Beyond the grade: 360-degree analysis of each Eagles Day 3 pick

Grades have become every NFL draft analyst’s favorite means of rating a selection, but it’s what goes into the grade that really counts. The Inquirer’s Eagles reporters Jeff Neiburg, Olivia Reiner, Ryan Novozinsky, and Devin Jackson evaluated all of the team’s 2026 NFL draft picks based on four separate components, leading with Day 1 selection Makai Lemon and continuing with Friday night’s Day 2 choices and the third day of selections below.

Pick: 5th Round, No. 178 overall

Immediate fit: The Eagles needed a quarterback despite having three on the roster. They typically carry four on the 90-man training camp roster and like having as many on the 70-man roster (including the practice squad). Of course, who knows if the Eagles part ways with Tanner McKee, but Payton steps in as a developmental prospect who has a fun athletic profile with only one year of starting experience under his belt. The left-handed thrower has intriguing dual-threat capabilities, which could make him a candidate to get on the field in some tricky packages. Or he could flame out in camp, not make the team, and spend the season on the practice squad like sixth-round pick Kyle McCord did last season. — Jeff Neiburg

Long-term fit: The Eagles’ quarterback factory is alive and well. No, Payton isn’t going to be gunning for Jalen Hurts’ job anytime soon. But the selection aligns with Howie Roseman’s philosophy of drafting and developing quarterbacks. In his 15 drafts leading up to this year, Roseman has taken eight quarterbacks. With Tanner McKee and Andy Dalton going into contract years (and with McKee being the subject of trade speculation, too), Payton could ideally carve out a future backup role. — Olivia Reiner

Football stuff: Payton is an explosive athlete that was a one-year starter for North Dakota State but was used in his previous three seasons as a big-time running threat, taking designed runs and turning them into long gains and touchdowns. The left-handed quarterback showcased deep-ball touch on vertical throws, has a strong arm to make throws at all three levels of a defense, and can create off-platform throws utilizing his escapability and strength to extend plays with his arms and legs. North Dakota State ran a lot of pro-level concepts, operating from under-center more often than typical offenses, and Payton’s athleticism was accentuated on play-action bootleg concepts and zone-read action to keep defenses honest.

The lack of experience at the position and facing FCS-level competition is one of the big reasons he lasted this long in the draft. When Payton tries to create plays outside the pocket, those opportunities can sometimes turn into negative plays like turnovers and sacks, because he doesn’t know when to let a play end. His pocket feel, while it has improved, still needs work, and that will only happen with more reps, and his elongated release in college will need to be sped up to hit more timing concepts at a consistent rate.

Payton is a dart throw at this point in the draft, but one that could be an exciting development project for the Eagles’ coaching staff. He may never develop into a starter, but his explosive play creation with the ball in his hands may make it difficult to keep him off the field. — Devin Jackson

NFL comp: Cole Payton is a souped-up Taysom Hill. In fact, long-time quarterback coach and ex-NFLer Jake Heaps offered this quote about him in an interview with InForum this week: “Cole Payton is no Taysom Hill, he’s better.” He’s quick (he ran a 4.56 40-yard dash at the combine), he’s shifty and he has excellent physical tools for a green prospect. — Ryan Novozinsky

Pick: 6th Round, No. 207 overall

Immediate fit: Morris likely won’t be seeing the field for the Eagles anytime soon, they hope. Left guard Landon Dickerson may have contemplated his playing future, but he’s back for a sixth season after going through some stem cell therapy treatment in Colombia. But they don’t have any obvious candidates to step in as the backup guard should Dickerson or Tyler Steen go down. Is college center Drew Kendall ready to play? Practice squad interior lineman Jake Majors? Short King Willie Lampkin? Offensive line depth was a priority this draft. Morris is a bit of a project, but he’s a powerful player who needs some technical work and could slot in as a backup in 2026. — Jeff Neiburg

