The league is buzzing after Day 1 of the NFL draft, and Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman has swung the roster shaping pendulum at the wide receiver position after selecting USC star Malaki Lemon. The award-winning pass catcher is the fourth wide receiver to join the roster since the start of free agency, and the move all but assures A.J. Brown will move on via trade.
We're hours away from Day 2 selection, and Philadelphia could look to address defensive needs.
Nakobe Dean (Raiders), Reed Blankenship (Texans), Jaelan Phillips (Panthers), and Adoree' Jackson (free agency) have all departed. Marcus Epps is back, and the Birds added longtime veteran J.T. Gray to the backend after trading Sydney Brown. While there are new names to know, the bulk of a Super Bowl-caliber roster remains. Still, this roster isn't perfect, and there are plenty of pieces to be added.
We're examining the Eagles' biggest needs on Day 2 of the draft, with Rounds 2 and 3 approaching.
Players on the roster: Drew MukubaMichael Carter IIMarcus EppsJ.T. GrayAndre' SamBrandon Johnson
Coming out of free agency, Philadelphia had Andrew Mukuba, Sydney Brown, Andre Sam, and Brandon Johnson on the roster. The Eagles then traded Brown to Atlanta and quickly re-signed Marcus Epps and added J.T. Gray. Mukuba is a guaranteed starter in Year 2, despite returning from a season-ending injury as a rookie. The second safety spot is up for grabs after Reed Blankenship's departure. Epps is a solid contributor, but he's aging and not a dominant game-changer. Gray is a special teams standout, while Sam and Johnson are back after spending 2025 on the practice squad. It may not be in the first round, but an impact player at the position is the goal.
Currently on the roster: Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, Arnold Ebiketie, Jose Ramirez, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
Ebiketie joins Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, and athletic, hybrid pass rushers who can get after the opposing quarterbacks. The Eagles could still add Brandon Graham to this group. A solid run defender and explosive pass rusher, Smith missed seven games in 2025, logging 31 tackles, 3 sacks, one forced fumble, 33 QB pressures, 24 QB hurries, and a 67.7 PFF grade in 12 games. Hunt became the first Eagle to lead the team in both sacks (6.5) and INTs (3) in the same season. He is the second Eagle to have 6.0+ sacks and 3.0+ INTs in a season, joining Seth Joyner (1991-92). Philadelphia has several key Day 2 draft picks, and an edge rusher should be at the top of this list.
Currently on the roster: Quinyon MitchellCooper DeJeanRiq WoolenKelee RingoJakorian BennettJonathan JonesMac McWilliamsTariq Castro-FieldsAmbry Thomas
The top three in this group are elite: Riq Woolen, Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean. A key injury to any of the three would be devastating if not catastrophic, especially if that player is DeJean. Mac McWiliams is a player to watch in his second year, but veterans like Kelee Ringo, Jakorian Bennett, and Jonathan Jones may not be the answer.
A down year led to Jeff Stoutland's departure. The Eagles' offensive line suffered multiple injuries in 2025. Landon Dickerson was excellent in 2024 but finished the 2025 regular season with a 60.3 PFF pass-blocking grade, which ranked only 51st among 81 qualifying guards. Jordan Mailata didn't replicate his elite 2024 campaign, but he was still Philadelphia's best offensive lineman. His 83.8 PFF overall grade ranked seventh among all offensive tackles. Johnson's value is clear: the Eagles were 8-2 with him in the lineup this season, versus 3-4 without him. During his tenure in Philadelphia, the team's record is 94-41-1 when he plays and 15-27 when he doesn't. At some point, his replacement needs to be targeted, and the Eagles are rarely bad enough to land top ten picks.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles' biggest needs on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL draft