Penn State vs Florida International University, Sept. 6, 2025
Penn State offensive lineman Vega Ioane, Anthony Donkoh, Drew Allar and Dani Dennis-Sutton make their way into Beaver Stadium foir the FIU game on Sept. 6, 2025. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comJoe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com
STATE COLLEGE — The Philadelphia Eagles are hosting a projected first-round pick and one of the top offensive linemen in the 2026 NFL draft.
The Eagles will host Penn State star Vega Ioane, considered by many to be the best interior offensive lineman in the draft class, for a top-30 visit in the near future.
Ioane shared that bit of news at Penn State’s pro day on Wednesday.
With the pre-draft all-star games, the NFL Scouting Combine and now pro days in the rearview mirror, NFL teams will transition into hosting prospects for in-person visits.
Teams can bring up to 30 players in for a formal visit as a way to get to know the player better. Local prospects (from a town inside a 50-mile radius) do not count toward that top-30 total.
Ioane, a native of Washington, is one of the top prospects in the 2026 draft. The first-team All-Big Ten guard began the pre-draft process as a fringe first-rounder. But now after a stellar NFL Combine, Ioane has seemingly cemented himself as a first-round selection.
Ioane has been landing in the mid-teens in most mock drafts. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked Ioane as his No. 13 player overall in the class. The only linemen ranked higher than Ioane are two offensive tackles: Utah’s Spencer Fano (No. 8) and Miami’s Francis Mauigoa (No. 11).
The Eagles, meanwhile, own the No. 23 overall pick. So there’s a chance the Eagles won’t even be able to draft Ioane.
But it’s worth it for Howie Roseman, Nick Sirianni and the Eagles to bring in the 6-foot-4, 320-pounder in case he falls to them — or in case they want to trade up for him.
The Eagles have long-term concerns on the interior offensive line. Landon Dickerson, the 27-year-old Pro Bowl guard, reportedly contemplated an early retirement before committing to playing in 2026. Pro Bowl center Cam Jurgens has, like Dickerson, dealt with injuries.
Ioane will be a plug-and-play starter at guard and offers center versatility to whoever drafts him after practicing at the position at Penn State.
Logically, the Eagles seem more likely to target an offensive tackle to succeed Lane Johnson as opposed to an interior lineman at No. 23 overall.
But if Ioane impresses them in his pre-draft visit — and he falls to them later in the first round — the former Nittany Lion might be too good to pass up.
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