Options for the Offense

The opening night of the NFL Draft garners the bulk of the headlines as teams identify potential franchise cornerstones, but a sizable portion of rosters around the league are comprised of second-day selections. And like opening night, those selected in rounds two and three are expected to elevate into starting roles.

Philadelphia Eagles executive vice president/general manager Howie Roseman has identified value and impact players on days one and two for years now, and in this class, the second day offers an abundance of value at positions of need. With an obvious need to come away with cost-controlled offensive pieces in two weeks, I focused on that side of the ball for this exercise.

The Day 2 selections:

2nd round (No. 54) – Own pick

3rd round (No. 63) – Haason Reddick trade

3rd round (No. 98) – Compensatory pick

With that, here’s a look at eight offensive players, expected to fall within range, at positions of need.

Chris Bell, WR, Louisville

Boasting a compact build and an innate ability to manufacture yards after the catch, Bell profiles as an ideal complement to the Eagles’ current stable of pass catchers. The 6-foot-2, 222-pound wideout served as a physical presence for the Cardinals when navigating the intermediary levels, attacking the football and showcasing exceptional body control while using his frame to bully defensive backs in a way that conjures shades of A.J. Brown. Bell appeared in 11 games last season, snaring 72 receptions for 917 yards before suffering an ACL injury in November. Apart from Alabama’s Germie Bernard — expected to go a tad earlier in the second round — the Day 2 wide receiver I’m most bullish on would be Bell, who could prove enticing when the Eagles are selecting at 54. The 21-year-old profiles as a seamless fit in the Eagles’ new-look offense and would help diversify the passing game.

Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana

Sarratt, who turns 23 in late May, possesses plus body control and plays through contact and could thrive in a volume-based role. While it’s been two seasons since Sarratt eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving barrier, the rangy wideout functioned as a safety valve for the Indiana offense. A 2025 second-team All-Big Ten selection, Sarratt finished his college career with 44 receiving touchdowns. Sarratt, who makes best use of his 6-foot-2, 210-pound frame, also offers inside-outside versatility. He’s not overly explosive and not a burner, per se — clocking a 4.53 40-yard dash — but Sarratt is a player I expect to enjoy a long and productive career. He’s a projected third-round pick.

Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State

Hurst split his four-year college experience between Valdosta State and Georgia State, spending his final two seasons at the latter. The 6-foot-4, 206-pound wideout, who clocked a 4.42 at the NFL Scouting Combine, brings the fielding-stretching element to produce explosive plays, has a flair for tracking the football and dynamic open-field ability. While the level of competition is sure to draw outside scrutiny from some pockets, it’s worth noting that Hurst also showed well at the Reese’s Senior Bowl — a critical measuring stick for evaluators. Hurst burst onto the scene a season ago, reeling in 71 receptions for 1,004 yards and six touchdowns and should only improve once fully embedded in an NFL system. He has checked off every box throughout the process and is likely to hear his name called during the third round.

Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt

Stowers began his college career at Texas A&M, with a one-year stop at New Mexico State, before emerging as a household name during his two seasons at Vanderbilt. An All-SEC first-team selection in 2024 after nabbing 49 catches for 638 yards and five touchdowns, Stowers was the center of attention going into 2025 to see what he’d do for an encore. He answered with 769 yards and four touchdowns on 62 receptions. Stowers, a converted quarterback, has only been playing the position for three seasons, suggesting that he’s only scratching the surface. It’s fair to classify him as more of a finesse player — his blocking needs work and he’ll need to be more consistent in attacking contested throws and playing through contact — but he has proven himself to be a dynamic, fluid mover who can generate explosive plays downfield. Stowers could conceivably come off the board earlier given the uniqueness of his skill set and intriguing receiving prowess, but the fit would make sense if still on the board at 63. Stowers, for the record, is my TE2.

Max Klare, TE, Ohio State

Klare has a natural savviness and precision when it comes to route running and has a feel for finding the soft spots in zone, complementing a dependable set of hands and grittiness to play through contact. In some ways, Klare reminds me a bit of former Eagles tight end Zach Ertz, though Klare enters the league with better marks as a blocker. Klare transferred to Ohio State ahead of the 2025 season following a two-year stint at Purdue, hauling in 43 passes for 448 yards and two touchdowns. For his career, Klare accounted for 1,329 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 116 catches. This a good draft to come away with a long-term option at tight end, and it’s easy to see the fit in Philadelphia when envisioning an offense similar to that of Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay. Should the Eagles elect to pounce on Day 2 value at the position, and the board falls their way, Klare would be tough to bypass.

Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern

Tiernan (6-8, 323) totaled 38 starts at left tackle over the past three seasons, but his 32 1/4″ arm length probably necessitates a home at right tackle — or perhaps even a move inside to guard — at the next level. It’s worth noting that in 2022, Tiernan started six games at right tackle, which is presumably where he’ll begin. Tiernan is savvy and technically polished in terms of pass blocking, his hand placement and footwork work in unison. There’s added appeal with Tiernan, in that he might not require a redshirt season if drafted to a team with established tackles. Despite his frame, he could function as a guard.

Travis Burke, OT, Memphis

Burke is well-traveled and no stranger to adapting to change, playing his first two seasons at Gardner-Webb — and two more at Florida International — before capping his career at Memphis, where he earned first-team All-American Athletic Conference. Burke, 23, started 11 games last season for the Tigers before missing the final two games due to injury, depriving him of the opportunity to partake in the East-West Shrine Bowl. The 6-foot-9, 325-pound tackle, who has experience manning the left or right post, moves well for his size, plays with a discernible edge and uses his 34 1/4″ arm length (83 1/8″ wingspan) to engulf defenders. Burke’s athletic traits, coupled with his steadily improving play, suggests upside and sustained impact. In my estimation, Burke is likely to come off the board somewhere in the third round.

Markel Bell, OT, Miami

Standing at 6-foot-9 and weighing 346 pounds, Bell undeniably sports the frame of a franchise left tackle, and his imposing 36 3/8″ arms further supports that sentiment. The massive blindside protector, who spent his first two seasons at Holmes Community College, started all 16 games last season for the Hurricanes, garnering third-team All-ACC recognition. Bell showcases power at the point of attack — effectively functioning as a wall — and an ability to anchor in the run game, while using his length to keep pass rushers at bay. In light of the expected schematic changes, it’s yet to be determined what qualities the Eagles will most value at the position, but Bell would have surely been an ideal match for previous position coach Jeff Stoutland. As of now, Bell probably comes off the board during the latter stages of Day 2.

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