5 prospects Eagles would love to see fall in Round 1 draft
· Yahoo Sports
The Philadelphia Eagles have built a reputation for staying patient on draft night, often allowing the board to come to them before making a move. Under general manager Howie Roseman, that strategy has consistently paid off, with Philadelphia capitalizing when high-end talent unexpectedly slips into range. The Eagles have the NFL's most explosive offense, with few holes and plenty of firepower to carry the organization back to the Super Bowl. Roseman is always looking to add game-changing talent, and the NFL draft is the most efficient and cheapest place to start.
That patience has multiple opportunities, especially in the mid to late first round. If the draft unfolds in their favor, the Eagles could find themselves in a position to land a player with top-15 talent—one of several prospects who may not be expected to be available but would represent tremendous value if they fall.
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With the draft fast approaching, we're looking at five dream targets who are certain to be unavailable in Round 1.
Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (Florida)
Mauigoa is ranked as the No. 1 offensive tackle by ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. in this year's draft and has the versatility to play offensive guard. The Associated Press All-America first-team right tackle allowed no sacks and just one quarterback hit in four playoff games, according to PFF, as the Hurricanes reached the College Football Playoff National Championship game, where they fell to Indiana.
Edge Rusher David Bailey
2025 stats through 11 games: 57 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, 62 pressures, five run stops, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups
A transfer from Stanford, Bailey is a professional pass-rusher who recorded 14.5 sacks over three seasons for the Cardinals. With the Red Raiders, his 21.5% pressure rate was second in the nation, and he had 12.5 sacks through his first 11 games.
WR Carnell Tate
Ohio State is Wide Receiver U, and Emeka Egbuka is the most recent star wideout to come out of Columbus. With Jeremiah Smith slated for 2027, Tate is putting up some serious numbers and showing why he is a top prospect for this class. Tate averaged 18.2 yards per catch last season. He is a precise route runner with great hands and outstanding body control.
Edge Rusher Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
Bain recorded 9.5 sacks last season and 20.5 in his three-year career, but the Hurricanes pass rusher has been the subject of scrutiny amid concerns about his arm length and how it can impact his skills as an edge rusher in the NFL.
The preferred arm length for NFL pass rushers is 34 inches or more, putting Bain Jr. a clear three inches short. How that'll impact his draft status remains to be seen, but there have been plenty of instances where top prospects on both sides of the football have slid in the first round.
Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
Ioane plays with intense power and quickness, using 330 pounds of elite force, earning second-team All-America honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation as an offensive guard. Ioane is the 158th Nittany Lion (192nd selection) to be named an All-American by an NCAA-recognized outlet (AFCA, Associated Press, FWAA, The Sporting News, Walter Camp Football Foundation). Ioane was selected to the All-Big Ten Second Team in 2024 and to the Honorable Mention Team in 2023. He'll exit State College after playing in 44 games and making 32 starts at Penn State. According to PFF, he allowed zero sacks and three pressures in 310 pass blocking snaps in 2025.
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
One of the most instinctive defensive backs in the class, Downs offers range, tackling, and leadership—traits the Eagles covet in the secondary. Downs -- the brother of NFL wide receiver Josh Downs and the son of former NFL running back Gary Downs -- is the player Howie Roseman should trade the house for. Downs is a freak athlete who could be a less athletic version of Kyle Hamilton.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles NFL draft: 5 dream prospects who could fall to them in Round 1