Philadelphia Eagles' Senior Bowl Watchlist: Defensive Ends and Cornerbacks
The Philadelphia Eagles often select players who showcase their skills during the Senior Bowl, a premier college football postseason event. In 2024, they capitalized on talented defensive players Quinyon Mitchell and Jalyx Hunt. With the 2026 Senior Bowl approaching, here are 12 defense-minded prospects to keep an eye on for the Birds.
Clemson's T.J. Parker is a top-tier edge rusher with impressive statistics from his freshman season (32 tackles, 13 for loss) and sophomore year (57 tackles, 20 for loss). Although he had a down year in 2025, his athleticism and pass-rushing skills make him an attractive prospect.
Missouri's Zion Young is another power-hungry edge rusher with a motor that never stops. He racked up 42 tackles (16.5 for loss), 6.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles in 2025. Young's abilities would translate well to the Eagles' defense.
Miami's Akheem Mesidor offers a unique blend of power and quickness, making him an intriguing addition to any defensive line. His versatility allows him to rush from different alignments, and his size is reminiscent of Brandon Graham.
Illinois' Gabe Jacas boasts speed, power, instincts, and versatility – essential qualities for an edge rusher. He has recorded 4 sacks in each of the last three seasons and has been productive as a defensive end.
Penn State's Dani Dennis-Sutton is an exceptional run defender but lacks elite-level pass-rushing skills. Despite this, he managed 17 sacks over his final two seasons at Penn State.
Western Michigan's Nadame Tucker had a standout season, racking up 55 tackles (21 for loss), 14.5 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles in 2025. His impressive stats make him an attractive prospect for the Eagles' defense.
Tennessee's Colton Hood is a well-rounded cornerback without glaring flaws. While his statistics don't stand out, he offers a quality combination of speed, agility, and tackling skills.
Ohio State's Davison Igbinosun was a polarizing player in college football due to his tendency to be grabby and lack good takeaway numbers. However, he has impressive physical attributes, including length and arm span, which make him an intriguing prospect for the Eagles' secondary.
San Diego State's Chris Johnson is a ballhawk who excels at making plays on the ball. He recorded 4 INTs, two of which were pick-sixes, in addition to 9 pass breakups and a forced fumble in 2025.
Georgia's Daylen Everette has developed into a cerebral corner with good length and instincts. His experience as a starter in 2023 and full-time starter in 2024 showcases his potential for growth.
California's Hezekiah Masses had an incredible start to his senior season, recording 4 INTs (plus an additional pick-six) and 7 pass breakups. Although he cooled off slightly towards the end of the year, his skills make him worth monitoring.
Toledo's Emmanuel McNeil Warren is a productive safety with impressive numbers since 2023. His size, tackling abilities, and range make him an attractive prospect for the Eagles' secondary.
The Philadelphia Eagles often select players who showcase their skills during the Senior Bowl, a premier college football postseason event. In 2024, they capitalized on talented defensive players Quinyon Mitchell and Jalyx Hunt. With the 2026 Senior Bowl approaching, here are 12 defense-minded prospects to keep an eye on for the Birds.
Clemson's T.J. Parker is a top-tier edge rusher with impressive statistics from his freshman season (32 tackles, 13 for loss) and sophomore year (57 tackles, 20 for loss). Although he had a down year in 2025, his athleticism and pass-rushing skills make him an attractive prospect.
Missouri's Zion Young is another power-hungry edge rusher with a motor that never stops. He racked up 42 tackles (16.5 for loss), 6.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles in 2025. Young's abilities would translate well to the Eagles' defense.
Miami's Akheem Mesidor offers a unique blend of power and quickness, making him an intriguing addition to any defensive line. His versatility allows him to rush from different alignments, and his size is reminiscent of Brandon Graham.
Illinois' Gabe Jacas boasts speed, power, instincts, and versatility – essential qualities for an edge rusher. He has recorded 4 sacks in each of the last three seasons and has been productive as a defensive end.
Penn State's Dani Dennis-Sutton is an exceptional run defender but lacks elite-level pass-rushing skills. Despite this, he managed 17 sacks over his final two seasons at Penn State.
Western Michigan's Nadame Tucker had a standout season, racking up 55 tackles (21 for loss), 14.5 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles in 2025. His impressive stats make him an attractive prospect for the Eagles' defense.
Tennessee's Colton Hood is a well-rounded cornerback without glaring flaws. While his statistics don't stand out, he offers a quality combination of speed, agility, and tackling skills.
Ohio State's Davison Igbinosun was a polarizing player in college football due to his tendency to be grabby and lack good takeaway numbers. However, he has impressive physical attributes, including length and arm span, which make him an intriguing prospect for the Eagles' secondary.
San Diego State's Chris Johnson is a ballhawk who excels at making plays on the ball. He recorded 4 INTs, two of which were pick-sixes, in addition to 9 pass breakups and a forced fumble in 2025.
Georgia's Daylen Everette has developed into a cerebral corner with good length and instincts. His experience as a starter in 2023 and full-time starter in 2024 showcases his potential for growth.
California's Hezekiah Masses had an incredible start to his senior season, recording 4 INTs (plus an additional pick-six) and 7 pass breakups. Although he cooled off slightly towards the end of the year, his skills make him worth monitoring.
Toledo's Emmanuel McNeil Warren is a productive safety with impressive numbers since 2023. His size, tackling abilities, and range make him an attractive prospect for the Eagles' secondary.
these defensive ends and cornerbacks look pretty interesting for the eagles... tj parker from clemson is definitely on my radar he had some crazy stats last year 
32 tackles for loss? that's a lot of pressure to put on him but his athleticism seems to be there so fingers crossed he can stay healthy.
. T.J. Parker is a beast on the edge rusher, no doubt about it 
. And Zion Young's motor doesn't stop, bro 
. They're both gonna be huge pickups for the Birds.
. He'd fit right in with their pass rush squad. And Gabe Jacas from Illinois is another talented edge rusher who's always producing sacks 
.
. I mean, he's got the physical tools to be a starter in the NFL and his instincts are on point 
.
That dude was a ballhawk and had insane stats. He's gonna light it up for the Eagles' secondary.
! It's crazy to think about how many talented players are vying for spots on the Eagles' defense. You gotta give it up for guys like T.J. Parker and Zion Young - they're straight-up game-changers on the edge 
. But what I'm really excited about is these younger guys like Gabe Jacas and Emmanuel McNeil Warren - they're just starting to make a name for themselves, but the potential is huge 
i also love akheem mesidor's unique blend of power & quickness, he'd fit right in with the eagles' defense 
i mean, they've got some solid prospects this year but you gotta wonder if any of them are gonna live up to the hype 
... what's going on with these players? I mean, I see what the author is trying to say about Clemson's T.J. Parker being a top-tier edge rusher but 32 tackles and 13 for loss in his freshman year doesn't seem that impressive to me 
. Maybe we'll see some linebackers pop up in the next update? 