Draft Talk

Posted March 22nd, 2026

This is going to be an important draft for the Eagles. With so many high priced stars in the lineup there is a real need to find cheap talent. They will need some of these picks to be ready to contribute right away.

One of the keys remains the AJ Brown situation. If he is going to be dealt, the team needs to add WR. The top options left in free agency are Jauan Jennings, Stefon Diggs and Deebo Samuel. Not exactly ideal choices.

Jennings isn’t speedy and doesn’t create much separation. He does have good size and is a physical player. He’s an outstanding blocker and should have a good feel for the new scheme. He makes some sense, but only if the price is right. It seems like he and his agent want more money than anyone is willing to pay. Diggs is coming off a really productive season. He is 33 and has some legal issues that could result in a suspension. As for Deebo, he’s just slow. He averaged just 10.1 yards per reception last season. Part of that is due to the way Washington used him, but that is still a bad number.

If the Eagles sign a free agent to start alongside DeVonta Smith, they don’t need to take a WR early. They can take someone in the third or fourth round, where there will still be some good options. If they don’t add a WR before the draft, they may feel the need to get a receiver in the first or second round. Omar Cooper from Indiana is the player that makes the most sense. He has a medium build at 6-0, 199. He ran 4.42 at the Combine so he’s got good speed. He can play in the slot or outside. Cooper has really good hands (see the end of the Penn State game…ugh). He’s tough to tackle and has good RAC ability. The big question is whether he gets to pick 23.

Cooper isn’t dynamic, but would be a good fit in the new offense.

If the Eagles prefer a bigger receiver, Denzel Boston from Washington could make sense. He’s 6-4, 210. He isn’t a speed guy. Didn’t run at the Combine or his Pro Day, likely because he knew he’d post a 4.60 or something in that range. The lack of top speed isn’t a huge concern because of his size and the way he plays.

You can see he’s able to get open and create separation with quickness and good route-running. He has great hands and makes some impressive catches. He would be a good replacement for AJ in terms of size and the ability to make contested catches. He would also be a good red zone threat.

There is a wild card to consider. Jordyn Tyson from Arizona State was projected to go Top 15, possibly in the Top 10. He had a great season and his tape is very impressive. The problem with Tyson is that he’s got an injury history to factor in. Compounding matters, Tyson didn’t work out at the Combine or his Pro Day. He said he’s still dealing with a hamstring injury that goes back a while. This is causing teams to wonder if he’s worth taking early. The talent is there, but can you rely on him? No idea what Howie thinks of Tyson, but if he’s available at 23 you at least need to have a discussion about him.

This is a good receiver class so there will be good options in the second and even the third round. I’d be shocked if the team didn’t take a WR in the first four rounds.

*****

30 Visits

OG Vega Ioane – Penn State
OT Drew Shelton- Penn State
WR Omar Cooper – Indiana

ED Dani Dennis-Sutton – Penn State
S Jalen Kilgore – South Carolina

Ioane is a special player so it is no surprise the Eagles have interest in him. It is doubtful he falls to 23. Daniel Jeremiah said recently that the GMs he’s talking to in the 15 to 20 range would love to trade back. Howie could swing a deal if that’s a player he really covets.

Dani Dennis-Sutton is the visit that got me excited. If the Eagles want an edge rusher with size to replace Jaelan Phillips, DDS is your guy. He is 6-6, 256 and an explosive athlete. He can line up outside or over the guard. He can drop into coverage. I think DDS would be a great fit in this scheme. He is considered a second or third round prospect. I would have no problem with the Eagles grabbing him in the second.

I would love to see that guy wearing midnight green.

I won’t get into all the Combine meetings. It can be hard to tell how important they are. Here are some misc notes on meetings and player interest.

OT Kadyn Proctor from Alabama said the Eagles showed a lot of interest in him when he met them at the Combine. Players can be a bad source of information, but it does make sense. He has special potential. Procotor is 6-7, 352. He moved around like a dancing bear at the Combine. He got in good shape and was really impressive. His game tape is inconsistent, but he’s got the potential to be a dominant OL. I could easily see Howie coveting him.

Guys that big aren’t supposed to move like that.

The Eagles had a zoom meeting with CB Keith Abney from Arizona State. He is likely to be a second round pick. Abney is a good corner who excels at breaking on the ball. He had 5 INTs and 21 PDs over the past two seasons. He would be a good fit in Vic Fangio’s scheme.

Oklahoma WR Deion Burks met with the team at the Combine. He said they had a great conversation and that he met several people from the organization. I don’t know if that qualifies as anything special, but figured I would mention it.

Not all meetings are created equal.

Hausmann has an interesting story. He was diagnosed as bipolar during his senior year. He didn’t always follow the routine his doctors had laid out and that led to a wild couple of months. He quit the UM football team. He flew to Uganda wanting to help his home country. He came back shortly after that and decided that joining the air force was a good idea. He was traveling to Oregon to pursue that idea and got into a car accident. His parents were finally told about his bipolar disorder. Between them and the doctors they were able to finally get him to deal with the situation. He’s now been following a good routine for about 3 months and wants to play in the NFL.

Hausman has legit talent. He is a tough, physical LB. He is a good tackler. He takes good angles to the ball and has some real pop when he hits. He was a team captain at Michigan (after transferring from Nebraska). If you want a physical LB with leadership skills to replace Nakobe Dean, Hausmann would make a lot of sense. Teams just have to decide if they are comfortable with his situation. Here is a long story breaking down everything. Very interesting and highly frustrating. Hopefully the young man is able to have a pro career and good life.

https://igglesblitz.com/2026/03/draft-talk-7/

Do you know what? I’d be good with them bringing in Jennings if AJ goes. Don’t get me wrong he’s nowhere near the same level but he’d give us a physical WR that we’d be missing if AJ is traded. I think he’s a decent WR3. We’d still be light at WR but he’s the best option left and would take some pressure off us using a high draft pick if the right player isn’t there.

Let’s not forget they’ve brought in a blocking TE. They’ve brought back Goedert and I think this team will be looking to get back to establishing the run first and foremost.