We’re only five weeks into the 2026 NFL season, but it’s never too early to start thinking about the 2027 NFL Draft, especially with the way the ’26 season has gone for the Philadelphia Eagles so far.
The Eagles have lost three straight games and now face the prospect of being without star quarterback Jalen Hurts for the foreseeable future due to a blood clot. If the Eagles don’t turn things around in short order, the season is going to slip away.
The silver lining to a poor finish to the current campaign, however, is better draft position, and the Eagles will certainly have plenty of areas to address in next year’s draft.
Eagles Select Edge Rusher Dylan Stewart in First Round of PFF Mock Draft
Gordon McGuinness of Pro Football Focus recently released the site’s first 2027 mock draft, and it features the Eagles addressing the defensive side of the ball with their top pick. With the No. 10 overall pick in the draft, McGuinness has the Eagles selecting edge rusher Dylan Stewart from the University of South Carolina.
Stewart was named Second Team All-SEC last season and has tallied six total tackles, two tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles and one QB sack on the current campaign for Carolina. He projects to be one of the top edge rushers in the upcoming draft class and thus could be a nice addition for Philadelphia’s defense.
“After Lane Johnson‘s retirement, the Eagles could look to Jordan Seaton at offensive tackle here, but it would also be very much in character for Philadelphia to have a top defensive prospect fall into its lap,” McGuinness wrote. “Stewart recently returned from a suspension and is coming off his best game of the season against Florida. Through three games, he has produced a 22.5% pass-rush win rate.”
At this point in time, the Eagles are still all-in on the current campaign and are hoping to turn their season around. If that happens, they likely won’t be in position to draft a player like Stewart. But if their struggles continue, perhaps developing players for the future and maximizing their draft position could become the priority.
Offensive Line, Secondary Represent Other Areas of Need for Eagles
Regardless of where they ultimately pick in the draft, the Eagles will have several key areas of need. In addition to edge rusher, the offensive line and secondary represent such areas. The Eagles have lost two of their five starters on the offensive line since the start of the season due to Lane Johnson’s retirement and the trade of Cam Jurgens. The O-Line, which has long been a strength of the Eagles, is now majorly depleted, and the Birds should focus on bringing in some reinforcements in the draft.
The same could be said about the secondary, particularly the safety spot. Both starting safeties from the Eagles’ Super Bowl team two years ago are gone, and now the Birds have Andrew Mukuba and Marcus Epps starting. Neither guy has proven that they’re a long-term answer at the position, so adding a safety, or two, should be a priority for the Eagles when the draft rolls around next spring.
