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• Updated Jun 23, 2026 at 1:14pm

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Miami offensive tackle Markel Bell.

Whatever the holdup may have been, the Philadelphia Eagles are surely glad, for many reasons, to finally have 6-foot-9, 346-pound rookie offensive tackle Markel Bell under contract.

They’re glad because it means a smooth path forward with Bell, a 2026 3rd-round pick (No. 68 overall) who will almost certainly be counted on to add critical depth this season behind NFL All-Pro starters with Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson.

There’s little doubt that Bell is being looked at as a possible long-term replacement for Johnson, who is headed into what could be his 14th and final NFL season.

“The Eagles have signed third-round pick OT Markel Bell, per his agents,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero wrote on his official X account on Tuesday. 

While the financial terms of Bell’s deal weren’t immediately available, there wasn’t an offensive tackle taken in the 2nd round of this year’s draft to compare him to in terms of salary. The next player taken at Bell’s position was Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Austin Barber (No. 86 overall), who signed a 4-year, $6.8 million contract.