Philadelphia

Eagles

“Neither side is committed to it, but both I believe are expected to make it happen ... It’s not going to be hard to get done. The Eagles are open to moving him, the Patriots want him, and I believe in the end it will involve a future first-round draft pick. My guess is 2028,” Schefter told the man who only wears tank tops. It makes sense that the 2027 first-round pick would be off limits as it’s expected to be a much better and deeper draft class. The Athletic’s Chad Graff filed a post-draft 53-man roster projection in which Kayshon Boutte is a “substitution for ... Brown” and believes Boutte is the “most likely receiver to head to Philadelphia in a trade.” We still have another month before this can finally just happen.

Roberts (6’5/333) is a hulking, power-based interior presence with a 7.83 RAS and a massive 333-pound frame. Roberts’ 2025 campaign featured a strong 87.5 pass block grade with just two total pressures allowed across 201 pass-blocking snaps, showcasing his ability to anchor and absorb power when his technique is dialed in. His game is built on size, grip strength, and the ability to wall off defenders at the point of attack, flashing shock in his hands and the raw power to displace when he wins early in reps. However, Roberts’ processing speed and average athletic profile (5.26 forty, limited testing explosiveness/agility) shows up when asked to handle quick interior movement or late-developing pressure looks. He can struggle to react to stunts and blitzes, with his pad level rising and base narrowing, leading to balance issues and late losses against quicker defenders. Despite those concerns, Roberts’ durability, SEC pedigree, and physical tools give him a developmental pathway as a depth interior lineman. Given the interest in him around the league, Roberts likely has a pretty solid chance to compete for a roster spot with the Eagles.

Carter is one of two Eagles players to have his fifth-year option picked up this offseason, with LB Nolan Smith also having his option exercised. Carter has been a disruptive force for the Eagles since being drafted by them in 2023. The former ninth overall pick has tallied 13.5 sacks and 25 TFLs in 43 career games, and earned Second-team All-Pro honors in 2024. He has also been named to back-to-back Pro Bowls. The decision to pick up Carter’s option means he will remain under contract with the Eagles through the2027 season.

The Eagles selected Smith with the 30th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The fourth-year linebacker has totaled 10.5 sacks and 10 TFLs in his first three seasons with the team while racking up 91 tackles, and was instrumental in the team’s Super Bowl championship run, where he totaled four sacks in four postseason games. Smith is now under contract through the 2027 season and could be in line for an extension before his new deal is up if he’s able to string together a breakout campaign in 2026.

This is, of course, all speculation, but Payton is one of the more athletic QBs (4.56 40-yard dash, 9.86 RAS) to come through the draft in recent memory, and there’s been plenty of speculation about what the Eagles have planned for him after making him the fourth quarterback on the roster. Mosher notes in his article that he reached out to an NFL personnel executive who scouted Payton to get his thoughts on him. Said scout replied, “not sure he’s a QB,” and according to Mosher, the “personnel exec and the team he works for weren’t alone in that opinion.” It’s worth noting that Payton was asked to participate in non-QB drills at North Dakota State’s Pro Day but declined. Now that he’s found his landing spot to begin his pro career, it will be interesting to see how he will be utilized come camp and whether or not the Eagles and Nick Sirianni have a few tricks up their sleeves for their rookie fifth-rounder.

Lawson (6’3/226) operated as the shot-caller in Alabama’s front, compiling 85 tackles with a 57.6 percent run-stop share, while adding 10 havoc plays and 6 run stops as a high-volume interior presence. His 85.9 percent tackle rate reflects solid finishing consistency, though his production profile leans more toward stability than splash with just 4 TFLs and 1.5 sacks. Lawson flashes utility as a blitzer, generating 12 pressures on 93 rushes (12.9 percent pressure rate). A 3.06 time-to-first-pressure showed enough timing and feel to attack interior creases. He wins with anticipation and play speed, staying square through traffic and using controlled footwork to navigate blocks rather than stacking and shedding with power. Athletically, Lawson presents as an average-to-good mover without elite top-end traits, relying more on processing and angles than dynamic range to close space. His high-cut frame and modest play strength can show up against climbing linemen, limiting his ability to consistently hold the point or finish through contact at the second level. Lawson projects as a rotational MIKE or WILL with core special teams value, offering early-down reliability and leadership traits that could lead to a spot starter in a scheme that emphasizes instincts over range.

Transferring to Ole Miss after two productive seasons at Virginia Tech, Wright (6’4/246) tallied 66 receptions for 1,029 yards and nine touchdowns from 2024-2025. He made splash plays often, tallying 12 receptions over 20 yards while nursing an injured right shoulder last season. According to PFF, Wright averaged 10.9 yards after catch per reception, No. 2 among qualifying FBS tight ends. The speed he possesses threatens safeties downfield; he can stretch the field vertically while a compact frame allows him to shake off defenders. Wright is a bit inconsistent as a blocker, needing improvement in technique to be trusted in the run game. His athletic receiving ability is his best tool heading into the draft. Wright will need development before he can start for an NFL team, but he can certainly join a tight end room as a pass-catcher slowly earning reps through improving blocking ability.

James-Newby (6'2/238) spent a three seasons at Montana Tech and another two at Idaho, an FCS program. He racked up 10.5 sacks in his second season at Idaho alone and earned FCS All-American Honors. He used his final year of eligibility to transfer to New Mexico, where he tallied another nine sacks and 15 TFLs. James-Newby is considerably undersized and isn’t a force against the run even in the Mountain West. The Eagles won’t give him many reps against the run, but he could be a speedy pass-rush specialist for the team.

Bernard (6'4/306) is a 1-of-1 athlete from Nigeria, but one with vanishingly little football experience. Per NFL.com, Bernard has “not played organized football, but he displayed a rare blend of size, length and explosiveness at the IPP pro day in March.” He blazed a 4.63 40 to go along with an otherworldly (for his size) 39-inch vertical. He broad jumped out of the building. He’s a moon shot pick by an Eagles team that always loves to bet on talent. Bernard will spend 2026 developing on the practice squad then see what happens for 2027.

Wisniewski (6’3"/219) spent five years at North Dakota State, winning two FCS National Championships, though a foot injury in 2023 sidelined him for all of the 2024 season, in which he won his second ring. He got his start at NDSU as a special teamer and linebacker before transitioning to safety in 2023. Wisniewski was a natural at his new position, stealing eight interceptions, one of which was a 75-yard pick-six. He transferred to Texas Tech for his final season of college ball. Wisniewski tallied six TFLs, one sack, and two forced fumbles on the Red Raiders’ dominant defense. Wisniewski wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine and did not do the 40 or agility drills at his Pro Day. He’s an instinctive player who is more than willing to lay the hammer down in the run game, but his athletic limitations are evident when he’s tasked with covering better receivers. Wisniewski’s multi-position background and experience on special teams could help him crack a 53-man roster this year, but he may need to spend a season on the practice squad to get more reps at safety.