College football is back, and for the Eagles, Week 1 offers a chance to start filing away names for the 2027 draft.
Philadelphia has the luxury of a quiet opening weekend before the NFL season gets rolling, so this is as good a time as any to circle a handful of prospects who fit future needs. The Eagles may not be hunting for starters at every spot, but they do have some positions that will need attention soon - and college football gives them an early look at possible answers.
At quarterback, the biggest question is not about Jalen Hurts. It’s about who backs him up.
Tanner McKee and Andy Dalton are free agents after the season, and Cole Payton may not be ready to handle the QB2 role in 2027. That makes Garrett Nussmeier a name worth watching.
The Arizona State transfer is headed to LSU this fall after throwing for 1,628 yards and 10 TD to 3 INT in seven games last season. He’s viewed as a mid-round pick who could keep climbing, thanks to a big arm and mobility. There are several quarterbacks in this class, but Leavitt stands out as an intriguing one.
Defensive tackle is another spot that could come into play. Even with Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis in place, the Eagles are set to lose Moro Ojomo and Byron Young in free agency, which means the depth chart will need help. Alexander Abasiri fits that conversation.
Abasiri put together a big showing against San Jose State in Week 0, finishing with 2.5 tackles for loss. The 6-5, 280-pound junior could even declare early if he puts together a monster season. Philadelphia likes interior linemen who can get after the quarterback, and Abasiri is developing into that kind of player.
Running back also belongs on the list. Saquon Barkley could be in his final season in Philadelphia, even if he turns in another big year in an offense built for him.
Tank Bigsby is a free agent, and Will Shipley isn’t a starting running back. So even if Barkley is back in 2027, the Eagles will still need someone who can eventually take over.
That’s where Rahsul Faison comes in. He’s one of the top running back prospects in the draft after leading the FBS with 306 carries and 24 rushing touchdowns last season, even though he also had five drops and three fumbles. He doesn’t bring the explosiveness, which wouldn’t work in Sean Mannion’s offense - but he would be a strong complement to Saquon Barkley as a north-south runner in 2027.
Safety is another area that could get attention this offseason, no matter how Marcus Epps or Michael Carter perform. Both are on one-year deals, and the Eagles will need depth at safety along with a starter next to Andrew Mukuba. Caleb Downs is the kind of player who could fit that search.
Downs is a playmaking safety who picked off four passes in his redshirt freshman season, including one he took back for a touchdown. This year will be a chance to see how he develops as a tackler.
Tight end rounds out the group. The Eagles just drafted Eli Stowers, but that doesn’t close the door on adding another one.
Dallas Goedert is 31 years old and is year-to-year, and there’s no guarantee Stowers will be ready to contribute next season. The team will keep needing bodies at the position.
For that reason, Bauer Sharp is worth tracking. He caught 33 passes for 433 yards and seven touchdowns last season, averaging 13.1 yards per catch.
At 6-7 and 244 pounds, he works as a big slot at LSU, and the real question is how high his ceiling can go as a receiver. The league keeps leaning this way, and adding another complement to Stowers makes sense.
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Reiger brings a longer college rsum than his pro path might suggest, with stops at Louisville and Wisconsin and production that helped him get on the league radar in the first place. He is still behind other players on the depth chart, but the kind of practice-squad addition Philadelphia often makes is the one that can pay off later if a young rusher keeps flashing behind the scenes. [Read more 🡒]
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The ruling arrives in the middle of a lawsuit against the NCAA and SEC over eligibility rules, and the conference is already planning to appeal. For now, the decision gives LSU a way to move forward while the legal fight plays out, and it leaves Wrights next step tied to a much bigger debate about who can return to college football and under what terms. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Already Have A New Edge Rusher Fans Should Watch
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For the Eagles, the appeal is pretty clear: Ebiketie is not just another offseason add, but a player who could quickly carve out a role in a deep rotation. The next question is how much of that praise turns into real snaps once camp opens, and whether he can translate what made him intriguing in Atlanta and in Happy Valley into an impact season in Philadelphia. [Read more 🡒]