Future Eagles Fits: Four Position Versatile Ots To Know In The 2027 Nfl Draft

Future Eagles Fits: Four position versatile OTs to know in the 2027 NFL Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Welcome back to Future Eagles Fits, our weekly deep dive into the prospects who could eventually find their way to Philadelphia.

Every week, we’re going inside the tape and looking at prospects through an Eagles-centric lens — breaking down the athletic profile, positional versatility and scheme fit that could ultimately determine whether a player makes sense in Philly. Along the way, we’ll examine how prospects are being evaluated across the league as draft boards begin to take shape and conversations are had with representatives across the scouting landscape.

If there’s one position group that could be a priority for the Eagles heading into next spring, it’s the offensive line. The Eagles have always placed an emphasis on building through the trenches, but the group has undergone significant changes over the last year. Cam Jurgens is a Baltimore Raven, Lane Johnson announced his retirement and rookie Markell Bell has been thrust into an opportunity at right tackle. Meanwhile, Jordan Mailata, one of the best left tackles in football, has regressed, Drew Kendall has had his share of ups and downs in a new role at the pivot spot and Tyler Steen hasn’t been close to the level of play he displayed last fall.

There are plenty of questions surrounding the group, and whether the issues stem from coaching, the overall offensive scheme, individual performance or some combination of all three, the Eagles have work to do up front. Howie Roseman has never been shy about investing in the position group, and with multiple potential starting positions to address, adding more young talent could be a significant priority next spring.

The bottom line when it comes to offensive linemen, a position group that has consistently been a foundation of Philly’s success, is that you can never have enough quality bodies up front. Whether it’s finding a versatile interior blocker who can compete at multiple positions or adding another long-term option at tackle, the Eagles should be looking at opportunities to add talent throughout the draft.

Here are four positional versatile offensive tackles to know for the 2027 NFL Draft — one potential Day 1 target, two Day 2 prospects and a Day 3 option on the rise for teams.

Day 1: Lance Heard, Kentucky | 6’5″, 323 lbs, 36 ¼ arm (verified measurements)

Heard is one of the more physically imposing offensive line prospects in this class, and he’s currently a top five player on my personal board. 

A Tennessee transfer, Heard brings an impressive combination of size, length, raw power and violence that immediately stands out when watching his tape similar to guys like Tyler Smith out of Tulsa and Paris Johnson Jr. out of Ohio State a few years back. He looks to staple players to the turf on every single rep, and at 320-plus pounds with ridiculous 36-inch arms, he has the type of physical profile NFL teams drool over along the offensive line. Describing him as powerful would be an understatement, as he can flat out overwhelm defenders at the point of attack, generate movement in the run game and use his length to create separation between himself and opposing rushers with ease.

What makes Heard such an intriguing player is that there’s still plenty of room for development. He has the natural strength and physical tools, but his consistency, technique and ability to maintain proper positioning throughout reps will be important areas of development. There are moments when his physical advantages take over, and others where he can become a little too aggressive with his approach. Working on becoming more consistent with his hands, balance and overall technique will be important as he makes the transition to the next level.

An interesting conversation surrounding Heard is where he ultimately projects at the NFL level. While he has experience playing tackle and possesses the length to remain outside, there are teams who believe his best position as a pro could actually be inside at guard. His power and ability to create movement inside make him an intriguing option along the interior, particularly for a team like the Eagles who value athleticism and physicality in the run game.

For the Eagles, that positional flexibility is particularly appealing. With questions surrounding Landon Dickerson’s long-term future at left guard and the possibility of additional movement along the offensive line, Heard could provide an opportunity to address multiple needs with one selection. He has the physical profile to compete at tackle, but the possibility of moving inside could give the Eagles another option as it continues to reshape the group. 

Day 2: Trevor Lauck, Iowa | 6’5″, 314 lbs, 33 ¼ arm (verified measurements)

Iowa continues to produce NFL-caliber offensive linemen, and Lauck is the next name to know from Kirk Ferentz’s program.

A technically sound athlete up front with experience at left tackle, Lauck offers a different profile than some of the more physically imposing offensive tackles in this class. He’s not necessarily going to overwhelm defenders with overwhelming length or elite raw power, but his ability to stay balanced, maintain proper positioning and execute his assignments makes him an appealing prospect. Linemen at Iowa come out extremely well coached, something that can’t be said for a majority of prospects at the collegiate level no matter how talented a prospect they are.

