PHILADELPHIA -- The 2026 NFL draft wrapped up on Saturday after three days in Pittsburgh.
With their first pick, the Philadelphia Eagles traded up to draft wide receiver Makai Lemon at No. 20 overall.
Here's a look at the Eagles' selections and what you need to know about them
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart
Round 1, No. 20 overall: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
What Makai Lemon brings to the Eagles
My take: The Eagles move up and make a major addition at receiver in advance of A.J. Brown's expected departure. The 2025 Biletnikoff Award Winner as the nation's top receiver, Lemon posted 150-plus receiving yards in four games this past season -- the most by a USC player since Drake London in 2021. He emerged as one of the nation's top slot targets, posting 1,281 yards out of the slot since 2024.
Will he start as a rookie?: That seems like the most likely scenario. The cupboard certainly wasn't bare prior to this pick -- the Eagles acquired Dontayvion Wicks from the Packers and signed Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore to one-year deals this offseason to pair with DeVonta Smith -- but Lemon projects as an immediate impact player who should be on the field early and often.
What we're hearing about Lemon: "He is as good as I've seen," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said after Lemon went for 153 yards and a touchdown on 10 catches against his team. "Going back 20-plus years, I don't know if anybody's impacted the game more." Lemon was not supposed to drop this far. According to ESPN Analytics' Draft Predictor, there was a 4% chance he would be available at pick 20.
Round 2, No. 54: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
What Eli Stowers brings to the Eagles
My take: The Eagles needed a long-term answer at the position and might have gotten it in Stowers, the 2025 John Mackey Award winner as the nation's top tight end. Dallas Goedert has been productive for them but is 31 years old and is on a one-year deal. The second round has been the sweet spot for the Eagles with tight ends: They selected Goedert 49th in 2018 and Zach Ertz 35th in 2013. Stowers has the stats -- he had 769 receiving yards and four touchdown catches last season -- and the measurables, as his vertical jump of 45.5 inches and broad jump of 11 feet, 3 inches at the combine are both the best by a TE on record (since 2003).
Key stat: Jalen Hurts had 11 touchdown passes and no interceptions targeting tight ends last season. Philadelphia continues to add playmakers with the A.J. Brown trade looming. It selected WR Makai Lemon in the first round. This is the first time the Eagles have used each of their first two picks on pass catchers since 1982 (WR Mike Quick and TE Lawrence Sampleton).
Round 3, No. 68: Markel Bell, OT, Miami
My take: It was only a matter of time before Philly addressed its offensive line. The front is typically a major strength for the Eagles, but that wasn't the case last year, in large part due to injury. This offseason, right tackle Lane Johnson and left guard Landon Dickerson both pondered retirement. Bell offers depth in the short term and will have a chance to develop behind Johnson & Co. with the hopes of eventually claiming a starting tackle role.
Intangibles: The Eagles always look for special traits in their tackle prospects. Bell is 6-foot-9 and 346 pounds with rare measurables. At the combine, his arm length (36.38 inches) and wingspan (87.13 inches) were the longest of any player and a full inch longer than the next-closest prospect. He has roughly the same wingspan as two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo despite being 2 inches shorter than the 10-time NBA All-Star.
Round 5, No. 178: Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State
My take: This move is sure to move the needle in Philly, as the Eagles go to the North Dakota State quarterback well once again to select the left-handed Payton. They drafted former Bison Carson Wentz No. 2 in 2016. His roller-coaster stint in Philadelphia unofficially came to an end when they took Jalen Hurts in the second round in 2020.
Now Payton enters the equation during a season when Hurts is trying to recapture his Super Bowl MVP form while learning a brand-new system under offensive coordinator Sean Mannion. Payton, a dual-threat QB, had one year as a full-time starter at the collegiate level, totaling 29 touchdowns to four interceptions last season while completing 72% of his throws.
He joins a QB room currently featuring Hurts, Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee, who is entering the final year of his deal.
Round 6, No. 207: Micah Morris, G, Georgia
My take: The Eagles continue to invest in an offensive line that had its share of struggles last season. The addition of Morris offers immediate depth behind Tyler Steen and Landon Dickerson, who has been dealing with injuries and pondered retirement this offseason.
Morris started at left guard in 2025 but primarily played right guard in 2024. He allowed just one sack in his collegiate career.
Round 7, No. 244: Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech
My take: Philadelphia continues to address areas of need, this time going with Wisniewski to help fill out the safety room. It was a pretty thin group on paper following the departure of Reed Blankenship in free agency. Second-year player Andrew Mukuba is projected for one of the starting slots, and Marcus Epps and Michael Carter II are among those vying for the other spot.
The 6-foot-3, 219-pound Wisniewski could make the roster on the strength of his special teams play while developing as a defender.
Round 7, No. 251: Uar Bernard, DT, International Player Pathway program
My take: A really intriguing prospect, Bernard is originally from Nigeria and is part of the IPP program that led Philadelphia to tackle Jordan Mailata. Like Mailata, Bernard (6-foot-4, 306 pounds) has exceptional skill. He ran the 40-yard dash in the 4.6 range, posted a vertical jump of close to 40 inches and had a broad jump just under 11 feet. He has never played football, so the learning curve will be massive, but his ability makes the long-term investment worth it.
Round 7, No. 252: Keyshawn James-Newby, Edge, New Mexico
My take: The Eagles round out the draft by taking James-Newby, who led New Mexico with nine sacks in 2025. He doesn't have the biggest frame (6-foot-2, 244 pounds) but moves well. He will fight for a roster spot this summer to be part of an edge room that recently added Jonathan Greenard and includes Nolan Smith Jr., Jalyx Hunt and Arnold Ebiketie.