Football
It’s basically April, which means the draft is basically three weeks away. And the draft is more than just one round, so this week we’ll look at some mocks that go beyond the first 32 picks.
1st round – TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
Dallas Goedert is back in Philadelphia for another year. Though he’s coming off a career-high 11 receiving touchdowns, he’ll be 32 years old next offseason and might not be a long-term option for the Eagles beyond 2026. Luckily for them, they have a potentially elite tight end prospect fall into their laps in this mock draft.
Kenyon Sadiq is an elite athlete who can separate from man coverage, has reliable hands as a pass catcher, and battles hard as a run blocker for a smaller tight end.
He caught 8 touchdown passes in the 2025 regular season, taking advantage of his first opportunity at cracking the starting lineup. His upside as a receiver is through the roof, making him worthy of a first-round selection in our 2026 NFL Mock Draft.
Sadiq is a popular pick for the Eagles, and with good reason. And the Eagles have visited or met with at least seven tight ends this draft class, it feels like they will actually come away with one in this draft, even though it’s a pretty poor draft for TEs. I am not high on Sadiq as a fit for the Eagles but they have been needing to find Goedert’s successor for a few years. They’re reaching a beggars can’t be choosers phase of finding their next TE.
2nd round – EDGE Derrick Moore, Michigan
Heading into 2025, I was already impressed by Derrick Moore’s first-step acceleration, pass-rushing arsenal, and motor. That said, I came out of this season impressed by how he added power to his game, giving him strong Day 2 upside in this year’s draft class.
Moore is an eye of the beholder type of prospect. He was routinely taken off the field in running situations, but Michigan fans will tell you that Wink Martindale didn’t know how to use him. This new era of college football means that non-elite prospects are going to be older than in years past and that shouldn’t be held against them as much as it used to be, but he also didn’t break out until his senior year–though he isn’t an out of nowhere prospect, he was well thought of in the offseason.
3rd round – SAF Zakee Wheatley, Penn State
If there’s one thing Penn State knows how to produce, it’s physical safeties. Zakee Wheatley is a hard hitter with a 6’2″, 202-pound frame that helps him lay out ball-carriers. He also processes route combinations well in zone and offers plenty of alignment versatility.
What are you talking about, PSU produces linebackers and running backs.
Anyway, Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren has been a trendy pick for the Eagles, and Wheatley is another big, rangy safety.
Interestingly, In the Howie Roseman eras, the Eagles have only drafted two players from Penn State, both in 2019–Miles Sanders and Shareef Miller. Before that, it was Tony Hunt in 2007.
3rd round – OT Dametrious Crownover, Texas A&M
With his pad level and inconsistent processing speed, I wouldn’t consider Dametrious Crownover a Day 1 starter in the NFL. That said, he’s a 6’7″, 336-pound freak of nature with incredible length and really good agility for his size. Someone will bet on upside with him.
And that team may be the Eagles. The Eagles have met with at least seven OT prospects, and a recurring theme for them, especially the later round guys, is that they are massive. Of the non-first round projected OTs they have met with or visited, the shortest is Northwestern’s Caleb Tiernan, who measured exactly 6’8” at the Combine. Jeff Stoutland is gone but the massive OTs that can be put on an island philosophy appears to remain.
1st round – WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
Though wide receiver A.J. Brown is still with the Eagles, the fact that the team reportedly had discussions for a trade tells you it’s still possible something happens after June 1, when it becomes more palatable from a salary cap standpoint. Of course, Philadelphia would be thin long term at receiver without Brown, which is where Cooper could help. He’s one of the best players in space from this class, averaging 7.3 yards after the catch in 2025. Plus, he can block extremely well downfield, which would fare well for running back Saquon Barkley.
Cooper is a good player but he’s a slot WR in the NFL, and if the Eagles are going WR early, it’s got to be for someone who can replace AJ Brown on the outside.
2nd round – OL Gennings Dunker, Iowa
The Eagles can clearly line up with five starting offensive linemen right now and be in good shape, but few teams approach the draft with a longer lens than Philly under general manager Howie Roseman. Dunker has college experience at right tackle (predominantly) and both guard spots; he surrendered zero sacks in 2025. There is not a team in the NFL with adequate offensive line depth, so adding to this room is important.
Dunker started at right tackle for the Hawkeyes for three years, but in the NFL he’s likely a guard. There are no sure things, but drafting Iowa OL is never a bad idea. And just look at these vibes:
Getty Images
1st round – G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
(Eagles trade 23, 98, and 137 to Carolina for 19)
Some believe Ioane should be a top-10 pick. Others will argue that the former Penn State star is a guard and therefore shouldn’t get picked in the top 20. However, the Eagles have a massive hole at right guard and value offensive line play more than most teams. If Ioane starts to slide on draft night, Philadelphia is a team to watch trading up for him.
2nd round – EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
(Eagles trade 54, 122, and a 2027 3rd for 39)
Unfortunately, the Eagles lost multiple starters on defense in free agency, including Jaelan Phillips. However, they will likely receive a third-round compensatory pick in next year’s draft for the loss, allowing them to trade their own selection to move up and replace Phillips with Faulk.
3rd round – TE Max Klare, Ohio State
(Eagles trade 68 for 80, 115, and 211)
There was no write up for this pick
This mock is wild. In addition to the Eagles’ flurry of moves, WASTEAM trades up to 3rd overall to take Jeremiyah Love, and the Bengals trade up to 7 to take Caleb Downs (I have seen a few where the Bengals move up for Downs… they haven’t traded up in the 1st round since 2012).
I have a very hard time seeing the Eagles trading up for an interior lineman in the 1st round. I have a very hard time seeing Keldric Faulk slip out of the 1st round. Max Klare, if the Eagles want a pass catch only TE, they already have him in Grant Calcaterra, he’s that poor of a blocker.
I respect the chaos though.
Read More Dave Mangels