Iggles Blitz

by Tommy Lawlor

Wild Cards

Posted April 21st, 2026 | 3 Comments »

We have all have an idea of what we think Howie Roseman will do over the next few days. He’ll target an OT in the first round. He’ll focus on the offense this year because he’s been so defense-heavy in recent drafts. So on and so forth. Let’s take a look at some players who could change things a bit if they slide a little or Howie just surprises us.

Malachi Lawrence is an edge rusher that most people had projected in the second round. He’s insanely athletic and the NFL has shown him a lot of love over the past couple of months. Now people think he could go in the 20’s. The Eagles had him in for a visit so they are interested. Howie might re-watch the last couple of Super Bowls and decide to go pass rusher at 23 and find the OT later on.

You can see from his RAS score that Lawrence is a special athlete. Then you watch him play and see that he is a complete player. He can rush, play the run and even drop into coverage. He could be the kind of edge rusher that Vic Fangio covets. If Uncle Vic talks enough, maybe Howie will listen.

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren was projected as a first rounder for a long time. Now Daniel Jeremiah is saying that he will probably fall into the second round. I think this is more about people targeting other spots than anything McNeil-Warren did. He is 6-4, 201, which is a good frame for a safety. He runs 4.52, which is fine. And his game tape is impressive.

McNeil-Warren isn’t the ideal nickel/safety that Fangio seems to prefer, but he is an impact hitter and tackler. He’s also got good ball skills. If he falls far enough in the second round, I wonder if Howie would go get him. I don’t think he will fall that far, but safety is such an unpredictable position in the draft that you never know. He and Mukuba would make an interesting pairing on the back end.

If Garrett Nussmeier somehow is available at pick 68, I could see the Eagles taking him. This isn’t about finding someone to challenge Jalen Hurts or anything like that. I can just see the Eagles liking Nussmeier. I’m sure they feel like they have a good perspective on him since his dad Doug was the OC for the Eagles in 2024.

Nussmeier is good at working the middle of the field. He came from a system that is similar to a pro offense. He has good feet and can move around in the pocket. He could develop into a solid starting QB, but would make a good backup for the next few years.

The Eagles appear set at RB. I wonder if Nick Singleton could tempt them if he’s available in the late fourth or fifth round. Singleton is a complete back. He can run, catch and block. He’s also a good KOR. You could bring him in to upgrade Will Shipley’s spot if you wanted.

Singleton has athleticism and burst that Shipley simply doesn’t have. You don’t need that from RB3 and your KOR, but Nick Sirianni obsesses on explosive plays. Singleton can deliver those because of his speed, skill set and versatility. He would be a good fit in the new offense.

The Eagles have a good DL already in place. Can you ever have enough? Caleb Banks is a really intriguing prospect. He is 6-6, 327 and has 35-inch arms. He ran 5.04 at the Combine and had a 32-inch vertical. Put on the tape and you see an absolute wrecking ball. At one point he lines up like a DE and beats the OT with a spin move. At 327 pounds! I see a guy who reminds me of Albert Haynesworth.

Banks has first round talent. He has medical concerns that mean he could fall. He injured one foot in 2024 and missed the bowl game. He injured the other foot in 2025 and only played in three games. He did make it back to play in the Senior Bowl and looked good. Still, you worry if foot issues on a massive man will be a lingering issue. If he falls to pick 54 or anywhere close, I could see Howie going after him. Howie likes special talent and Banks definitely has that. It doesn’t hurt that he’s a fellow Florida alum, like Mr. Roseman.

Fangio loves linebackers more than I love chocolate pudding. The Eagles recently had a virtual meeting with LB CJ Allen from Georgia. That doesn’t sound like a big deal until you realize that Allen could be a second round pick. Daniel Jeremiah has him as his #32 overall prospect. Dane Brugler had him going at 62 in a recent mock.

Would the Eagles jump on him at 54? That would seem kinda crazy since they just spent a first rounder on a LB last year. Allen would be Zack Baun’s long term replacement. He could develop for a year or two and then take over. I don’t love the thought of this, but it is hard to argue with Fangio. He’s pushed for a lot of players who have worked out really well so far.

I can’t wait for Thursday night to get here so we can finally see what Howie has in store, in terms of draft picks and possibly trades.

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Eagles Mock Draft 2.0

Posted April 20th, 2026 | 2 Comments »

Two posts in one day? It is that time of the year. We are now just days away from the draft so it is time for me to put out another mock draft. This is a combination of what I think the Eagles will and and players that I like, who also happen to be good fits. I didn’t include any trades. I wanted to focus on what could happen if the Eagles stay put. We know Howie will be trading, up and down. I used a variety of sources to try to get the values right. It would be great to have a bunch of guys fall to the Eagles. As Howie always says, hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

1 – 23 – OT Max Iheanachor – Arizona State – 6-5, 321

Shocking, huh? I know most mock drafts have this pick. I’m guessing that both Monroe Freeling and Kadyn Proctor will be off the board. Iheanachor has a higher ceiling than Caleb Lomu or Blake Miller. Iheanachor could come in and work at RG as a rookie or they could have him focus on RT to get ready for the future. He is a terrific prospect. He’s got good size and length. He ran 4.91 at the Combine, with a 10 split of 1.74. That’s excellent for a big man. Iheanachor has good feet and is a good pass protector. He faced some elite pass rushers in the Big 12 and more than held his own. He shows a real nasty streak, wanting to bury defenders when he’s got the chance. Iheanachor had a strong season. He followed that with impressive showings at both the Senior Bowl and Combine. He’s checked all the boxes and would be an outstanding heir apparent to Lane Johnson.

