NFL Draft 2026: Eagles Snag Cole Wisniewski at Pick 244 — Size, Stats & Highlights

The Philadelphia Eagles added depth to their secondary on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting Texas Tech safety Cole Wisniewski with the No. 244 overall pick in Round 7. Dominant production across two programs • North Dakota State (2019-23): The 6-foot-3, 219-pound Wisniewski led the FCS with six interceptions in 2023 before transferring. • Texas Tech (2025): In one season at Lubbock he posted 38 solo tackles, two forced fumbles and six tackles for loss while starting every game. Size, skill set and special-teams upside Wisniewski’s rangy frame allows him to match up with tight ends, and his downhill burst shows up on kickoff and punt-coverage units—an area the Eagles have prioritized under special-teams coordinator Michael Clay. His ball-production background at NDSU pairs with proven physicality in the Big 12, giving Philadelphia a versatile developmental piece. Overcoming injuries to reach the NFL The Wisconsin native lost time in 2022 to an Achilles tear and missed all of 2024 following foot surgery, but medical rechecks at the combine came back clean. Coaches praise his rehab work ethic, noting he never missed a film session even while sidelined. How Wisniewski fits in Philadelphia • Competes for the No. 4 safety role behind Reed Blankenship, Justin Simmons and Sydney Brown. • Instant contributor on kick and punt coverage—he logged 225 special-teams snaps last fall. • Long-term candidate for “big nickel” packages, thanks to hybrid linebacker-safety traits. Quote of the day “I’ve played every phase of special teams and love contact. Whatever the Eagles need, I’m ready to do,” Wisniewski told local reporters via conference call minutes after the pick was announced. What’s next Rookie minicamp opens in South Philadelphia next week, where Wisniewski will get his first on-field reps in midnight green. If he flashes the instincts that produced nine collegiate interceptions and continues to stay healthy, the seventh-rounder has a clear path to the 53-man roster—and a chance to become the latest late-round defensive back success story for the Eagles.