Long-term fit: The Eagles have some long-term uncertainty at the guard position, as Steen is entering a contract year. Dickerson is under contract through 2027, but will his body hold up for the remainder of his deal and beyond? It would be unfair to heap starting expectations onto a sixth-round pick like Morris, who was a one-and-a-half year starter at Georgia and has an unclear NFL ceiling. But at the very least, Morris has an opportunity to contend for a depth contributor role in the future, especially given his ability to play on either side of the line at guard. The depth in the room is otherwise pretty thin. — Olivia Reiner

Football stuff: Morris is the type of guard that wants to get his hands on defensive lineman quickly and impose his will. He’s got powerful hands that can jolt and stop pass rushers in their tracks, lower body strength to generate torque on one-on-one blocks, and some functional athleticism to pull across the line of scrimmage and kick out defenders on the edge. His game is predicated on rigidity, as his best blocks come when he is required to move vertically and upfield, as opposed to redirecting and moving laterally.

Where Morris struggles is against speedier, twitchy defensive linemen that can get under his pads because of his high pad level and force him to match their speed. Morris is heavy footed as a pass protector and while his size can force players to go around him rather than through him, he is not always able to redirect his pass sets. His hands are wide, too, when they make initial contact with defenders, which can lead to holding calls.

He has experience playing both guard spots and would expect him to be a swing interior player that can provide depth, especially with Dickerson’s lengthy injury history. But the power and size combination of Morris is the formula at guard that helped get the Eagles to the Super Bowl a few years ago. We’ll see if Morris can push for playing time as a rookie, but expect him to take a few years to potentially crack the starting lineup. — Devin Jackson

NFL comp: Morris has an eerily similar pre-draft resume to Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith. Both were SEC products. Both had massive frames. Both were knocked for their technique, but lauded for their size and strength. It’s a longshot, but the Eagles would be thrilled if Morris turned into a two-time Pro Bowler a la Smith. — Ryan Novozinsky

Pick: 7th Round, No. 244 overall

Immediate fit: The Eagles have one shoo-in starter at safety in Drew Mukuba, last year’s second-round pick, whose rookie year was cut short to a foot injury. Next to him, it seems like Marcus Epps, who the Eagles brought back in free agency, could be the frontrunner to start. The Eagles also think nickel Michael Carter II can play there, and they’ll likely have him competing for the gig. Drafting Wisniewski didn’t change that math much. But the downhill safety, who is plenty big at 6-foot-3, gives the Eagles some back-of-the-depth-chart stability at a position that needed some talent infusion. Are the Eagles done at safety until camp? They might not be. — Jeff Neiburg

Long-term fit: Regardless of who starts at safety alongside Mukuba in 2026, the Eagles still have a long-term need at the position beyond this year. Both Epps and Carter are under contract for one season. While it seems unlikely that a seventh-round pick like Wisniewski could start at safety in the NFL, perhaps ever, most people would have probably said the same thing about 2022 UDFA Reed Blankenship’s chances. It’s unrealistic to expect Wisniewski to contend for the starting gig in 2026, but with more development, could he earn the job down the line? Never say never. At the very least, he can eventually provide depth in the room and special-teams contributions. — Olivia Reiner

Football stuff: Wisniewski is a player this writer has liked throughout the draft process. He began his career as a two-way recruit as a quarterback and safety, switched to linebacker when he joined North Dakota State’s program, then moved back to safety. He is a big, physical safety who proves run support, can run the alley from his safety position, and consistently squares up to tackle in space. He has an imposing presence that the Eagles need in their safety room and the versatility to line up in multiple spots, including in the box at the second level and from two-high safety structures, making him an intriguing late-round selection.

He showed some nice moments closing on passes toward the boundary but his lack of hip fluidity and long speed will limit him to more of a box safety role. His lack of range in coverage cause him some limitations as a full-time starting safety.

