Eagles Draft Intel: Post-Combine Board Is Taking Shape at Pick 23
The JAKIB Staff
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The NFL Combine is in the rearview mirror, pro days are on deck, and the Eagles draft board at pick No. 23 is starting to crystallize. With less than two months until the 2026 NFL Draft, Philadelphia front office is navigating one of the most complex offseasons in recent memory — and the combine only added more layers to Howie Roseman decision tree.
Edge Rusher Is the Headliner Need
The Eagles pass rush took a step back in 2025 compared to the Super Bowl campaign, and with Jaelan Phillips heading into free agency after last season midseason trade, edge rusher sits firmly atop the needs list. Multiple post-combine mock drafts have the Eagles going edge at 23, and the names keep rotating: Akheem Mesidor out of Miami (12.5 sacks, 17.5 TFLs in 2025), Cashius Howell from Texas A&M, and Rueben Bain Jr. from the Hurricanes if he slides.
Mesidor is the steadiest riser in Philly range — a relentless, high-motor rusher who dominated the ACC in 2025. Howell tested well athletically (4.59 forty at 253 pounds) but his 30.25-inch arms raised flags. For context, the average edge rusher measures at 33.5 inches. Meanwhile, Clemson T.J. Parker earned the highest overall combine grade among edge rushers at 6.29 on NFL.com scale, and Ohio State Arvell Reese and Texas Tech David Bailey both delivered electric performances in Indianapolis.
Lane Johnson Successor Could Be on the Board
Lane Johnson is back for 2026, but the retirement talk has not gone away. Several mock drafts have the Eagles thinking ahead at offensive tackle, and Arizona State Max Iheanachor was a legitimate combine winner. At 6-foot-6 and 321 pounds, Iheanachor ran a 4.91 forty — tied for second-fastest among all offensive linemen — and crushed the broad jump. A former high school basketball player who did not start playing football until college, he is raw but oozing with upside. Georgia Monroe Freeling is another tackle mocked to Philly in this range.
The A.J. Brown Elephant in the Room
This is the storyline that touches everything. Roseman is reportedly holding firm on a Quinnen Williams-type deal for A.J. Brown — meaning at least a first-round pick plus a second-rounder as a sweetener. Multiple teams have submitted offers, but none have met that price. The wrinkle: a pre-June 1 trade triggers over $40 million in dead cap for 2026, one of the largest single-season charges in NFL history. Waiting until after June 1 spreads the pain but means no draft picks from the deal for April.
If Brown gets dealt before the draft, the Eagles could be sitting with an additional first-round pick — potentially from the Patriots — which completely reshapes the board. If he stays, the team can still address edge or tackle at 23 without worrying about replacing a top-tier receiver.
Maxx Crosby Trade Buzz
The other trade domino: the Raiders Maxx Crosby. Las Vegas reportedly wants two first-round picks plus a player in return. The Eagles have been mentioned as a potential destination, and Roseman has shown he is willing to make blockbuster moves on draft weekend. If Crosby becomes available at a reasonable price, it could eliminate the need to draft an edge entirely and shift the first-round focus to offensive tackle or cornerback.
Day 2 Targets: CB and TE
Beyond Round 1, cornerback opposite Quinyon Mitchell is a clear need. San Diego State Chris Johnson graded out at 91.6 on PFF in 2025 and projects as a second-round pick — exactly where the Eagles pick at No. 54. If Dallas Goedert walks in free agency starting March 11, tight end enters the conversation too. Kenyon Sadiq delivered an all-time combine performance among tight ends and has been mocked to Philly at 23 in some scenarios.
The Bottom Line
The Eagles draft is going to be shaped by what happens with Brown and Crosby in the next six weeks. If Roseman stays pat, expect an edge rusher or offensive tackle at 23. If the dominoes fall on trades, this board gets blown wide open. Pro day season starts now, and the Eagles scouts will be everywhere. Stay locked in.
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