Sportsvival is full force into scouting for the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Eagles are one of those teams that make a lot of sense in this range. Philadelphia still has a strong core, but this offseason has felt like a clear reset around the edges of the roster: add veterans on short deals, patch depth, and let the draft reload premium spots. After losing pieces at edge and safety, the Eagles head into pick No. 23 looking like a team that still needs another impact defender up front.
Offseason signings and returns
Among Philadelphia’s most notable offseason additions and returns so far: Andy Dalton, Hollywood Brown, Arnold Ebiketie, Riq Woolen, Jonathan Jones, Elijah Moore, Johnny Mundt, Stone Smartt, Dameon Pierce, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Chandler Martin, J.T. Gray, Marcus Epps, Fred Johnson, Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcaterra, and Braden Mann. A lot of those moves help the Eagles’ depth immediately, but many of them are short-term answers rather than long-term fixes.
Offseason departures
The Eagles also lost some meaningful pieces this offseason, including Reed Blankenship, Sydney Brown, Nakobe Dean, A.J. Dillon, Jahan Dotson, Kylen Granson, Sam Howell, Azeez Ojulari, Jaelan Phillips, Matt Pryor, Brett Toth, and Joshua Uche. That is a lot of movement for a contender, especially on defense, and it explains why Philadelphia still feels like a team that has to keep replenishing talent in the draft.
Top 3 Eagles needs
Edge rusher
This is the biggest one. Philadelphia lost both Jaelan Phillips and Azeez Ojulari, and while Ebiketie and Tryon-Shoyinka give the room more bodies, the Eagles still look light on proven edge impact. That is why edge keeps showing up as one of the team’s top draft priorities.
Safety
The safety room changed fast. Reed Blankenship left, Sydney Brown was traded, and the Eagles responded by bringing back Marcus Epps and adding J.T. Gray. Those moves add experience, but even the team’s own offseason messaging makes it clear this remains a position they are still evaluating and could continue to address.
Offensive line
Even when Philadelphia is strong in the trenches, it never stays complacent there. The line dealt with injuries last season, and the long-term outlook matters with veteran pieces getting older. This feels like the kind of roster where tackle or interior line help would still make a lot of sense, even if it is not the first-round choice here.
The pick: No. 23 — EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
Sportsvival has the Eagles selecting Cashius Howell at No. 23.
This fit makes a lot of sense. Philadelphia lost edge depth in free agency, and Howell gives them another pass-rush piece to develop in a system that has consistently valued pressure, rotation, and fresh bodies off the edge. He feels like the kind of pick that matches both roster need and organizational philosophy.
Howell would give the Eagles more burst and juice on the outside, and that matters for a team that still wants to win with its front. With Nolan Smith already in place and Philadelphia still trying to rebuild the depth around its pass rush, Howell looks like a smart first-round answer. The Eagles do not need this pick to save the roster; they need it to keep one of the league’s most important units dangerous. Cashius Howell does exactly that.