Uar Bernard selected by Eagles at 2026 NFL Draft…
The Eagles are taking a probability on maybe the most intriguing prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Philadelphia took Nigerian defensive deal with Uar Bernard in the seventh spherical with the No. 251 general choose — the seventh-to-last choice in the draft — hoping they will flip the spectacular uncooked athlete into a standout soccer participant, despite the fact he’s never performed soccer before.
Bernard, a 21-year-old from a small village in Nigeria, is a member of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program, which produced Eagles offensive deal with Jordan Mailata of Australia, who went in the seventh spherical in 2018 and was second-team All-Pro in 2024.
Uar Bernard celebrates after being chosen by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 251st general choose in the NFL draft on April 25, 2026. AP
Bernard, who was on hand in Pittsburgh for the draft and celebrated on stage after he was selected, said former Giants star Osi Umenyiora launched him to soccer.
“It’s a dream come true for me because I’ve worked hard for this,” Bernard said Saturday. “I’ve not played football before, but I’ve gone through some drills that made me believe that I’m going to get better every day. I appreciate God, I thank God for everything. I thank God for life. I thank God for the opportunities given to me to be drafted by the Eagles.”
The 6-foot-4 ½, 306-pound Bernard started training with Jordan Luallen in mid-January, initially weighing in at 295 kilos and 11 % physique fats with a 32-inch vertical bounce and a 9-foot, 4-inch broad bounce. At the NFL’s HBCU showcase earlier this month, Bernard had 6 % physique fats with a 39-inch vertical bounce and a 10-foot, 10-inch broad bounce. He also ran a 4.63 40-yard sprint.
“Hands down, he is the most explosive athlete I’ve ever seen in my life,” Luallen told The Athletic at the time. “He broad jumped 10-10, and it was effortless. At 306 pounds. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Uar Bernard is a member of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program. Instagram/@uar_benard
Uar Bernard measured at 6-foot-4 ½, 306 kilos at the HBCU showcase. Instagram/@uar_benard
Bernard made major strides in a short period of time, according to Luallen.
“He was very naturally gifted when he walked in, but he made substantial improvement on everything,” Luallen said. “He’s super freakin’ flexible, and he is way more fluid now.”
Eagles GM Howie Roseman said the staff “spent a lot of time with him” before the draft.
“Just for us, it was a passion project,” Roseman said, per the Philadelphia Inquirer. “We spend a lot of time talking about ‘unusual.’ It’s certainly unusual with that guy.”
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