Eagles aren’t finished: Replacing four stars is top priority — one surprise tops the list

· Yahoo Sports

The Eagles accomplished what all good teams strive to do in free agency: build up the depth of their roster so they can select the best available players in the draft rather than filling needs.

Philadelphia has to replace three-year starter Reed Blankenship — who signed with the Texans in free agency — at safety, but that stands as the team’s only immediate need at a starting position. The other issues are more long-term than short-term, and from top to bottom, the Eagles’ roster is in good shape.

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Eagles general manager Howie Roseman could target tight ends, offensive guards, right tackles or wide receivers with his top four picks (one first-round pick, one second-round pick and two third-round picks) to prepare for changes on offense in the coming years. On defense, Roseman could target pass rushers and safeties. He has nine picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, which is scheduled to take place from April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Here are the Eagles’ six biggest needs after free agency, ranked from 1 to 6, along with some draft prospects they could look at to address each position:

(1) Right tackle Lane Johnson’s successor

Potential options:

  • Max Iheanachor (Arizona State)
  • Blake Miller (Clemson)
  • Caleb Lomu (Utah)
  • Kadyn Proctor (Alabama)

Johnson, who turns 36 years old this May, is not expected to play more than one or two more seasons. The Eagles could select his successor with their first-round pick (No. 23) or second-round pick. Waiting until the second round would be a risk because there won’t be many good options available in that range.

The Eagles’ rookie right tackle will be given time to develop as a backup next season and possibly in 2027 before becoming the starter.

Proctor potentially offers the highest ceiling because he possesses unique size (6-7, 352 pounds) and power, but his lack of foot speed makes his pass protection inconsistent.

Iheanachor, 6-6, 321 pounds, isn’t far behind Proctor when it comes to potential. He’s a nimble mover and offers great upside in pass protection.

Miller (6-7, 317 pounds) and Lomu (6-6, 313 pounds) are both pro-ready as pass protectors.

(2) No. 2 WR across from DeVonta Smith

Potential options:

  • Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana)
  • Denzel Boston (Washington)
  • KC Concepcion (Texas A&M)
  • Chris Bell (Louisville)
  • Germie Bernard (Alabama)
  • Chris Brazzell II (Tennessee)

The Eagles could still trade star wide receiver A.J. Brown this offseason. Brown wants out of Philadelphia and the team has engaged in trade talks with the Patriots and Rams, according to multiple reports. If that’s the plan, they will need to use a first or second-round pick to draft Brown’s replacement.

Cooper is an electric playmaker who breaks tackles either by accelerating past defenders or running through contact. Philadelphia could target him, Boston or Concepcion in the first round.

Bell draws comparisons to Brown for his tall, muscular frame and physical style of play. He won’t be ready until training camp after tearing his ACL during the final month of the 2025 season. This could cause him to drop to the Eagles in the second round (pick No. 54).

Brazzell, another second-round prospect, could be a strong fit for Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, due to his ability to stretch defenses vertically, Bernard offers the most well-rounded skill set of the Day 2 prospects, but he lacks a standout trait.

(3) Long-term starter at left or right guard

Potential options:

  • Keylan Rutledge (Georgia Tech)
  • Jalen Farmer (Kentucky)

Left guard Landon Dickerson’s longevity issues, caused by injuries, are a concern. He considered retiring this offseason before ultimately taking a pay cut, per multiple reports. The restructured contract could provide financial flexibility for the Eagles if he retires within the next few years.

When the Eagles made him the league’s richest guard on a four-year, $87 million extension in 2024, they were not expecting to have to draft his replacement two years later, but now that’s what they have to do, with Dickerson’s playing career potentially ending in the next few years.

The right guard spot could also become an issue because Tyler Steen is set to become a free agent after next season.

Roseman could solve that problem by taking a guard with one of his two third-round picks (No. 68 and No. 98). Rutledge and Farmer both possess the power and athleticism to thrive in Philadelphia’s new modern west coast offense, which will require offensive linemen to climb to the second level and execute difficult outside-zone blocks.

(4) Starting safety

Potential options:

  • Bud Clark (TCU)
  • Zakee Wheatley (Penn State)
  • Genesis Smith (Arizona)
  • Jalon Kilgore (South Carolina)

During the 2026 season, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio could deploy slot cornerback Cooper DeJean at safety in the base package and get by with a lesser talent in nickel/dime packages.

This past season, DeJean played outside cornerback in base because CB was a bigger issue than safety. Now, safety is the weak spot of the secondary with Blankenship gone.

In nickel (three cornerbacks and two safeties on the field), Fangio could pair 2025 second-round pick Drew Mukuba with Michael Carter II, Marcus Epps or a mid-round rookie. At best, Epps and Carter both could be average starters, but neither safety will elevate Philadelphia’s secondary.

To give the safety room a higher ceiling, the Eagles could target Clark or Smith — two of the best playmaking defensive backs in the 2026 class — late in the third round to enter the competition with Epps and Carter. Wheatley and Kilgore also could intrigue the Eagles on Day 2 because they both have great size, speed and length for the position.

Kilgore has a pre-draft visit already scheduled with the Eagles, according to draft analyst Ryan Fowler.

(5) Starting or high-end rotational rusher

Potential options:

  • T.J. Parker (Clemson)
  • Malachi Lawrence (Central Florida)
  • Derrick Moore (Michigan)
  • Dani Dennis-Sutton (Penn State)
  • Joshua Josephs (Tennessee)

Roseman signed rotational pass rusher Arnold Ebiketie to help replace Jaelan Phillips, who left in free agency. He must find a better player than Ebiketie — who has only recorded 16.5 sacks in four seasons — to pair with Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt in 2026. He could trade for that player or draft another pass rusher.

Lawrence is the type of prospect Roseman typically falls in love with. He’s long, explosive and powerful.

Parker is less dynamic as a pass rusher, but he is strong, physical and disruptive against the run.

The Eagles could have to snag Lawrence and Parker in the first round if they want them badly enough. They won’t fall that far into the second round.

On Day 2, Moore, Dennis-Sutton and Josephs could be solid second and third-round picks. They each offer a different skill set that could improve the Eagles’ pass rush.

(6) 2027 starting tight end

Potential options:

  • Sam Roush (Stanford)
  • Max Klare (Ohio State)

If a tight end prospect with starting potential falls to the third round, the Eagles could pick him as a future replacement for starter Dallas Goedert, who re-signed with Philadelphia on a one-year deal to avoid free agency.

Roush and Klare would be solid selections in the third round. Roush’s game is more complete between the two, but he offers less upside as a pass-catcher. He could improve the Eagles’ run blocking with his massive 6-6, 267-pound frame.

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