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Eagles Draft QB Cole Payton, Grab Guard Micah Morris

4/26/2026

Summary

Eagles Draft Payton

The Eagles selected quarterback Cole Payton (North Dakota State) with the 178th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and traded pick 197 to Los Angeles Rams for picks 207, 251 and 252.
Payton threw for 2,719 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 777 yards and 13 touchdowns in his college season.
The Eagles used pick 207 to draft guard Micah Morris, a 6-foot-5, 334-pound All-Pro noted for power and footwork.

Summary

Dickerson Returns

Dickerson returned for a season after stem-cell therapy in Colombia, durability concerns through 2027.
Steen entered his contract year, leaving the Eagles uncertain about guard depth and prompting backups including Drew Kendall, Jake Majors and Willie Lampkin.
Morris can play both guard spots, but his high pad level often results in holding calls.
Coaches compare Morris to Chiefs guard Trey Smith because both share SEC background, size and flaws.

Summary

Dennis-Sutton Day3

Analysts view Penn State edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton as a Day 3 pick after 17 sacks, five forced fumbles and a combine.
Safety Jalon Kilgore (South Carolina) earns praise for his 210-lb frame, 33-inch arms and 4.40-second 40-yard dash.
Quarterback Taylen Green (Arkansas) attracts interest with a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, 43½-inch vertical and 11-2-yard jump.
Hybrid linebacker/edge Harold Perkins (LSU) matches Eagles’ “tweener” profile after 5.5 sacks and three interceptions in 2023.

Summary

Eagles Trade Picks

The Eagles traded their 98th-overall pick to the Minnesota Vikings for end Jonathan Greenard and got a 197th-overall compensatory pick from the Atlanta Falcons.
Round 4 of the 2026 NFL Draft starts at noon on April 25, with a five-minute window in rounds 4-6, delaying the Eagles’ Day 3 picks to mid-afternoon.
The draft airs on ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, NFL Network, ESPN Radio, and streams via NFL+, ESPN Unlimited & Select or Fubo Watch.

History

Historical Context

After Andy Reid was hired on Jan 11 1999, the Eagles used the No. 2 pick in the April 1999 draft to select quarterback Donovan McNabb, sparking a rise from a 3-13 record to four NFC championship appearances between 2001 and 2005. Today’s Day 3 picks—Cole Payton, Micah Morris and Harold Perkins—mirror that 1999 approach of adding versatile, high-upside talent.

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Eagles Draft Payton

The Eagles selected quarterback Cole Payton (North Dakota State) with the 178th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and traded pick 197 to Los Angeles Rams for picks 207, 251 and 252.
Payton threw for 2,719 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 777 yards and 13 touchdowns in his college season.
The Eagles used pick 207 to draft guard Micah Morris, a 6-foot-5, 334-pound All-Pro noted for power and footwork.

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