Eagles Rookie Jersey Number Analysis: LGPGA Edition
The Philadelphia Eagles have wrapped up their rookie minicamp and the entire team will gather again later this month for OTAs. While this weekend’s rookie minicamp offered the first glimpse at Philadelphia’s rookie class in action, it also provided us with each player’s jersey number choice. Despite some that think jersey numbers are meaningless, I believe that there is some truth to the “look good, play good” theory.
Which is exactly why I named myself the president of the Look Good, Play Good Association (or LGPGA for short) several years ago. At the LGPGA, we predict the future success of professional athletes simply based on their jersey number choice. Luckily for Philadelphia’s rookie class, many of them landed some impressive jersey numbers. Here is my entirely too detailed analysis of each rookie’s jersey number choice on the Eagles.
Eagles Draft Picks
Makai Lemon, WR: #9
This is a significant jersey number choice for Eagles first-round pick, wide receiver Makai Lemon. Philadelphia hasn’t allowed a player to wear #9 since Super Bowl winning quarterback Nick Foles last wore it in 2018. The Eagles unofficially retired the jersey number, as they have with several other jersey numbers (#12, #25, #62, #71, #91, etc.).
It’s about damn time that the Eagles stopped this unofficially retiring jersey number nonsense. In fact, while we’re at it, retiring jersey numbers is dumb. Especially with the NFL expanding jersey number usage in recent years, it’s disappointing to see the limited jersey number options remaining in Philadelphia. The Eagles have officially retired nine jersey numbers and are withholding several others.
Luckily, Lemon received approval from Foles to wear #9 in Philadelphia. It’s a silly concept that Lemon even had to ask for permission in the first place but here we are. Hopefully this will free up other unofficially retired jersey numbers and prevent the Eagles from turning into the NFL’s equivalent of the Boston Celtics with a million jersey numbers retired. In the end, Lemon landing #9 is a great choice.
Emoji Rating: 🔥
Eli Stowers, TE: #87
Eagles second-round pick Eli Stowers has only worn jersey numbers in the single digits or teens, dating back to high school. Stowers has worn #3, #5, #9 and #17, yet all of those jersey numbers are currently occupied or retired in Philadelphia. Therefore, Stowers opted to go with #87, which was most recently worn by Eagles wide receiver Xavier Gipson.
Many Eagles fans will think of former tight end Brent Celek when they see #87, as the team unofficially retired his jersey number for nearly seven years. But now Stowers will attempt to be the next great Eagles tight end to wear the jersey number. While a few people think it’s a “bulky” jersey number for Stowers, given that he’s a smaller tight end, but some of the NFL’s best tight ends have also worn #87 (Travis Kelce, Rob Gronkowski, etc.).
Emoji Rating: 👀
Markel Bell, OT: #72
Eagles third-round pick Markel Bell landed #72, which has seen mixed results along the offensive line in recent history. The jersey number was most recently worn by Darian Kinnard, who won a Super Bowl in Philadelphia before being traded to the Green Bay Packers. Moro Ojomo also wore #72 earlier in his NFL career before switching to #97 in 2024.
The two most notable offensive tackles that have donned #72 in Philadelphia are Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Tra Thomas. If Bell can enjoy a career with the Eagles like either of those two players, I think Philadelphia would happily take those results. Vaitai served as the team’s swing tackle before helping them win a Super Bowl off the bench. While Thomas was an 11-year starter at left tackle in the City of Brotherly Love.
Emoji Rating: 🤔
Cole Payton, QB: #10
This is another example of the Eagles simply running out of jersey numbers. Eagles fifth-round pick Cole Payton has to share #10 with Philadelphia’s punter, Braden Mann. Since quarterbacks are restricted to #0 to #19, there are simply no other jersey numbers available for Payton to wear in Philadelphia right now.
It’s also hilarious to see the Eagles let anyone wear #10, which was worn by DeSean Jackson for years. Meanwhile, they’ve withheld #25 for LeSean McCoy since 2014, who was only on the team for five seasons. Once again, the unofficially retired jersey number nonsense needs to stop. Payton will be forced to awkwardly share a jersey number for a few months before finally getting his real jersey number after cuts down to the 53-man roster.
Emoji Rating: 😡
Micah Morris, G: #76
Eagles sixth-round pick Micah Morris drew the short straw with the team’s rookie jersey numbers. #76 hasn’t had a ton of success in Philadelphia in recent years, as Jack Anderson was the last player to wear the jersey number. Prior to that, it was worn by T.Y McGill and Albert Huggins. Certainly not a great group.
Yet it is worth noting that former Eagles offensive lineman Allen Barbre wore #76 for three seasons. He worked his way up from a backup to a starting guard during his time in Philadelphia. While Barbre was a veteran when he signed with the Eagles, they would likely be thrilled if Morris developed into a capable backup with starting potential, similar to Barbre’s stint with the team.
Emoji Rating: 😬
Cole Wisniewski, S: #21
Philadelphia’s trio of seventh-round picks may have secured the best jersey numbers of all. It’s fitting to see Cole Wisniewski land #21, which was most recently worn by former Eagles safety Sydney Brown. Wisniewski projects as a backup safety with special teams value, which is exactly the role that Brown filled during his time in Philadelphia.
Yet #21 looks good enough to give Wisniewski room to grow into a potential starter. If he would’ve landed a jersey number in the mid-to-late 30s, Wisniewski could’ve already made plans to be in the UFL in a year or two. But after landing #21, Wisniewski should develop into a solid special teams contributor for the Eagles, at the very least.
Emoji Rating: 😮
Uar Bernard, IDL: #93
Not only is Uar Bernard one of the coolest stories from the 2026 NFL Draft, he also landed a phenomenal jersey number as a seventh-round pick for the Eagles. In recent years, #93 has been a rock solid choice for interior defensive linemen in Philadelphia. While Bernard is new to American football, his career is off to a good start with this jersey number decision.
The last three players to wear #93 for the Eagles were Milton Williams, Javon Hargrave and Tim Jernigan. All three players were productive along the interior in Philadelphia and Bernard will hope to eventually have a similar impact for the Eagles. While Bernard’s development is going to be a lengthy process, he couldn’t have asked for a better start and his stock is certainly on the rise in #93.
Emoji Rating: 📈
Keyshawn James-Newby: #50
Former Eagles edge rusher Jaelan Phillips arrived in Philadelphia at least year’s trade deadline and made #50 look good. Now seventh-round pick Keyshawn James-Newby will be the next player to wear that jersey number on the edge. While #50 has normally been worn by inside linebackers for the Eagles, that changed last season.
“KJN” landing Phillips’ former jersey number is fitting given his pass rushing potential. He recorded an elite pressure rate in college and Philadelphia took a chance on his production late on Day 3. Now he’ll look to replicate that success at the next level and doing so in #50 could give him a better chance to do so. He’s certainly lucky to land that jersey number given what seventh-round picks are normally forced to wear.
Emoji Rating: 🍀