Eagles Draft Intel: OT and Edge Dominate Mock Boards With One Month Until Pick 23

The Board Is Taking Shape

The 2026 NFL Draft is exactly one month away — April 23 in Pittsburgh — and the Eagles' needs at pick 23 are crystallizing fast. After free agency largely wrapped up, two positions dominate every mock draft for Philadelphia: offensive tackle and edge rusher.

The Eagles currently hold nine picks, including four in the first 100 selections (1-23, 2-54, 3-68, 3-98). That's significant draft capital, and Howie Roseman has never been afraid to move it.

Offensive Tackle: The Consensus Play

Kadyn Proctor out of Alabama is the name that keeps appearing at 23. Both Daniel Jeremiah (NFL Network) and Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) have Proctor landing in Philadelphia in their latest mocks. At 6-foot-7, 352 pounds, Proctor is a mauler who played left tackle in college but could easily slide to right tackle — the position that matters, because Lane Johnson's retirement clock is ticking.

Mel Kiper Jr. offers a different tackle name: Max Iheanachor from Arizona State. Iheanachor didn't pick up football until he moved to the U.S. from Nigeria at age 13, but he crushed both the Senior Bowl and the Combine. He ran a 4.91-second 40 at 6-6, 321 pounds. The ceiling is absurd. The Eagles could develop him behind Johnson for a year before handing him the starting role.

Caleb Lomu from Utah is another tackle getting first-round buzz for the Eagles. The Draft Network mocked him to Philadelphia at 23 — a 6-6, 313-pound two-year starter at left tackle with an ideal frame to grow into.

The Inquirer's latest mock takes a different angle entirely, suggesting Blake Miller of Clemson could be in play, especially if the Eagles decide to trade up or down on draft night.

Edge Rusher: The Other Priority

After losing Jaelan Phillips to the Panthers on a four-year, $120 million deal — and getting outbid for Trey Hendrickson — edge rusher is a glaring need. Arnold Ebiketie's one-year deal was a band-aid, not a solution.

Keldric Faulk from Auburn is the edge name gaining traction. Both The Athletic and USA Today have Faulk falling to 23 in their latest mocks. At 6-6, 276 pounds, Faulk is an elite run defender with pass-rush upside who won't turn 21 until September. His college sack numbers (just 2 last season) are underwhelming, but the physical tools and youth make him a classic Howie Roseman swing.

Behind Faulk, keep an eye on Romello Height from Texas Tech. Per PennLive, the Eagles are hosting Height for a Top 30 visit — a significant indicator of interest. Height was one of college football's top edge producers and has the explosiveness that Vic Fangio's defense craves.

Pre-Draft Visits Tell the Real Story

The Eagles' Top 30 visit list is the closest thing to reading Roseman's mind. Here's who's been confirmed so far:

WR Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana) — The Biletnikoff Award finalist and national champion caught 69 passes for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns. This visit is significant given the A.J. Brown trade cloud hanging over the roster.

DB Jalon Kilgore (South Carolina) — A versatile nickel/safety hybrid who ran a 4.40 flat at the Combine. He had 8 career interceptions and 21 pass breakups. Multiple mock drafts have him landing in Philly in Round 3.

OG Vega Ioane (Penn State) — The top interior offensive lineman in the class. He allowed zero sacks and just three pressures in 310 pass-blocking snaps last season. A potential Day 2 steal.

EDGE Romello Height (Texas Tech) — Confirmed for a Top 30 visit as of this week. A player who would address the Eagles' biggest defensive need.

LB Harold Perkins (LSU) — Had a formal Combine interview with Philadelphia. An athletic freak who could be a chess piece in Fangio's defense.

The A.J. Brown Variable

Everything changes if A.J. Brown gets traded. The Eagles' asking price is reportedly "Quinnen Williams-type" compensation — think a second-round pick plus a future first. ESPN's Tim McManus noted that June 1 is a key date because it would allow the Eagles to split Brown's $43.45 million dead cap charge across two years.

The Jaylen Waddle trade to Denver (first and third-round picks, essentially) may have actually increased Brown's value. If Brown moves, expect receiver to rocket up the Eagles' draft board — and Omar Cooper's Top 30 visit suddenly looks prophetic.

The Bottom Line

Roseman's draft strategy is becoming clear: secure Lane Johnson's replacement at offensive tackle, add a young edge rusher to pair with the Ebiketie stopgap, and prepare contingency plans at receiver in case the Brown trade materializes. The Eagles have the draft capital to be aggressive. With four picks in the first 100 and a GM who loves to deal, don't be surprised if Roseman makes a move on draft night — up or down — to maximize value at the positions that matter most.