Eagles secure second round in NFL draft through important trade and selection

Eagles Make Moves in NFL Draft

The Eagles had an eventful second round during the 2026 NFL Draft.

After selecting tight end Eli Stowers with the 54th pick, they quickly traded away the 98th pick along with a third-round pick in 2027 to the Vikings. In return, they acquired edge rusher Jonathan Greenard and a seventh-round pick.

Greenard, who racked up 24.5 sacks over the past two seasons with both the Vikings and Texans, had a notable season last year with three sacks in 12 games. Reports indicate he signed a four-year, $100 million contract extension—half of which is guaranteed—through this trade.

Initially, he was midway through a four-year, $76 million contract but was ready for a fresh start.

The Vikings had been holding steady on their second-day pick offers for a few weeks and even added a second-day pick to the 2027 draft—an upcoming draft expected to be full of talent.

The Eagles, who plan to trade receiver AJ Brown post-June 1, surprisingly sought a premium pass rusher following Jaelan Phillips’ departure to the Panthers. They see Stowers as a way to compensate for Brown’s production alongside tight end Dallas Goedert, who will enter free agency in 2027 after an impressive 10-touchdown season.

Emotional Moments in the Draft

Good things, it seems, come to those who wait—and Kayden McDonald certainly waited longer than most.

As the last prospect left in Pittsburgh’s NFL Draft area, McDonald’s wait ended when he was selected by the Texans with the fourth pick in the second round. The 6-foot-2, 326-pound defensive tackle from Ohio State wiped away tears, embraced his family, and made his way to the stage as the crowd of approximately 300,000 cheered him on. A heartwarming moment ensued as he tapped the Texans’ logo and shared a long hug with Commissioner Roger Goodell.

The Texans had their sights on McDonald, particularly after the Giants traded Dexter Lawrence, allowing them to move from No. 38 to No. 36 with the Raiders. Interestingly, sources suggest McDonald wasn’t part of the Giants’ talks.

Feeling grateful, McDonald stated, “I feel so blessed, so grateful and so touched. Where I came from and now I’m here, it’s a blessing.”

He will join what many consider one of the strongest defenses in the NFL, playing alongside All-Pro edges Daniel Hunter and Will Anderson.

“He’s a strong two-gap nose tackle with strong hands and a natural instinct against the run,” noted an NFL source.

Another Family Moment

A touching moment occurred later in the second round when the Falcons picked cornerback Avion Terrell with the 48th pick. He was sitting alongside his brother, AJ, who already plays cornerback for the Falcons, leading to a family-centric narrative. They could potentially share the field as starting outside cornerbacks.