With Philadelphia Eagles rookie minicamp taking place this weekend, the team officially announced jersey numbers for their 2026 NFL Draft picks and undrafted free agent signings.
Here’s an overview with our proprietary #JerseyNumberAnalytics to follow.
EAGLES DRAFT PICKS
WR Makai Lemon – 9
TE Eli Stowers – 87
OT Markel Bell – 72
QB Cole Payton – 10
OG Micah Morris – 76
S Cole Wisniewski – 21
DT Uar Bernard – 93
EDGE Keyshawn James-Newby – 50
UNDRAFTED ROOKIE FREE AGENTS
CB Kapena Gushiken – 34
S Maximus Pulley – 36
LS Rocco Underwood – 37
S Tucker Large – 37
TE Dae’Quan Wright – 45
EDGE Joshua Weru – 46
LB Deontae Lawson – 47
OG Jaeden Roberts – 64
ANALYSIS
As the definitive authority on jersey number analysis, here are my incredibly important takes:
- Wow, the Eagles’ draft picks had really good numbers available to them! There are no awful assignments in that bunch. Promising.
- We already wrote about the Eagles putting No. 9 back in circulation for Makai Lemon. There are those who wish the Eagles retired it for Nick Foles. With all due respect to Super Bowl LII MVP BDN, I think it’s totally fair game to put it back in use after Lemon got Foles’ blessing. I think it’s a really good sign that the Eagles were open to making this happen. They must really think he’s a stud. They’re not giving him that number if they had any reservations about Lemon’s outlook.
- Stowers getting No. 87 is funny because that number should make you think of Brent Celek, who became known for being a dirty work guy and strong blocker after some receiving success earlier in his career. Stowers is certainly not known for his blocking. But it’s a good tight end number. And I’m sure it’s not lost on the rookie that Travis Kelce has that same number. Not unlike Kelce, Stowers is a former quarterback.
- Bell getting No. 72 is a stock up signal. Tra Thomas used to have that number. It’s also what Halapoulivaati Vaitai wore. If Bell falls somewhere between those two players in terms of NFL success, that’ll be a pretty good outcome.
- Payton is apparently sharing No. 10 with Eagles punter Braden Mann. The rookie quarterback will have to change his number if he makes the roster. No. 7 could be available if/when Kelee Ringo is no longer around. He could really commit to the “Eagles quarterback from North Dakota State” bit by taking No. 11 after A.J. Brown gets traded. Maybe No. 18 or No. 19 if/when Britain Covey and/or Elijah Moore don’t make the roster?
- No. 76 for Morris isn’t anything amazing but it’s a totally solid number for a sixth-round guard. Kenyon Green had it last offseason.
- Wisniewski getting No. 21 is a major stock up. That’s such a strong number for a seventh-round safety. Between this development and Howie Roseman comparing him to Reed Blankenship, the team seems optimistic about his ability to contribute sooner than later. There’s obviously a path to playing time with the safety position being unsettled.
- No. 93 is a wildly good get for Bernard, who is participating in his first-ever football practices this weekend. From his physique to his jersey number, he has the aesthetics down. Now he merely needs to learn how to play football.
- KJN is taking the No. 50 previously worn by Jaelan Phillips. It’s a totally fine number for a player selected at No. 252 overall.
- Gushiken getting No. 34 made me think of Cre’Von LeBlanc. Fun player. If this rookie can be anything like Strap, that would be cool.
- Pulley in No. 36 is boring.
- Underwood currently has the best path of any Eagles UDFA to making the roster considering that he’s currently the only long snapper under team control. He’s sharing No. 37 with fellow UDFA safety Tucker Large for the time being. Large Underwood.
- Get ready to see No. 45 running through tackles in the preseason. I really like what I’ve seen from watching Dae’Quan Wright. Last year, Darius Cooper graduated from wearing No. 41 as an undrafted long shot to wearing No. 80 after he earned his spot on the roster. This year, I think we’ll see Wright go from No. 45 to a better number (perhaps No. 82 currently worn by Danny Gray?) after he finds a way to stick around. You heard it here first.
- Weru in No. 46 is a fitting match for a total long shot who has never played football.
- The last two Eagles linebackers to play a game while wearing No. 47? Brandon Smith and Nate Gerry. Not the best company for Lawson, who should be aiming to get a number in the 50s if he can stick around in Philly.
- Roberts could follow in the footsteps of Brett Toth and Matt Tobin as undrafted and unheralded backup offensive linemen who did well to carve out NFL careers.
EAGLES ROOKIE MINICAMP TRYOUT PLAYERS
Not related to jersey numbers, just a note that the Eagles hosted the following players at rookie minicamp on a tryout basis
NFL VETERANS
RB Elijah Mitchell
RB Khalil Herbert
OL Michael Jordan
EDGE Isaiah Thomas
WR Jha’Quan Jackson
- The Eagles seem to have some interest in signing a veteran running back to add more depth/competition to that position room. No risk in taking a flyer on one of these guys.
- This isn’t the same Michael Jordan who played for the Chicago Bulls, by the way. (But while we’re here: MJ > LeBron.)
UNDRAFTED ROOKIES
Sam Houston State RB Elijah Green
Georgia State RB Jordon Simmons
Iowa WR Seth Anderson
Upper Iowa WR Mante Morrow
Temple WR Kajiya Hollawayne
Southeastern Louisiana WR Brandon Hayes
Pittsburgh WR Deuce Spann
Georgia Tech TE J.T. Byrne
Syracuse OL Austin Collins
Lehigh DT T.J. Burke
LSU EDGE Jimari Butler
Idaho LB Isiah King (previously incorrectly reported as a UDFA signing)
Washington LB Anthony Ward
Incarnate Word LB Declan Williams
Boise State DB A’Marion McCoy
Mississippi State DB Jahron Manning
Boise State DB Jeremiah Earby
SMU DB Deuce Harmon
Jacksonville State DB Trevor Woods
Mississippi State DB DeAgo Brumfield
Texas Tech DB Dontae Balfour
Duke DB Jaiden Francois
Colorade State DB Lemondre Joe
Northwestern P Luke Akers (Yes, David Akers’ son!)
North Carolina K Rece Verhoff