The annual Panini Senior Bowl takes place Saturday at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, AL, with over 130 upperclassman prospects looking to make one final impression before the 2026 NFL draft. The game itself is nice, but practice is where scouts get their best looks at the draft pool.
For the Philadelphia Eagles, and truthfully, all 31 other teams, Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Gennings Dunker should be at the top of the draft board. Dunker made himself instantly more valuable on Wednesday, explaining the role he'd like to play in the NFL.
"I'd be down to play any position. Whatever they need. Whatever the position are lacking in. I can put guard and tackle up, and I'm repping both during Senior Bowl," Dunker told reporters on Wednesday (h/t @Cody_Stoots). "I've worked on snapping a little bit with my training for the combine. Probably not catching the ball, but other than that."
A little bit of humor with a lot of commitment to earn his next paycheck, wherever it comes. That's laudable to say the least.
The Eagles could probably expect to have a chance at Dunker on Day 2 or early on Day 3. It's unclear how much he's impressing the rest of the league; however, Philadelphia must be willing to address its need at the guard spot with someone who played that position at a school known for producing elite offensive trench talent and is willing to contribute elsewhere on the depth chart.
Iowa's Gennings Dunker Is the Perfect Future Eagle
The Eagles frequently target OL in the draft, so it's not hard to picture general manager Howie Roseman and Co. hunting for more this year. In 2025, the team drafted center Drew Kendall and two tackles, Myles Hinton and Cameron Williams. Naturally, the guard spot feels like it'll be addressed.
For the run games' sake, it has to. Matt Pryor is a free agent and may not be ticketed to return if/when the price isn't right. Brett Toth was somewhat forgettable. Landon Dickerson continues to deal with leg issues, with a torn meniscus at the beginning of the 2025 season and calf issues at the end.
That's why someone like Dunker must be on the Eagles' radar between now and April. The standout Iowa blocker only allowed 10 pressures in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus, and has surrendered just three sacks since the start of the 2024 campaign. Additionally, his blocking was a key reason why the Hawkeyes averaged 4.6 yards per carry and 176.9 rushing yards per game last fall.
Even if Dunker isn't available when the Birds are drafting, there needs to be something done about the IOL. Dunker's Iowa teammate, Beau Stephens, excels in pass protection, while the Texas A&M Aggies have a pair of guards in Chase Bisontis and Ar'Maj Reed-Adams who can be had on Day 2 or Day 3 of the draft.
The Eagles clearly have options to help bolster their offensive line this spring, and it's clear that Dunker deserves to be near the top of their target list.