B+
Philadelphia Eagles
A masterclass at the trade table lands the Eagles a B+.
by bigrick ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 4 steals
· 3 reaches
When the story of this class is written, it opens with Patrick Payton at pick No. 197, a reach of 50 spots that the board flatly disagrees with. No fireworks, but a solid B+.
The trade ledger is the best part of the whole weekend. The interior defensive lineman hole is the one line item this class does not answer. The Reese value carries more weight than any single miss elsewhere.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but interior defensive lineman.
Pick-by-Pick
In the Round 1 slot they get a red-zone target to build around. A clean fit for the roster.
In Round 1, Pick 23 they get a sideline-to-sideline linebacker at a price that makes it sweeter. Need was not the driver here.
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing Germie Bernard in No. 68. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
They took Billy Schrauth at par in the 114th overall pick, which is nothing to complain about. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
They reached into another round for Taylen Green, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
They read the board right and Isaiah World was the payoff at pick 153. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
A conviction pick on VJ Payne at the Round 5 slot that the board grades a round light. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Patrick Payton in the 197th pick, miles early. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Andre Fuller at slot 243 is money in the bank, a cornerback taken below his worth. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.