7 players who could be surprise Philadelphia Eagles NFL draft targets
· Yahoo Sports
The Philadelphia Eagles have built one of the NFL's most consistent contenders by trusting a simple formula. Invest in the trenches, stay patient, and let the board come to them. It's a philosophy that has paid off time and time again, even when the selections weren't the flashiest names on draft night. Every year, much of the attention is placed on the obvious first-round targets, the players most analysts have already connected to Philadelphia, but history suggests the Eagles often find just as much value, if not more, by identifying prospects who aren't dominating headlines.
Whether it's a small-school standout or a player overshadowed by bigger names at his position, those 'under-the-radar' additions frequently become key contributors. That's especially important in a draft class loaded with depth but filled with uncertainty about how the board will fall. With multiple needs and a roster built to compete now and in the future, Howie Roseman and company will need to remain flexible. Reaching for need has never been the approach. Instead, it's about finding value, traits, and long-term upside.
Visit newsbetsport.bond for more information.
Here's a look at several of the under-the-radar prospects who would be home-run additions if drafted by the Eagles.
Sam Roush, tight end, Stanford Cardinal
Daniel Jeremiah was recently quoted as saying Kenyon Sadiq may slide to the Eagles at 23. Sam Roush might be the second-best prospect at the position in this class.
He's slow, but he's the prototypical 'Y' tight end. Besides, the last time the Eagles drafted a tight end from Stanford, that was Zach Ertz. Things worked out pretty well.
Treydan Stukes, cornerback, Arizona Wildcats
The Eagles' top three cornerbacks played their college ball at Toledo (Quinyon Mitchell), Iowa (Cooper DeJean), and UTSA (Riq Woolen). Why the heck would they not be interested in one from the land that gave them their first Super Bowl MVP, Nick Foles?
Pro Football Focus grades Treydan Stukes as their tenth-best player and their 61st-best player overall. The Eagles own the 54th and 68th picks in the NFL Draft, which presents a true (and potential) best-player-available scenario.
Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois Fighting Illini
Though nothing about Gabe Jacas or how good he is can be considered as 'surprising' to football junkies everywhere, he may not be well-known by the Eagles contingent. After all, who watches Illinois unless they're an alum or the Illini are playing a more interesting team?
Jacas flashed in his final season at the NCAA level. He tallied 43 tackles, 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one pass breakup en route to 2025 First-team All-Big Ten. In 2024, he earned Third-Team All-American honors.
Bud Clark, safety, TCU Horned Frogs
Depth at safety has been discussed in great detail. Adding J.T. Gray did little to change that.
The Eagles have shown interest in a few safeties, but Bud Clark might be the best mid-round safety prospect that no one is talking about.
Max Iheanachor, offensive tackle, Arizona State Sun Devils
This one would have been more of a surprise had Max Iheanachor not spoiled the secret by telling everyone he had a top 30 predraft visit with the Eagles. Oh, well... What do you do? This just allows us to talk about how good this guy is.
484 pass-blocking snaps last season... Zero sacks allowed. He isn't polished, but he's certainly a lump of coal that can be shaped into a diamond
Gennings Dunker, guard/tackle, Iowa Hawkeyes
If the Eagles address other needs early, edge rusher, perhaps, guys like Monroe Freeling (Georgia Bulldogs) will be off the board in Round 2. Guys like Spencer Fano (Utah Utes) and Kadyn Proctor (Alabama Crimson Tide) will be long gone, so we'll be sifting through that next tier of talent, which makes Gennings Dunker a must-mention.
Here's a guard/tackle hybrid, but there's one drawback here. He may not solve the issue of finding Lane Johnson's replacement. Despite playing OT snaps collegiately, some view this young man as more of an NFL guard.
Blake Miller, OT, Clemson Tigers
Okay, so most don't believe that talking about offensive linemen is fun, so one more, and that's it. That's a promise (for now), but if the NFL Draft unfolded as expected, Blake Miller probably slots as one of the top 20-25 guys on the board.
That means he could (and probably should) be on the board when Philadelphia is on the clock at 23. He isn't someone Eagles fans talk about, but he's someone Philadelphia, no doubt, knows about. He's probably one of the top five tackles on everyone's board. He's ready to start, and for a team looking for Lane Johnson's eventual replacement, that's exactly what you want to hear.
Bonus mentions: Drew Allar and Carson Beck
We couldn't leave the quarterback factory out of the discussion. Drew Allar and Carson Beck? What if they slide to Day 3? Both have been projected to come off the board anywhere between rounds three and five, depending on who you ask.
After seeing this team draft Kevin Kolb, Nick Foles, and Jalen Hurts with starters in place (and Kyle McCord last April), it's easy to argue that anything is possible. Allar or Beck in an Eagles jersey? Oh, this is absolutely possible, and you aren't talking to anyone who is paying attention to this. That's the beauty of trying to predict Howie Roseman. You really can't. Whether it's uncovering value in the middle rounds or making a move no one sees coming, the Eagles have built a reputation on trusting their board over public perception. If even one of these names finds his way to Philadelphia, don't be surprised if he ends up being one of the biggest steals of the entire draft. It wouldn't shock anyone if that were to happen.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: NFL Draft: 7 players who could be surprise Eagles targets