The Philadelphia Eagles' 2026 NFL Draft class passed the eyeball test. Then, they earned high grades from just about everyone. Now, the numbers agree. Advanced metrics seem to support what Birds fans already knew. Howie Roseman, his staff, and scouts crushed yet another selection meeting. Per NFL Next Gen Stats, Philadelphia's 2026 draft class has been named one of the league’s best, landing inside the top three based on advanced modeling and player evaluation metrics. Only the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets landed higher.
Which NFL team had the best all-around 2026 draft class by the NGS overall draft score?The @nyjets, @Browns, @Eagles, @Commanders and @AZCardinals' first seven picks all averaged at least a 76 overall score. pic.twitter.com/aVu0NBUTaA
That recognition reinforces what many believed as the draft unfolded. Philadelphia didn’t just add talent. They added potential cornerstones for the future, and they did so with purpose. From the moment general manager Howie Roseman began maneuvering the board, the strategy was clear. This wasn't about volume. It was about precision. Moving up for Makai Lemon before adding versatile weapons and closing the show by taking calculated swings on developmental prospects like Uar Bernard. All of this reflected a front office confident in both its evaluations and its infrastructure. The analytics back that up. Next Gen Stats’ draft model evaluates classes based on a blend of production, athletic traits, and projected NFL impact.
Philadelphia’s early selections, in particular, graded out extremely well, helping push the overall class into elite territory alongside other top-performing teams, but there's another layer to this. The Eagles did more than draft high-floor prospects. They mixed immediate contributors with long-term upside. From polished offensive additions to high-ceiling projects and tough defenders. That balance can be difficult to achieve and even harder to sustain.
Philadelphia has made it a habit. Of course, rankings in April don’t guarantee results in December. Development, health, and opportunity will ultimately define how this class is remembered. Still, early indicators matter, and right now, they point in one direction. The Eagles didn’t just have a good draft. According to the data, they had one of the league's best.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Next Gen Stats ranks Eagles draft among NFL’s best