’t use a top-5 pick on a quarterback that isn’t considered a can’t-miss prospect. Sure, they have an offensive-minded head coach, some interesting weapons, and a fanbase eager to win after years of losing, but a player like Arvell Reese, David Bailey, or even Sonny Styles is a far safer selection at No. 3 overall, and few GMs are willing to risk their jobs for such a long shot play.

At pick 23, however, it’s a whole different ballgame for the Cards.

In 2025, the Giants moved from 34 to 25 and gave up pick No. 34, No. 99, and a 2026 third-round selection to get a deal done. If the Eagles could secure a similar package or push for a two in 2026 and 2027, it would give the team some much-needed extra ammo next April while landing a player with similar upside to their selection at No. 23. Mike LaFleur gets a shot at developing a franchise quarterback, which might not be available at pick No. 33 and Roseman can add a similarly-talented player in 2026 plus an extra selection in 2027.

Ken Ruinard-Imagn Images

The Eagles could load up on talent with two more Day 3 selections

So, if the Eagles were to make such a trade, adding pick 34 and a 2027 second-round pick in exchange for pick No. 23, they would have four picks on Day 2, two in the second round and two more in the third. They would own the second overall pick in the second round, 34, their own picks in the second round, 54, a third rounder from the Jets-Haason Reddick trade at pick 68, and No. 98 overall, which is a compensatory selection awarded after losing Milton Williams in free agency.

Using the PFF mock draft simulator to see what kind of options would be available to the Birds at pick 34, the talent available really isn’t too different from the players they’ve been linked to at 23 overall. Sure, Akheem Mesidor will certainly be gone in the second round, but there are other defensive linemen who fit what the Eagles do like R Mason Thomas from Oklahoma, Clemson’s TJ Parker, or Peter Woods, Parker’s college teammate, who might just be the most Howie Roseman-y player of all time as a supremely talented defensive tackle who underperformed last season.

On offense, the Eagles might still be able to select a wide receiver like Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion or Washington Denzel Boston, and there are even offensive linemen like Oregon guard Emmanuel Pregnon and Utah tackle Caleb Lomu who could become fixtures of the Eagles’ offensive line for years to come if Roseman wants to go that route. Granted, those players won’t come with a fifth-year option, but the prospects of adding at least one more player next year, plus whatever other magic Roseman could work, might just make that loss worth it.

With needs at wide receiver, tight end, edge rusher, offensive tackle, and beyond, the Eagles owe it to themselves to have as many bites at the apple as possible, which means putting a damper on the Thursday night proceedings in the name of long-term roster building.

This article first appeared on NFL on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: