It’s NFL Draft Season! Before you read, some important context…
I’ve ranked these players based on the Eagles’ needs and scheme fit. So while I may rate player ‘X’ higher than player ‘Y’ on pure talent, ‘Y’ could rank higher here due to fit or need. Focus more on tiers than exact order. Players in the same tier have similar grades, with minimal separation. I may note injury or off-field concerns, but they aren’t factored into rankings that often due to limited information. If a player isn’t listed, I haven’t evaluated them yet. I’ll try to get to as many prospects as possible.
You can find more on my podcast, and I’ll be releasing some videos on these prospects over on Patreon.
The Eagles are in good shape at the top of the cornerback depth chart. Quinyon Mitchell is already one of the best young corners in the NFL, and Cooper DeJean is a superstar in the making. Tariq Woolen will be the CB2 next year after signing a one-year deal, but will almost certainly be playing elsewhere the year after. That creates a clear need: the Eagles should be looking for a developmental cornerback on Day 2 or 3 who can spend a year learning behind Woolen before stepping into a starting role.
The other angle worth watching is the nickel position. If the Eagles find a quality nickel corner who can interchange with DeJean, it frees them up to move DeJean to safety in certain matchups. I don’t have much faith in the depth behind the top three right now, so one of those two profiles is what I’d be targeting in this draft.
Overall: A long, physical boundary corner whose size, press ability, and athleticism make him a prototypical high-level outside CB prospect. One of the cleanest profiles in this class.
Eagles Thoughts: Obviously, yes. But he won’t be there, and the Eagles won’t invest another first-round pick on a cornerback. A dream scenario that almost certainly stays a dream.
Overall: A long, physical press corner who was outstanding in 2024 before missing the entire 2025 season with a torn ACL. The talent is first-round caliber; the health is the only question.
Eagles Thoughts: There’s an outside chance he slides to 23 depending on how teams feel about the ACL and medicals. If he’s there, the Eagles will have to seriously consider him, though I still expect him to go top 15 regardless of the injury.
Overall: A quick, smart corner whose speed and agility allow him to match receivers in space. He has the versatility to play both outside and in the slot, which adds to his value as a scheme fit.
Eagles Thoughts: Johnson is a good fit for the Eagles as he does his best work in off-coverage, which suits this scheme well. The issue is that I expect him to go before the Eagles have a real interest in spending a pick on a cornerback.
Overall: Safety or nickel corner at the next level? That’s the big question with Stukes. He’s an older prospect at 24, but he absolutely lit up the combine, and his range, instincts, and versatility make him a fascinating chess piece.
Eagles Thoughts: Vic Fangio is going to love Stukes. The Eagles could add him, trial him at safety, and see what they’ve got. His ability to interchange with Cooper DeJean depending on the matchup would add a real new dimension to this defense. It’s a risk when a player doesn’t have a settled position, but the second round feels fair for this profile.
Overall: A competitive, physical corner whose toughness and play style fit best in a press-man system where he can be aggressive at the line of scrimmage.
Eagles Thoughts: Hood is not the type of corner that suits the Fangio system. The press-heavy profile is a poor fit for how this defense operates, making him a difficult target regardless of his talent.
Overall: A very undersized but feisty corner who plays with a chip on his shoulder. He performed well outside in college, but whether that translates to the outside at the next level is a real question. He barely played the slot in college, which is likely where he ends up at the NFL level.
Eagles Thoughts: A team will fall in love with Ponds’ attitude in the second round, which is before I’d expect the Eagles to have interest in him. He’s one of the trickiest to evaluate in this class, as the profile doesn’t fit anywhere cleanly.
Overall: A smooth, athletic corner whose coverage ability and movement skills project well into the modern NFL. The lack of size means he will almost certainly end up in the slot at the next level.
Eagles Thoughts: Unless the Eagles believe Terrell can hold up outside, or they are actively moving DeJean to safety, this one doesn’t make much sense at the first-round range where he’s currently projected. The profile is interesting, but the context needs to be right.
Overall: A versatile defensive back who projects as either a nickel corner or a safety at the next level. His instincts and range give him value at both positions.