Haul Of Athletes

PHILADELPHIA – Before trading away a pair of fourth-round picks (114 and 137) as part of the trade-up to secure wide receiver Makai Lemon on opening night, the Eagles appeared primed for an active Day 3. As it were, the compensation resulted in an extended Saturday afternoon lull, with the Eagles without a selection until the fifth round (No. 178).

It was roughly 3:45 p.m. on Saturday that the wait ended for North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton, the Eagles’ latest addition to the “Quarterback Factory.”

Cole Payton, a dual-threat QB from North Dakota State, is the latest addition for the Eagles’ “Quarterback Factory”

Payton, 23, is a tough, dual-threat quarterback who, as a redshirt senior, impressed in his first season as a starter. For context, Payton passed for 2,719 yards, 16 touchdowns – completing 72-percent of his throws – along with four interceptions. Payton, who clocked a 4.56 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, also produced 777 yards and 13 TDs on 136 carries. The Omaha, Neb., native is known for his arm strength, grit and athleticism but will require some seasoning at the next level.

The Eagles carry four quarterbacks for training camp, but the circumstances are typically more cut and dried. Eagles executive vice president/general manager Howie Roseman noted that the team would be open to carrying four quarterbacks. Still a long way to go, but something to file away.

The Eagles would eventually engage in some minor wheeling and dealing, trading out of pick No. 197 and acquiring picks 207, 251 and 252 from the Los Angeles Rams.

With pick No. 207, the Eagles reel in another former Georgia Bulldog to bolster the trenches, selecting G Micah Morris. Morris, 22, started 19 games at Georgia, including 14 last season at left guard. At Georgia, Morris was essentially thrown into the deep end as a freshman on scout team, battling current Eagles defensive tackles Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. As the adage goes, iron sharpens iron.

Pedigree notwithstanding, adding to the appeal is that Morris has experience playing both left and right guard. In 2024, Morris started five games at right guard in place of an injured Tate Ratledge. Morris measured in at 6-foot-5, 334 pounds – with an 83 ½-inch wingspan – at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he tied with Chase Bisontis for the seventh-most bench press reps (29).

The Eagles were light on interior offensive linemen and added a reinforcement with developmental upside. The Eagles lost veteran offensive lineman Brett Toth in free agency and lacked for a true reserve guard. Second-year pros Drew Kendall and Jake Majors, centers by trade, could also provide guard versatility, but Morris should have a strong opportunity to stick with an encouraging summer.

With pick No. 244, acquired in the Jonathan Greenard trade, the Eagles added former Texas Tech safety Cole Wisniewski. Wisniewski (6-3, 219) spent his first five seasons at North Dakota State — beginning his career as a linebacker — before finishing his career at Texas Tech. The 24-year-old produced 78 tackles (6 for loss), 1 sack, 6 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles last season for the Red Raiders.

Wisniewski didn’t run the 40-yard dash at Texas Tech’s Pro Day but produced a 36 1/2-inch vertical and 10’2″ broad jump, as well as 22 reps on the bench press. He joins a safety room that includes Drew Mukuba, Marcus Epps, Andre’ Sam and J.T. Gray, while versatile DB Michael Carter II is also expected to factor into the mix.

The latter stages of the draft began rolling along, and before long, it arrived at 251, where the Eagles took a major swing on an International Pathway Player in Nigeria native Uar Bernard. Bernard, 21, has never played football – a callback to eight years ago, when the team selected a rugby player-turned-All-Pro-left tackle in Jordan Mailata.

Bernard grew up playing soccer and basketball, playing both center and forward, but it was his eye-popping testing numbers recorded at the HBCU Showcase and International Pathway Player Pro Day, conducted in late March at the Washington Commanders’ training facility, that placed him on NFL radars.

For perspective, Bernard – at 6-4 ½, 306 pounds – clocked a 4.63 40-yard dash and totaled a 39-inch vertical and a 10’10” broad jump. He’ll be a defensive tackle. Bernard is perhaps best described as a blank canvas, albeit an intriguing one. The Eagles boast an extensive track record when it comes to player development, and Bernard, in time, could become another example.

It’s also worth noting that in his post-draft availability, Roseman mentioned the team is also signing another IPP player in Kenya native Joshua Weru. Weru (6-2, 244) projects as an edge rusher and comes from a rugby background. At the HBCU Showcase and International Pathway Player Pro Day, Weru clocked a 4.45 40-yard dash and recorded a 41-inch vertical and 11-inch broad jump.

To close things out, the Eagles selected New Mexico pass rusher Keyshawn James-Newby. James-Newby, 23, spent three years at Montana Tech, then another two at Idaho, before closing out his career last season at New Mexico. The 6-2, 238-pound pass rusher produced 15 tackles for loss and nine sacks in 2025.

James-Newby joins a pass-rush group that includes Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, Arnold Ebiketie, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Jose Ramirez. The team typically brings seven or eight players to training camp, so the presumption is they’ll add another body or two before then.

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