He projects as a safety who can provide depth in a safety room with Mukuba as the only long-term option and has the flexibility to play some linebacker on third downs in coverage situations. He does have the skill set, though, to eventually earn starter-level snaps in the NFL. He will have to carve out a role on special teams early in his career. — Devin Jackson

NFL comp: Here’s a player comp Eagles fans will know well: Reed Blankenship. Wisniewski is physical and has good instincts. He’s a decent run support safety and a reliable tackler. He’ll almost certainly be a special teamer if he cracks the roster. — Ryan Novozinsky

Pick: 7th Round, No. 251 overall

Immediate fit: These are hard to do in the seventh round to begin with. But with Bernard? Let’s throw some darts. He’ll fit into the weight room, that’s for sure. He’s an athletic marvel. What exactly does that mean for his immediate fit with the Eagles? Who knows. I’ve played as much tackle football as he has. The Eagles don’t need immediate help at defensive tackle. They’re well stocked with Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo (a fellow Nigerian like Bernard), Byron Young, Ty Robinson, and Ta’Quan Graham. Bernard figures to hit the practice squad as an International Pathway Player, which allows the Eagles to keep one extra player on the squad. — Jeff Neiburg

Long-term fit: It’s difficult to project Bernard’s long-term fit. While he is listed at defensive tackle, he hasn’t actually played the position before, or even a snap of football, for that matter. Will he stick with that position with the Eagles? Bernard certainly has unique athleticism, so it isn’t surprising that the team was willing to take a chance on him with a seven-round pick. But will that rare athleticism translate to an impactful NFL career? The Eagles have a long-term need at defensive tackle with Ojomo going into a contract year, so if Bernard could follow in Jordan Mailata’s footsteps as an IPP success story, Howie Roseman would be overjoyed. — Olivia Reiner

NFL comp: You cannot compare Uar Bernard to anybody in the NFL. He’s 306 pounds with 6% body fat (!!!) and has never played organized football before. Different positions, but let’s compare him to Mailata due to their unique paths to the league. — Ryan Novozinsky

Football stuff: There is not any football film to help project Bernard since he has never played American football, but with the body type he has, you hope that he can eventually develop into a stout defensive lineman. — Devin Jackson

Pick: 7th Round, No. 252 overall

Immediate fit: The Eagles entered the weekend needing some help at edge rusher and got some in a big way in trading for Jonathan Greenard, who instantly vaults to the top of the depth chart. Behind him is a unit that includes Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, free agent signing Arnold Ebiketie, and others. James-Newby figures to fall into the back of the pack and will have a chance to earn a roster spot in camp, though the practice squad seems like the most likely destination. — Jeff Neiburg

Long-term fit: It’ll be a challenge for James-Newby to make the 70-man roster this season, let alone carve out a long-term role. But if he can find a way to stick around this year and develop his game, he could add some depth to the edge rusher corps as a rotational piece behind the top trio of Greenard, Smith, and Hunt in the years to come. — Olivia Reiner

Football stuff: James-Newby became the third pick on Day 3 that attended the East-West Shrine Bowl, where the Eagles sent a heavy scouting presence. He is a high-motor pass rusher that has a quick first-step and was highly productive across his career at New Mexico. He won primarily with his speed off the edge, including hand swipes and bending the corner and closing on quarterbacks.

James-Newby is undersized and that shows up when defending the run — his lack of length and strength against bigger and more physically imposing tackles can be exposed. He doesn’t offer much in the power rush game either, and is pretty much relying on his athleticism and snap timing to cause disruption.

He is a dart throw at this point in the draft, where his college production is of intrigue for the Eagles. James-Newby projects as a developmental player that likely will spend time on the practice squad with the Eagles’ deep edge rusher room and could eventually work himself into rotational backup status with his pass rushing skill set. — Devin Jackson

NFL comp: James-Newby isn’t the most explosive athlete, but his motor in pass rush situations makes him a sneaky good pickup for the Birds. Think Malcolm Rodriguez on the Lions. a player who carved out a starting role despite limited physical attributes entering his draft year. — Ryan Novozinsky