The post-draft period in Philadelphia has brought some changes to the front office. Assistant G.M. Alec Halaby and senior V.P. Bryce Johnston have left. Two other key employees will be sticking around.
Via Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Dom DiSandro a/k/a Big Dom has signed a contract extension. Assistant G.M. Jon Ferrari has also agreed to terms on a new deal.
Ferrari was hired by the Eagles in 2016. He became assistant G.M. in 2022.
DiSandro, who joined the Eagles in 1999, has multiple titles. He’s the senior advisor to the General Manager, chief security officer, and the directer of gameday coaching operations.
Big Dom has become a local legend and national celebrity in recent years. His widespread fame arguably was sparked by a sideline fracas with then-49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw in December 2024.
It’s become clear that Big Dom handles many things for the Eagles. As Myles Simmons and I explained it on Monday’s PFT Live, when discussing the news that Steelers receiver DK Metcalf won’t face criminal charges for his December 2025 incident with a fan in Detroit, every team needs a Big Dom — because Big Dom would have gotten to Metcalf before Metcalf had a chance to get to the fan.
Eagles Clips
The Eagles are taking a look at a defensive player who would likely be a significant special teams contributor.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports on Monday that cornerback Nazeeh Johnson is visiting with Philadelphia on Monday.
Johnson, 27, was a Chiefs seventh-round pick in 2022. He has appeared in 29 career games with six starts in his career. A shoulder injury limited Johnson to just two games in 2025, and he played exclusively on special teams.
Back in 2024, Johnson was on the field for 48 percent of defensive snaps and 40 percent of special teams snaps in his 16 games played.
A.J. Brown is on the Eagles’ roster, but the expectation remains that the wide receiver will be traded after June 1 and that move would impact his running mate for the last four years.
DeVonta Smith would become the unquestioned No. 1 wideout with the Eagles when and if Brown is sent to another club. The 2021 first-round pick was asked about that prospect and the Brown trade chatter in general at his charity softball game over the weekend.
“I just go out there and do my job,” Smith said, via Zach Berman of TheAthletic.com.
If Brown is gone, the receiving corps around Smith will be topped by newcomers Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown and first-round pick Makai Lemon. He’ll also be working with a new offensive coordinator in Sean Mannion, so there will be a lot for Smith to get used to as he prepares to do his job this fall.
One of the most unusual stories that emerged from the 2026 draft in Pittsburgh originated in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers called receiver Makai Lemon before the Steelers were on the clock. The Eagles traded up to take Lemon, one spot before the Steelers at No. 21.
Mike Sando of The Athletic reports the move may not have been unprecedented.
Multiple unnamed sources “suggested” that the Steelers have done it before.
“They think they are tying up the phone lines so the other team moves on because they can’t get in touch with the player,” one unnamed executive told Sando. “All it takes is you to call the player, and if another team calls the agent and they’re like, ‘Oh, he’s on the phone with so-and-so,’ now they know who you’re picking.”
Either way, there’s a belief that it’s not something that should be done.
“You don’t make the call until you’re on the clock,” another unnamed executive said. “It’s crazy.”
Former Eagles executive Jake Rosenberg tweeted the day after the draft that the move violates the rules. The NFL, responding to a question regarding the practice, said this: “The league reviews all aspects of the Draft the week after its conclusion.”
The Eagles have a couple of veteran running backs trying out at their rookie minicamp this weekend.
Elijah Mitchell and Khalil Herbert are both on the roster that the team gave to reporters at the first day of the minicamp.
Mitchell spent his first three seasons with the 49ers, missed the 2024 season with a hamstring injury and played in one game for the Chiefs last year. He has 327 carries for 1,523 yards and nine touchdowns for his entire career.
Herbert had 16 carries for 52 yards in seven games for the Jets last season. He has 416 carries for 1,957 yards and nine touchdowns in 63 career games for the Jets, Bengals and Bears.
