Eagles Rumors Hint At Early QB Pick In 2026 NFL Draft

The Philadelphia Eagles already have a star on their hands with Jalen Hurts, the dual-threat quarterback who led them to a Super Bowl appearance just two seasons ago and signed a massive five-year, $255 million extension in 2023 that keeps him under contract through 2028. With $179.3 million guaranteed, Hurts is the face of the franchise, a player whose blend of rushing prowess and arm talent has redefined what a modern NFL quarterback can be. In 2024, he powered the Eagles to another NFC Championship run, finishing second in MVP voting behind only Lamar Jackson, thanks in large part to his synergy with Saquon Barkley, who joined the team that year and immediately became the engine of Philadelphia’s ground-and-pound attack. Hurts’ 2024 stats were stellar: 4,200 passing yards, 28 touchdowns against just 10 interceptions, and another 800 yards on the ground with 12 rushing scores. He wasn’t just a star; he was the supernova around which general manager Howie Roseman built a juggernaut.

But as the 2025 season unfolds—now in its 15th week with the Eagles sitting at 8-5 after a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on December 8—the whispers have turned into murmurs, and the murmurs into outright rumors. A four-interception debacle against the Chargers, where Hurts turned the ball over five times in total, has amplified long-simmering concerns about his consistency as a pocket passer. His adjusted QBR sits at a middling 51.9 (20th in the NFL), his completion percentage at 64.7% (17th), and his yards per game average at 211.8 (19th). These aren’t the numbers of a franchise cornerstone carrying a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Head coach Nick Sirianni dismissed any immediate talk of benching Hurts for backups Tanner McKee or recently acquired Sam Howell, but the damage was done. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, in a Week 15 Buzz column updated post-game, dropped the bombshell: “Some people around the league were starting to think the Eagles might draft a quarterback high in 2026 even before Jalen Hurts’ four-interception performance Monday.” Fowler’s sources predict Roseman “snags a passer on Day 2,” meaning a second- or third-round selection, allowing Hurts to start in 2026 while the rookie develops behind him—a page straight out of the Eagles’ own playbook from 2020, when they drafted Hurts in the second round despite having Carson Wentz as their established starter.

This isn’t panic; it’s prudence. The Eagles’ front office, led by Roseman—one of the shrewdest drafters in the league—has always planned several moves ahead. With a roster stacked with young talent like Quinyon Mitchell at cornerback, Saquon Barkley in the backfield, and A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith forming one of the NFL’s elite receiver duos, Philadelphia isn’t rebuilding. They’re reloading. But quarterback is the one position where even a star like Hurts can become a question mark if the supporting cast evolves without him keeping pace. Hurts turns 27 in August 2026, entering the prime of his career, yet his turnover-prone tendencies (he’s led the league in fumbles multiple times) and occasional struggles under center have scouts and executives buzzing. Financially, cutting him isn’t feasible yet—a pre-June 1 release in 2026 would trigger a $52.1 million cap hit, per Over The Cap—but by 2027, that drops to a savings of $21.9 million. That’s enough runway for Roseman to audition a successor without pulling the trigger prematurely.

The 2026 NFL Draft, set for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, couldn’t come at a better time for a team like the Eagles. Early mocks project a quarterback class that’s deeper than 2025’s but not as headlined by blue-chip prospects. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Alabama’s Ty Simpson are emerging as potential top-10 talents, with Mendoza’s poise in the pocket and Simpson’s arm strength drawing comparisons to a young Aaron Rodgers. But for Philadelphia, the sweet spot is Day 2, where value abounds. Names like Oregon’s Dante Moore (if he declares early) or Georgia’s Gunnar Stockton could fit the bill—mobile enough to echo Hurts but with sharper decision-making. In one recent mock from ESPN’s Matt Miller, the Eagles pass on a quarterback entirely, opting for Alabama wideout Germie Bernard in the first round to bolster the receiving corps. But Fowler’s intel suggests otherwise: a calculated investment in the position, much like the 2020 Hurts pick that paid dividends when Wentz faltered.

To understand why this rumor has legs, let’s rewind to how the Eagles got here. The 2025 season started with promise—a 6-1 start fueled by Barkley’s Offensive Player of the Year campaign (1,400 rushing yards and 15 scores already) and a defense anchored by new additions like edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, acquired from Miami in November for a 2026 third-rounder. Phillips, a former first-round talent sidelined by injuries, has been a revelation, notching 7.5 sacks in limited action and forming a terrifying trio with Josh Sweat and Bryce Huff. The secondary, with Mitchell’s lockdown coverage and Sydney Brown’s ball-hawking at safety, ranks top-five in points allowed. Yet, the offense has sputtered. Hurts’ middling stats mask deeper issues: an offensive line that’s aged (Lane Johnson turns 35 in 2026), a running game overly reliant on Barkley (who’s missed two games with a minor ankle tweak), and play-calling from Kevin Patullo that’s grown predictable. The Chargers game epitomized it—Hurts held the ball too long, forcing throws into double coverage, and the Eagles managed just 17 points despite 450 yards of total offense.

