The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to draft an offensive player in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, whether it’s a Lane Johnson successor or a playmaker to help replace A.J. Brown.
But if that’s not what the Eagles do on Thursday — if they opt for an impact player on defense — there’s one prospect who stands out.
The Eagles hosted Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk for a top-30 pre-draft visit, he told The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Devin Jackson on Wednesday.
Teams are allowed to bring up to 30 players in for a formal visit as a way to get to know the player better.
The Eagles have hosted several other projected first-round picks, including Indiana receiver Omar Cooper Jr., Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq, Penn State interior lineman Vega Ioane, Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu, Alabama tackle Kadyn Proctor and Arizona State tackle Max Iheanachor.
The Eagles are listed at +850 on BetMGM to draft a defensive end or an edge with their first draft selection on Thursday. Our comprehensive BetMGM Sportsbook review makes it easy to figure out how to use their platform.
Faulk might be drafted before the Eagles even have a chance at No. 23.
Faulk is ranked as the No. 4 edge rusher and the No. 15 overall prospect, per The Athletic’s Dane Brugler.
But Faulk would make sense for the Eagles if he falls. He had only two sacks last year with Auburn.
But Faulk hasn’t turned 21 years old yet, and his tantalizing athletic profile would be worth developing and adding to the Eagles’ rotation.
“Faulk has more ‘almost’ plays than impact ones on his tape, but you bet on a developing, 20-year-old player with his exciting traits,” Brugler wrote. “The character and upside are promising, but how early a team drafts him is dependent on its appetite for risk.”
Ex-Eagles player blasts Philly fans for turning on star player Apr. 22, 2026, 12:48p.m.
Ross Tucker turns first night of NFL Draft into an expert experience on West Shore Apr. 22, 2026, 10:16a.m.
This ‘unicorn’ prospect could change the Eagles’ NFL draft plans Apr. 22, 2026, 6:00a.m.
Penn State QB Drew Allar’s best fits heading into the 2026 NFL draft Apr. 22, 2026, 5:05a.m.
Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.