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.
Cornerback
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.
Tier 1: Round 1
1. Mansoor Delane, LSU
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.
2. Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
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.
Tier 2: Rounds 1-2
3. Chris Johnson, San Diego State
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.
Tier 3: Round 2
4. Treydan Stukes, Arizona State
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.
5. Colton Hood, Tennessee
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.
6. D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana
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.
7. Avieon Terrell, Clemson
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.
8. Keionte Scott, Miami
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.
Eagles Thoughts: I’d expect the Eagles to want a bigger player next to Andrew Mukuba next year, but could they see Scott as a safety rather than a nickel? He’s an interesting name to keep an eye on if he makes it to Round 3. The ability to interchange him and DeJean is genuinely intriguing.
Tier 4: Rounds 2-3
9. Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
Overall: A long, athletic press-man corner with a lot of upside who tested well at the combine and is only 20 years old. The raw tools are impressive, and the age gives him significant development runway.
Eagles Thoughts: The Eagles might consider a corner on Day 2 with Woolen likely only here for one year, but I’m not sure Cisse is a great fit for this scheme as he suits a press-man system more than the zone match based approach Fangio runs.
10. Keith Abney II, Arizona State
Overall: A long, developmental corner who is competitive and has some excellent traits, but needs a significant amount of coaching before he can be a reliable NFL starter.
Eagles Thoughts: Abney is a good fit for this defense as he excels in off-man coverage, which is exactly what Fangio wants. If he fell to the third round, he could be a really interesting option: sit behind Woolen for a year, learn the system, and develop into a potential starter.
11. Chandler Rivers, Duke
Overall: A versatile defensive back who excels in zone coverage, but size deficiencies will likely force him inside at the next level. His instincts and ball skills stand out on the film.
Eagles Thoughts: If the Eagles see Rivers as a straight-up nickel, I doubt they target him. If they think he can play outside or even slide to safety, there should be interest. A very interesting player, and I liked the film.
Tier 5: Round 3
12. Julian Neal, Arkansas
Overall: A long boundary corner who plays with great physicality and ball skills, but has average long speed and can be a little stiff in his movements. The physical tools are there; the fluidity is the question.
Eagles Thoughts: Neal reminds me a little of Tariq Woolen. He’ll struggle in man coverage, but could be a really nice fit in the Eagles’ defense, where he can play zone-match rather than straight man. I really like his fit for the Eagles.
13. Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State
Overall: A long, versatile outside cornerback with the size and physicality to play as a press-man boundary corner at the next level. The primary concern is the total flag count. 16 coverage flags across the past two seasons is terrifying.
Eagles Thoughts: I doubt he fits what the Eagles are looking for, but he does profile as a developmental player who could sit behind Woolen and learn. The second round is too rich for me, given the discipline issues and the amount of work he needs.
14. Malik Muhammad, Texas
Overall: A very athletic but slightly undersized cornerback who needs a lot of coaching, but brings a lot of positive traits. The athleticism and ceiling are both present.
Eagles Thoughts: Muhammad fits well as a developmental corner to sit behind Woolen this year. I have him going in the third round, and I like him as a fit for this defense, but the worry is he’ll be gone before the Eagles have a real interest at the position.
15. Devin Moore, Florida
Overall: A long, talented cornerback whose development has been significantly hampered by injuries, so he has only started 17 career games. There’s real talent here, but the boom/bust nature of his profile is hard to ignore.
Eagles Thoughts: The injury history is concerning and has clearly stunted his development, given how limited his starting experience has been. He’s a developmental pick, which I generally prefer on Day 3, but there’s enough talent to justify a third-round selection if the medical checks out.
Thank you for reading! I’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to comment below and ask any questions. If you enjoyed this piece, you can find more of my work and podcast here. If you would like to support me further, please check out my Patreon here!