Fan reaction on X (formerly Twitter) has been a whirlwind. Posts from Eagles beat writers like Eliot Shorr-Parks highlight the team’s draft capital: a first, second, two thirds (one from the Jets via Haason Reddick trade), and multiple compensatory picks projected for losses like Milton Williams and Josh Sweat. That’s eight picks in the top 150 alone, per PhillyVoice, giving Roseman flexibility to trade up if a quarterback falls. One viral thread from @jonjohnsonwip asked, “What do you make of the ESPN report the Eagles may draft a QB in day two of 2026 draft?” sparking 24 replies ranging from “Overreaction—Hurts is elite” to “Smart hedge; develop behind him like we did with Wentz.” Even skeptics acknowledge the precedent: the Eagles have drafted a quarterback in the top 100 three times since 2016 (Wentz, Hurts, and a developmental pick in 2025).

Roseman’s track record screams intentionality. He’s the architect of the “process” that turned mid-round gems into Pro Bowlers—think Dallas Goedert at tight end or Nakobe Dean at linebacker. Acquiring Sam Howell from the Vikings in August for a fifth-rounder was no accident; Howell, a 2023 fifth-rounder himself, provides a bridge option if Hurts falters further. Tanner McKee, the 2023 sixth-rounder, has shown flashes in preseason, but his arm talent lacks Hurts’ zip. With Howell hitting free agency after 2025 and McKee’s rookie deal expiring in 2027, the QB room needs fresh blood. Enter 2026: a draft where teams like the Browns, Raiders, and Giants are projected to grab early quarterbacks, potentially pushing value to Philadelphia’s range.

This table, updated post-trade deadline, shows Roseman’s wheeling and dealing—trading a fifth and seventh to Minnesota for Howell and a sixth, then flipping picks for Tank Bigsby and Fred Johnson to bolster depth. With five top-100 selections, per Bleacher Report, the Eagles can afford to invest in a quarterback without mortgaging the future.

The broader NFL landscape fuels the fire. Teams like the Jets, fresh off the Justin Fields experiment, and the Browns, still searching for a post-Baker Mayfield savior, are QB-hungry. NFL.com’s latest draft order projects Philadelphia picking 21st, but a late-season skid could slide them higher—though Roseman prefers trading down for more ammo. Mock drafts vary wildly: Dynasty Nerds sends them cornerback Jermod McCoy to pair with Mitchell, while Inside the Iggles floats a late-round QB like Stockton as insurance. But the consensus? If Hurts doesn’t rebound—the Eagles face the Raiders, Cowboys (twice), and Giants in their final four—the pressure mounts.

Hurts’ defenders point to context: injuries to the line (Cam Jurgens stepping up admirably but not elite), Barkley’s workload (he’s on pace for 350 carries), and a scheme that’s asked him to run less to preserve his legs. Sirianni’s post-Chargers presser was telling: “Jalen’s our guy. Period.” Yet, actions speak louder. The August acquisition of Howell wasn’t just depth; it was a signal. As one league source told PennLive, “Philly’s always thinking three years out. Hurts is great, but is he the guy for the next decade?”

Imagine the scenario: April 2026, Lincoln Financial Field draft party buzzing. Roseman, ever the poker player, trades the Jets’ third (now theirs via compensatory math) up a few spots into the late second. They select, say, Missouri’s Brady Cook—a polished senior with 4,000 yards and 30 TDs in 2025. Cook sits, learns from Hurts, and by 2027, with Hurts’ cap hit manageable, the baton passes. It’s not disloyalty; it’s legacy-building. The Eagles won a Super Bowl with Wentz in 2017, transitioned seamlessly to Hurts, and now eye the horizon.

Critics cry overreaction. Hurts’ 54-25 record as a starter, four playoff berths in five years— that’s not easily replaced. Barkley, in a post-game interview, defended his QB: “Jalen’s carried us. One bad night doesn’t erase that.” And Roseman? He’s mum, as always, focusing on the Raiders game where ex-Eagle Kenny Pickett might start for Vegas. But in Philly, where passion meets paranoia, the rumor mill churns. X is ablaze with memes of Hurts spiking the ball (a nod to his infamous non-spike in 2022) and polls asking if fans support a Day 2 QB pick (58% yes, per one WIP thread).

As the season closes, the Eagles control their destiny. Win out, snag the No. 2 seed, and these rumors fade like Monday’s fog. Stumble, and Roseman’s phone starts ringing—not just from trade partners, but from agents whispering about succession plans. For now, Hurts straps it on against a reeling Raiders squad, determined to silence the noise. But in the shadows of NovaCare Complex, scouts pore over 2026 tape. The star is dimming, just a bit. And in Philadelphia, stars are made, not assumed eternal.