The Philadelphia Eagles may have found a hidden gem in the final round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and defensive line coach Clint Hurtt is already going on the record with some serious praise for the young prospect. Uar Bernard, the 21-year-old seventh-round pick out of the NFL’s International Pathway Program, has never played a snap of organized football. But if you listen to what Hurtt is saying about this kid, the Eagles might be looking at a legitimate developmental steal.

For those who need a refresher, Bernard came to Philadelphia from Africa through the International Pathway Program, and his testing numbers are impressive: 6-4.5, 306 pounds, 6% body fat, a 39-inch vertical, a 10-foot-10 broad jump, and a 4.63 40-yard dash. Those are wild measurements.

Hurtt’s praise stands out

But what really caught my attention was the way Hurtt spoke about Bernard. This is a coach known for being hard on his players, a no-nonsense guy who doesn’t hand out compliments freely. And he went out of his way to put his reputation behind this kid.

“I understand he hasn’t played, but this guy has more talent in his body physically than some of the guys that got drafted in the first 2 days of the draft,” Hurtt said.

He praised Bernard as explosive, heavy-handed, and violent. Hurtt acknowledged the obvious: development is required. But he essentially said he trusts himself to take on the challenge and that he believes in the kid.

Then Hurtt took it a step further.

“I’m not putting my stamp on everybody,” Hurtt said. “If you don’t have a great work ethic, if I don’t believe in your character and who you are as a person, I’m not putting my family’s well-being in anybody’s hands. But when I saw the kid’s work ethic and character, it’s great. He’s an unbelievable human being. I felt good about doing that.”

That is a massive statement from a position coach who has been phenomenal since arriving in Philadelphia. I think Hurtt could end up being a defensive coordinator one day, and the fact that he’s willing to bank on a player who has never suited up is telling about how special Bernard’s upside might be.

The Mailata blueprint

If you need proof that this type of developmental path can work, just look at the other side of the ball. Jordan Mailata came to the Eagles through a similar unconventional route, and he developed into one of the best offensive tackles in football. The blueprint is right there.

Now, am I saying Bernard is going to be Mailata? No. We have to pump the brakes a little bit. This is a player who has to learn the fundamentals of the game from scratch. We may not see anything from him this season. We may not see much next season either. This is a long-term project, and the Eagles know that.

But if Philadelphia can take this athletic freak of nature and actually teach him how to play the game, they could potentially look back in a couple years and realize they grabbed one of the steals of the entire 2026 NFL Draft in the 7th round. When a coach looks at a player who has never put on cleats and says the things Hurtt is saying, imagine what Bernard could develop into with proper coaching and time.

This isn’t just another camp body

I am genuinely excited to track the development of Uar Bernard. He’s not going to dominate the headlines every day, and that’s fine. But from time to time over the next year or two, we’re going to hear that name pop up. How does he look? What kind of progress is he making? And I don’t think he’s just another camp body who floats onto the practice squad and disappears.

Clint Hunt is a coach who demands excellence and doesn’t put his stamp on a player unless he truly believes in what he sees. The Eagles may have quietly made one of the smartest picks of their entire draft class.