On tape, Lauck’s technique and overall consistency are what stand out. He’s comfortable operating in space, displays good footwork in pass pro and does a nice job staying connected to defenders through the duration of a rep. His hand placement and ability to maintain leverage allow him to neutralize rushers without needing to rely exclusively on his physical tools, and in the run game, he’s a coordinated blocker who understands angles to showcase the ability to work up to the second level and sustain blocks.

For the Eagles, Lauck is a name to keep an eye on because of the potential to add another technically sound young blocker to the unit. Philly has always valued players who can operate within a physical run scheme while providing consistency in pass protection, and Lauck checks and bolds several of those boxes. Whether he ultimately sticks at tackle or projects better inside, his ability to execute assignments and provide positional flexibility could make him an appealing Day 2 target.

Day 2: Trevor Goosby, Texas | 6’7″, 325 lbs, 34 ⅞ arm (verified measurements)

Goosby entered the 2026 season with legitimate first-round buzz and was widely viewed as one of the top offensive tackle prospects in the country. However, a torn patellar tendon in his left knee ended his campaign abruptly.

At 6-foot-7 with nearly 35-inch arms, Goosby has the type of frame and athletic profile that immediately draws the eyes of NFL scouts. And that’s before you turn on the tape. He’s a long, athletic tackle with the ability to cover ground in pass protection, mirror opposing edge rushers and use his length and outstanding patience to keep defenders away from the quarterback. His movement skills are particularly impressive for someone with his size, and he has shown the ability to recover when defenders attempt to counter his initial pass set.

Goosby’s development as a pass protector has been encouraging, particularly after earning first-team All-SEC honors in 2025. He has the athleticism to handle speed off the edge, and his length gives him a significant advantage when he’s able to establish his hands early in a rep. He’s got vines for arms, and when he’s able to ‘win first’ with his hands he can take the air out of a pass rush quickly.

The biggest question surrounding Goosby now is his health and what his next step looks like. A severe knee injury introduces an entirely different element into his draft evaluation, particularly with the possibility of returning to Texas for another season still on the table. Prior to the injury, he was viewed as a potential top-10 guy. If he elects to enter the draft, his medical evaluations and recovery timeline will play a significant role in determining where he ultimately comes off the board.

With Johnson’s retirement and Bell still developing, the Eagles have a need for additional talent at the position. The injury creates some risk, but the upside is significant if he’s able to make a full recovery. Depending on how the medical evaluations unfold and whether he declares, Goosby could become one of the more interesting value opportunities in the class.

Day 3: Samson Okunlola, Miami | 6’6″, 324 lbs, 33 ¾ arm (verified measurements)

Evaluating Okunlola is an exercise in patience, but his raw traits are undeniable. A former five-star recruit, he took time in Coral Gables before breaking into the rotation in 2025, serving as a rotational force at left guard throughout Miami’s 16-game CFP run. The film he put together during that stretch was extremely promising as he allowed just five total pressures all year, per PFF, posting shutouts against Ohio State and Indiana (National Championship) when it mattered most. His foundation is built on elite athleticism, flexibility in his lower half and a massive frame that naturally creates movement in the run game by establishing angles and washing defenders down the line of scrimmage. His ability to sink and drive in his lower half is unique for a player of his stature, as larger athletes usually bend at the hips, not the knees, which can cause them to lose reps consistently against more agile defenders. Not Okunlola.

However, the developmental hurdles are real and also why context is important when discussing players and scheme fit. It’s not a linear path from college dominance to NFL success, and things can take time. Physical fronts like Texas A&M managed to expose his frame when attacking him head-on, while speed and counters from Virginia Tech and Florida highlighted pass sets that remain uneven rep-to-rep. Originally brought to college as a tackle, his future could lie within the interior where his instincts as a run blocker can shine without leaving him on an island against NFL edge-rushers.

For the Eagles, Okunlola is an extremely intriguing fit for a motion-heavy, wide-zone offense. Mannion’s scheme requires interior linemen who carry weight comfortably without compromising lateral quickness allowing them to stretch perimeter run lanes and reach second-level linebackers, and Okunlola’s movement and ability to work into angles could fit naturally within Philadelphia’s front.