PHILADELPHIA — Howie Roseman just finished a free-agency sprint by signing Hollywood Brown and Riq Woolen to one-year deals, but the real roster building happens in Pittsburgh next month. With the 2026 NFL Draft approaching, a new simulation shows the Eagles pivoting back to their defensive roots. The latest PFF mock draft has Philadelphia selecting Auburn’s powerhouse edge rusher Keldric Faulk at pick No. 23.
The draft board fell in a way that left the Eagles looking at the best player available. Keldric Faulk is a physical marvel at 6-foot-6 and 276 pounds. While he doesn’t have the typical “bend” of a 3-4 outside linebacker, he brings massive inside-out versatility that Vic Fangio loves. Faulk finished his time at Auburn with nine sacks over his final two seasons and started 32 consecutive games. With Brandon Graham retiring at the end of the 2026 season, Faulk provides the youth and power needed to keep the defensive front dominant.
The Eagles need a long-term solution at safety, and AJ Haulcy is the answer. The LSU product is a tackling machine, racking up 88 total tackles and three interceptions in 2025. He has the size at 6-foot and 215 pounds to play in the box or deep half. Haulcy allows the Eagles to move on from Reed Blankenship while pairing him with Andrew Mukuba for a versatile, hard-hitting secondary that can match up with any NFC East receiver.
In a move that will spark plenty of talk in the city, the Eagles drafted Trey Lance’s brother, Bryce. The North Dakota State standout is a vertical threat, clocking a blazing 4.34 40-yard dash. At 6-foot-3, he isn’t just a speedster; he’s a big-bodied weapon who recorded 127 catches for 2,139 yards and 25 touchdowns in college. He slots in perfectly behind Hollywood Brown, giving Jalen Hurts another explosive target for 2026 and beyond.
Landon Dickerson’s retirement talks and Cam Jurgens’ recent surgeries make the interior offensive line a high priority. Logan Jones is a 2025 Rimington Trophy winner and a unanimous All-American. Standing 6-foot-3 and 299 pounds, Jones is often compared to Jason Kelce due to his elite zone-blocking mobility. He didn’t allow a single penalty in 2025, proving he has the discipline to start in the NFL immediately.
“We aren’t just looking for guys who can play on Sundays; we want guys who live in the film room. Faulk has that Auburn grit, and Haulcy is a natural leader. We’re building this to last.”
— Anonymous Eagles Scout
This draft class focuses on replacing aging legends and adding cheap, high-end talent to a roster with several one-year veteran contracts. Adding Garrett Nussmeier (QB, LSU) in the fourth round provides a developmental arm behind Hurts and Dalton, while Nicholas Singleton (RB, Penn State) offers Saquon Barkley-style depth in the fifth. The Eagles are clearly preparing for a world where their current stars might be too expensive to keep. By hitting on Faulk and Haulcy, Roseman ensures the defense remains a top-five unit through the 2020s.