Wide receiver Jha’Quan Jackson, offensive lineman Michael Jordan, and edge rusher Isaiah Thomas are also trying out this weekend.
The Eagles announced eight undrafted additions to their 90-man roster on Friday.
Three of the rookies are in the defensive backfield. Safety Kapena Gushiken started 12 games and made 55 tackles at Ole Miss last season. He played at Washington State for two seasons before transferring and new teammate Tucker Large stepped in at safety for the school after Gushiken left.
Large had 71 tackles in 2025 and played at South Dakota State before switching schools. Safety Maximus Pulley had 85 tackles and five interceptions in his final year at Wofford.
The Eagles also signed Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson, Alabama guard Jaeden Roberts, Florida long snapper Rocco Underwood, Arizona State defensive end Joshua Weru, and Ole Miss tight end Dae’Quan Wright.
The Eagles signed two more draft picks on Friday.
Sixth-round guard Micah Morris and seventh-round defensive lineman Uar Bernard got their deals done as the team kicked off their rookie minicamp. Four other picks signed with the team on Thursday.
Morris spent five seasons at Georgia and closed out his time at the school as the starter at left guard. Bernard entered the International Player Pathway Program after being discovered playing basketball and the native of Nigeria has not played organized football before.
Second-round tight end Eli Stowers and third-round offensive lineman Markel Bell are the only unsigned members of the team’s draft class.
The Eagles brought in receiver Makai Lemon with the No. 20 overall pick in this year’s draft, ostensibly setting him up to be one of the club’s top wideouts alongside DeVonta Smith in the coming season once A.J. Brown is traded.
Lemon and Smith have already started getting to know each other, attending Game 3 of the first round NBA playoff matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics.
Lemon told reporters on Thursday that the two got to talk and Smith said that he’ll love it.
“Yeah, super humble guy, super chill, super calm, kind of my type of vibe,” Lemon said, via Reuben Frank of NBCSportsPhiladelphia.com. “So I feel like me and him clicked on those things. When you step on the field, he’s already got that dog mentality. So I think me and him are going to click well, definitely.”
Smith and Lemon are each what one could consider undersized receivers, but both have shown an ability to still be productive — particularly Smith at the highest level.
“Yeah, he’s definitely not the biggest guy, not the tallest guy on the field. But having that heart makes him such an impact player. And that’s what sticks out to me,” Lemon said. “Once you have a guy like that on your team, lined up next to you, I feel like that’s only going to make you better. And I feel like we can help each other in any way.”
Lemon won the 2025 Biletnikoff award as the nation’s best receiver in 2025. He caught 79 passes for 1,156 yards with 11 touchdowns in his final season with USC.
Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles is a legend in Philadelphia for helping the Eagles win their first Lombardi Trophy.
He’s so legendary, in fact, that no player since Foles has worn No. 9 for the club.
That will change in 2026.
Eagles first-round pick Makai Lemon told reporters on Thursday that he will sport No. 9 for the team this season. Lemon said he spoke to Foles on the phone and received the former quarterback’s blessing.
“I’ll represent the nine well,” Lemon said, via Olivia Reiner of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The No. 20 overall pick of the 2026 draft, Lemon won the 2025 Biletnikoff award as the nation’s best receiver in 2025. He caught 79 passes for 1,156 yards with 11 touchdowns in his final season with USC.
The Eagles have signed three more of their 2026 draft picks.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that they have signed fifth-round quarterback Cole Payton, seventh-round safety Cole Wisniewski, and seventh-round linebacker Keyshawn James-Newby to their four-year rookie deals. First-round wideout Makai Lemon also signed with the team on Thursday.
Payton completed nearly 72 percent of his passes and ran for 13 touchdowns at North Dakota State last season. He will try to earn a spot in a quarterback group that also has Tanner McKee and Andy Dalton behind Jalen Hurts.
Wisniewski was Payton’s teammate at North Dakota State before transferring to Texas Tech for the 2025 season. James-Newby finished up his college time at New Mexico after spending time at Idaho and Montana Tech.