2 – 54 – Edge R Mason Thomas – Oklahoma – 6-2, 241

Is he undersized? Yes. So he must be a great athlete, right? Not really. What Thomas is…a total bad ass. He flies around the field blowing up everything he can. And while he’s small, he’s tough as nails. Better run defender than some guys who are bigger than him. Thomas plays with a real chip on his shoulder. He had 15.5 sacks over the past two seasons combined, along with 22 TFLs and 4 FFs. He is a disruptive force and playmaker. Big OTs think they are going to dominate him, but often end up feeling differently after the game. Loved watching this guy play. The Eagles have shown some interest in him. While the Eagles might ideally prefer a bigger edge rusher, the real key is finding someone who can play the run and affect the QB. Thomas can do both.

3 – 68 – WR Bryce Lance – NDSU – 6-3, 204

We know the Eagles need to add a receiver and they swing for the fences here. Howie loves players that have big time potential. Lance is a big WR who also happens to run 4.32 and has a vertical of 41.5 inches. That’s a special athlete. Sean Mannion would be on board. He had a big, fast WR from NDSU with the Packers, Christian Watson. Watson was a difference maker for Green Bay. Lance would have a chance to be that kind of player for Philly. Lance isn’t just a size/speed guy. He’s a talented receiver with good hands. He didn’t face top competition and needs work on route-running, but could develop into a key player for the Eagles. He would give them a field-stretcher and playmaker. They have been checking out a lot of speedy receivers so he’s what they would be looking for. Lance posted gaudy numbers over the past two seasons. In 2024 he was 75-1053-17 and in last season he was 51-1079-8. Averaged 17 yards per catch for his career.

3 – 98 – TE Justin Joly – NC State – 6-4, 241

I thought about going with Sam Roush here, but I feel like Joly is a player Howie and the Eagles would like better. He is a natural pass-catcher and good athlete. While he lacks ideal size, he is a willing blocker and has potential in that area. Joly has good RAC ability, which is one of the reasons I went with him over Roush. Joly is more agile and natural on the move. I think that will be key in the new scheme. He can line up out wide, in the slot or in-line. Joly is a good route-runner and shows a good feel for getting open. Caught 166 passes over his career so he’s a proven pass-catcher. Had 7 TDs last season. The Eagles did meet with him at the Combine.

4 – 114 – OG Brian Parker – Duke – 6-5, 309

With Landon Dickerson’s future uncertain, the Eagles need to add a guard to the mix. Parker played RT for Duke, but doesn’t have the footwork and length you need to be a starting OT in the NFL. He went to the Shrine Game and played G/C. Parker looked natural on the inside. He has good size and is a solid athlete. You will love his tenacity as a run blocker. He really gets after it. Parker has quick feet and gets off the ball really well. I think he would be a good fit in the new offense. He has RT experience and G/C ability. The Eagles love versatile blockers like that. Could be similar to Jack Driscoll in that regard. I do think Parker can be a good starting OG at the next level.

4 – 137 – SAF Jakobe Thomas – Miami – 6-1, 211

The Eagles need someone to pair with Drew Mukuba long term. Thomas would be a good complement. He has good size and is a physical player. Thomas could play more underneath if they want Mukuba being the deep guy. Thomas lacks ideal speed at 4.57, but plays plenty fast and shows good range. He’s also a playmaker, which the Eagles really value. Had 5 INTs, 2 FF, 3.5 sacks and 6 PDs as a senior. Finished career with 9 INTs and 16 PDs. Thomas is a strong tackler and can be an impact hitter. He trusts his eyes and attacks whatever is in front of him. Has good hands and can make tough catches.

5 – 178 – DT Jordan van den Berg – Georgia Tech – 6-3, 310

I thought about going with a LB here, but feel there is more need for another DL. Van den Berg is a former rugby player so he is a tough and physical player. He’s also a great athlete. He ran 4.94 at his Pro Day and had a crazy short shuttle time of 4.19. That’s better than LeSean McCoy. He began at Penn State and then transferred to GT. Really emerged in his senior season. Had 44 tackles, 11 TFLs and 3 sacks. Van den Berg plays with good leverage and will take on double teams so he’s not just an upfield guy. He is highly disruptive when he does attack upfield. Quick off the ball and has outstanding lateral agility. The Eagles have spoken with him. Would be a good scheme fit and great value.

6 – 197 – CB Latrell McCutchin – Houston – 6-2, 191

The Eagles are good at CB for this season, but could use someone to add to the mix for the future. McCutchin has the kind of size and speed they like (4.43). He is a good overall athlete witih a 38-inch vertical and  3-cone time of 7.00. He had 10 PBUs last season. The downside is that he never had an INT in college. McCutchin has good man cover skills and will go hit and tackle. He gets a good break on the ball and shows good ball skills. He just doesn’t have good hands. He was a key STer for Houston so if he doesn’t pan out on defense could at least over value there.

*****

If Howie can move down and add more late picks, the Eagles could go for a LB, another safety or a QB. There would also be the possibility of a second TE. I don’t want him moving down too much, but adding an extra pick or two would be great. I especially like the depth at TE and safety.

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