The Philadelphia Eagles will enter the 2026 season with six rookies on their initial 53-man roster. Five members of Philadelphia’s eight-player draft class survived roster cuts. Undrafted rookie Rocco Underwood also made the team after securing the long snapper position.
The Eagles retained each of their selections from the first six rounds but waived all three seventh-round picks. Cole Wisniewski, Uar Bernard and Keyshawn James-Newby will be available to other teams before Philadelphia can attempt to add them to the practice squad.
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Here are the six Eagles rookies who made the initial roster.
Makai Lemon, wide receiver
- Round: First
- Overall selection: No. 20
- College: USC
Lemon’s roster position was never in doubt, even after a hamstring injury cost him significant practice time. The first-round
pick returned late in the preseason and experienced the expected highs and lows during his NFL debut. Lemon’s immediate accountability after a dropped pass contributed to an interception was as encouraging as anything he did physically.
Philadelphia expects Lemon to play a meaningful role alongside DeVonta Smith, Hollywood Brown and Dontayvion Wicks.
Eli Stowers, tight end
- Round: Second
- Overall selection: No. 54
- College: Vanderbilt
Stowers made the roster despite managing a hamstring injury and spending much of the summer adjusting to the NFL.
The former college quarterback remains a developmental tight end with significant receiving potential. Philadelphia can bring him along gradually after retaining Dallas Goedert, Johnny Mundt and E.J. Jenkins. Grant Calcaterra’s placement on injured reserve could eventually create additional opportunities for Stowers, although he must first show he can contribute consistently as a blocker and special-teams player.
Markel Bell, offensive tackle
- Round: Third
- Overall selection: No. 68
- College: Miami
Bell gives the Eagles another developmental tackle with exceptional size and length.
Philadelphia did not need Bell to win a starting position during his first training camp. The objective was to begin developing him behind Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson while allowing him to learn from one of the league’s most established offensive lines. Bell’s inclusion contributed to the Eagles keeping 10 offensive linemen on their initial roster.
Cole Payton, quarterback
- Round: Fifth
- Overall selection: No. 178
- College: North Dakota State
Payton’s roster position became one of Philadelphia’s most interesting decisions.
The Eagles kept four quarterbacks, protecting Payton from the waiver wire while retaining Jalen Hurts, Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee. Philadelphia could not release Payton and bring him directly back to the practice squad without first giving every other team an opportunity to claim him. His athletic ability and developmental potential gave the Eagles enough reason to dedicate an additional roster position to quarterback.
Micah Morris, offensive guard
- Round: Sixth
- Overall selection: No. 207
- College: Georgia
Morris earned a roster position after steadily improving throughout the summer. The rookie joined Willie Lampkin and Drew Kendall among Philadelphia’s interior offensive-line reserves. His size and experience playing against elite competition at Georgia made him a natural developmental project for an organization that continues investing heavily in its offensive line.
Morris survived while veterans Michael Jordan and Myles Hinton were among the linemen released or waived.
Rocco Underwood, long snapper
- Draft status: Undrafted
- College: Florida
Underwood was the only member of Philadelphia’s 2026 undrafted class to make the initial roster.
Specialists rarely receive significant attention during roster projections, but Underwood’s position became secure once the Eagles committed to him as Jake Elliott and Braden Mann’s long snapper.
His roster spot gives Philadelphia three specialists: Elliott, Mann and Underwood.
Final analysis
The Eagles did not keep several intriguing undrafted prospects, including Joshua Weru, Deontae Lawson, Kapena Gushiken and Maximus Pulley. Those players must clear waivers before Philadelphia can consider bringing them back on the practice squad.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: 6 Eagles rookies who made the initial 53-man roster
