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PHILADELPHIA – Moments after selecting tight end Eli Stowers with pick No. 54, the Eagles and Minnesota Vikings struck a trade, with the Vikings sending OLB Jonathan Greenard and a 2026 seventh-round pick (No. 244) to the Eagles in exchange for pick No. 98 and a 2027 third-round pick. The Vikings would select Miami safety Jakobe Thomas at 98.

According to a report from ESPN, the Eagles and Greenard agreed on a four-year, $100 million extension, with $50 million guaranteed.

Greenard (6-3, 259), 28, appeared in 12 games (10 starts) last season, logging 38 tackles, three sacks, 12 quarterback hits and a forced fumble. A shoulder injury ended his 2025 campaign prematurely.

Originally a third-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2020, Greenard has started 59 of the 77 games in which he’s appeared. He’s turned in two seasons of double-digit sack production, and is one season removed from totaling his highest snap share percentage (81%). Similar to Jaelan Phillips the second half of last season, Greenard will be called upon to handle the heaviest workload.

In Greenard, the Eagles now have their headliner to front a suddenly deep pool of pass rushers, including Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, Arnold Ebiketie and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.

The Eagles made a huge splash on Day 2 of the NFL Draft, trading for Pro Bowl EDGE Jonathan Greenard.

Preceding the acquisition of Greenard was the selection of Stowers, one of the more unique offensive weapons in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Stowers, only three years removed from playing quarterback, emerged as one of college football’s most electrifying playmakers the past two seasons, combining for 111 receptions for 1,407 yards and nine touchdowns over that span. He earned first-team All-SEC honors in consecutive seasons, and was the 2025 John Mackey award recipient, a prestigious honor awarded to the nation’s top tight end.

While new to the position, Stowers’ natural ball skills and consistency as a pass-catcher are reflected in his miniscule 3.9-percent drop rate. His route-running, smooth and precise, developed ahead of schedule due to his prior background as a quarterback, aiding in his relatively seamless transition.

Stowers is a dynamic athlete who is perhaps best classified as a weapon, clocking a 4.51 40-yard dash and 45 ½-inch vertical and 11’3” broad jump, manifesting in explosive plays and schematic mismatches. Stowers is the kind of athlete that new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion can creatively deploy and conjure a plan to facilitate the ball his way to maximize his effectiveness in space.

Though willing, blocking simply hasn’t been Stowers’ calling card. He has room to grow into his 6-foot-4, 239-pound frame, and he’ll work toward making strides there, but the blocking element isn’t likely to ever become a strong suit (for context, only a small portion of Stowers’ snaps occurred inline). But what sets Stowers apart from his peers is his mismatch capabilities and explosive traits, which figure to be accentuated in a diversified, and modernized, offense.

Rounding out the evening, at pick No. 68, was Markel Bell, a mammoth offensive tackle via the University of Miami. Bell (6-9, 346, 36 3/8” arm length) spent his first two seasons at Holmes Community College before transferring to Miami. He started 21 games in total for the Hurricanes, including 16 last season.

Bell earned 2025 third-team All-ACC recognition. Given his size and play strength, Bell essentially acts as a wall, engulfing defenders while using his extraordinary length to stave off surging pass rushers. Despite his imposing stature, Bell moves better than expected for someone his size and carries added intrigue due to his developmental upside. His play strength, especially when anchoring in the run game, jumps off the tape.

Following the Day 2 selections, Eagles’ executive vice president/general manager Howie Roseman indicated the initial plan is to keep Bell at tackle, opposed to cross-training him inside at guard.

— Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.