PHILADELPHIA − The Eagles used their first five picks on offensive players in the NFL draft as GM Howie Roseman followed through on his desire to get younger on offense in order to pay his top players on defense as they come up for second contracts.
Yet the Eagles are still returning all 11 starters from offense last season − at least until A.J. Brown gets traded.
But the Eagles are also expecting production out of first-round wide receiver Makai Lemon out of Southern Cal, second-round tight end Eli Stowers out of Vanderbilt and perhaps third-round offensive tackle Markel Bell out of Miami.
The Eagles also drafted North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton in the fifth round and Georgia guard Micah Morris in the sixth round.
Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers (9) makes a catch as he warms up before playing against Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers (9) celebrates his touchdown against Ball State during the second quarter at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.Nov 8, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Eli Stowers (9) against the Auburn Tigers during pre-game warmups at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn ImagesEli Stowers of the Vanderbilt Commodores participates in the 40-yard dash during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana.Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers receives a pass during football pro day at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, March 20, 2026.Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers (9) makes the catch under coverable by Tennessee defensive back Andre Turrentine (2) in an NCAA college football game in Nov. 29, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.Oct 25, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Eli Stowers (9) celebrates a catch against the Missouri Tigers during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn ImagesNov 8, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Eli Stowers (9) runs with the ball after a made catch against the Auburn Tigers during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn ImagesOct 25, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Eli Stowers (9) makes a catch against the Missouri Tigers during the second quarter at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images1 / 9Meet Eli Stowers, Eagles second-round draft pick in photosVanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers (9) makes a catch as he warms up before playing against Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.1 / 9Meet Eli Stowers, Eagles second-round draft pick in photosVanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers (9) makes a catch as he warms up before playing against Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.2 / 9Meet Eli Stowers, Eagles second-round draft pick in photosVanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers (9) celebrates his touchdown against Ball State during the second quarter at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.3 / 9Meet Eli Stowers, Eagles second-round draft pick in photosNov 8, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Eli Stowers (9) against the Auburn Tigers during pre-game warmups at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images4 / 9Meet Eli Stowers, Eagles second-round draft pick in photosEli Stowers of the Vanderbilt Commodores participates in the 40-yard dash during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana.5 / 9Meet Eli Stowers, Eagles second-round draft pick in photosVanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers receives a pass during football pro day at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, March 20, 2026.6 / 9Meet Eli Stowers, Eagles second-round draft pick in photosVanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers (9) makes the catch under coverable by Tennessee defensive back Andre Turrentine (2) in an NCAA college football game in Nov. 29, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.7 / 9Meet Eli Stowers, Eagles second-round draft pick in photosOct 25, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Eli Stowers (9) celebrates a catch against the Missouri Tigers during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images8 / 9Meet Eli Stowers, Eagles second-round draft pick in photosNov 8, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Eli Stowers (9) runs with the ball after a made catch against the Auburn Tigers during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images9 / 9Meet Eli Stowers, Eagles second-round draft pick in photosOct 25, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Eli Stowers (9) makes a catch against the Missouri Tigers during the second quarter at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images"Obviously, we gotta get these guys on the grass and see how it all comes together," Roseman said. "I tell our players all the time, there’s no allocation draft in the National Football League ... From that perspective, we brought all those guys in because we thought they could do some things for our team."
Here, then, is what the Eagles' offensive depth chart looks like after the NFL draft:
Who's here (projected starters in bold, draft picks in italics): Jordan Mailata (left tackle), Landon Dickerson (left guard), Cam Jurgens (center), Tyler Steen (right guard), Lane Johnson (right tackle), Fred Johnson, Drew Kendall, Cameron Williams, Markel Bell, Myles Hinton, Micah Morris, Willie Lampkin, Jake Majors, Hollin Pierce, John Ojukwu
Positional breakdown: The Eagles are expecting a return to health for three of their star linemen in Dickerson, Jurgens and Lane Johnson. That's because the depth behind them is unproven at best. Bell, the Eagles' third-round pick, and Morris, the sixth-rounder, have potential, but both are raw. Williams, Kendall and Hinton were drafted in the sixth round in 2025. Only swing tackle Fred Johnson has significant experience. So just like last season, if a starter goes down for a significant amount of time, it's a big dropoff to the backups.
What's next: Bell, who's 6-foot-9, 346 pounds, has tremendous upside as a 21-year-old coming out of Miami. Spending this season learning behind Mailata and Lane Johnson certainly beats going back to Miami. Can Bell be ready by 2027 if Lane Johnson, who turns 36 years old on May 8, decides to retire after the season? The clock is already ticking.
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Who's here (projected starter in bold): Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, Andy Dalton, Cole Payton
Positional breakdown: Once again, Hurts will be dealing with a new play-caller as Sean Mannion takes over for Kevin Patullo as offensive coordinator. Expect Hurts to play more under center this season. The Eagles also expect Hurts to become a bigger threat as a runner compared to last season. The Eagles drafted Payton in the fifth round, and it's still possible that they could trade McKee, thus moving Dalton up to backup, with Payton as No. 3. Dalton, 38, has thrown for just under 40,000 yards. He's older than his coaches in Mannion, QB coach Parks Frazier and passing game coordinator Josh Grizzard.
What's next? A different season for Hurts. Hurts is dealing with a new coordinator for the seventh time in his seven seasons with the Eagles. It's going to be an adjustment because Mannion brings a scheme that's not a derivative of head coach Nick Sirianni.
Who's here (projected starter in bold): Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley, Dameon Pierce, Carson Steele (fullback)
Positional breakdown: Barkley went from 2,005 yards in 2024 to 1,140 yards last season. Somewhere in the middle would be ideal. Bigsby showed as the season went along that he can be a solid No. 2. Pierce had 939 yards as a rookie with the Texans in 2022, but hasn't come close to that since. He could challenge Shipley for the No. 3 spot.
What's next: A more dominating run game reminiscent of 2024. Whether last season's dropoff was a result of wear from the Super Bowl season, injuries to the offensive line, or both, that can't happen again. That includes Hurts, who had his fewest yards rushing (421) since becoming a full-time starter in 2021. His previous low was 605 yards rushing.
Who's here (projected starters in bold): A.J Brown*, DeVonta Smith, Makai Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore, Johnny Wilson, Britain Covey, Darius Cooper, Danny Gray, Quez Watkins
Positional breakdown: There's an asterisk next to A.J. Brown's name because, as Roseman said, "A.J. Brown is a member of the Philadelphia Eagles." He most likely won't be after June 1. That means Smith should become the Eagles' true WR1. Lemon could work into the No. 2 spot with Wicks as WR3. But the Eagles do have more depth than they did in the past with Wicks, Hollywood Brown and Moore coming in. Then again, the Eagles never needed much depth in the past with A.J. Brown producing 1,000-yard seasons in all four of his seasons with the Eagles, and Smith adding three such seasons in his five seasons in Philly. The Eagles will need the depth this season without A.J. Brown.
What's next: Lemon projects as a high-volume receiver who operated mostly from the slot at Southern Cal. Think of him like the Lions' Amon-Ra St. Brown as a possession receiver who can catch and run over the middle. If that turns out to be the case this season, the Eagles won't miss A.J. Brown too much.