Eagles' 53-man roster projection following the rookie minicamp

ThePhiladelphia Eagleshave begun week three of their nine-week offseason workout program, and they'll be joined byeight NFL draft picksand about 10 undrafted free agents after the record-setting weekend. Philadelphia talked about swinging the pendulum towards the offense, and the Eagles finished Saturday with five offensive players,with their first five picks going to offensive players who'll play key roles in the future. Of the five, onlyMakai LemonandEli Stowersappear set for Day 1 roles. Markel Bell, Micah Morris, and others may not seed the field until 2027 at the earliest. On defense, the Eagles added Texas Tech safety Cole Wisniewski and New Mexico pass rusher Keyshawn James-Newby, with an intriguing International Pathway Program participant, Uar Bernard, sandwiched in between.

With the rookie minicamp and OTAs fast approaching, here is our first attempt at predicting the 53-man roster for the 2026 regular season.

Quarterback: 3

#1 Jalen Hurts#14 Tanner McKee -- Trade this summer #16 Andy Dalton

#10 Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State

Jalen Hurts has begun hiswork with Sean Mannion,and the quarterback will benefit from having the former quarterback, along with Josh Grizzard (pass game coordinator) and another former quarterback, Jerrod Johnson, on staff as senior assistants. Tanner McKee returns, whilethe Eagles traded a 7th-round pick to Carolinato acquire veteran quarterback Andy Dalton. Former North Dakota State signal caller Cole Payton joins the roster, and all four players could make the 53-man cuts.

Running back: 4

#26 Saquon Barkley#8 Tank Bigsby#28 Will Shipley#39 Dameon Pierce

Barkley played in 16 games (16 starts), running for 1,140 yards on 280 carries (4.1 avg.) with 7 TDs, adding 273 receiving yards on 37 catches (7.4 avg.) With two touchdowns, he became the first Eagle since LeSean McCoy in 2013-14 to post back-to-back 1,000+ yard rushing seasons. A key trade acquisition, the hard-running Bigsby participated in 16 contests (one start) with the Eagles, recording 356 rushing yards on 63 carries (5.7 avg.) and 2 touchdowns. Will Shipley will try to regain his momentum, while the Eagles added former Texans running back Dameon Pierce for more competition.

Wide receiver: 6

#6 DeVonta Smith

#9 Makai Lemon, WR, Southern Cal#0 Hollywood Brown#89 Johnny Wilson

#19 Elijah Moore -signed March 24

#13 Dontayvion Wicks-- Acquired via trade

DeVonta Smith (1,008) and A.J. Brown (1,003) are the only Eagles WR duo to produce 1,000+ receiving yards each in the same season, but the duo will be split up at some point after June 1. Looking to add more to the offense, the Eagles traded up to secure Makai Lemon. The explosive Hollywood Brown had 49 catches for 587 yards and 5 TDs last season. Darius Cooper is the player most impacted by Brown joining the roster. At the same time, Johnny Wilson will look to regain his training camp form from 2025, before he suffered a significant knee injury. This depth chart could drastically change around June 1. The addition of Dontayvion Wicks via trade makes things even more interesting.

Tight end: 3

#88 Dallas Goedert

#87 Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt#83 Johnny Mundt

Dallas Goedert is back on a one-year deal. Goedert started 15 games, catching 60 passes for 591 yards and a career-high and Eagles franchise high 11 touchdown catches. Philadelphia drafted his successor, landing Eli Stowers in the second round. Mundt will play the third tight end, run-blocking role.

Offensive line: 9

LT: #68 Jordan MailataLG: #69 Landon DickersonC: #51 Cam JurgensRG: #56 Tyler SteenRT: #65 Lane Johnson

#72 Markel Bell, T, Miami

#76 Micah Morris, G, Georgia

#74 Fred Johnson, #61 Willie Lampkin

The Eagles' offensive line suffered multiple injuries in 2025 but will look to rebound under the new offensive line coach. The Eagles have hired Chris Kuper as offensive line coach.The Vikings didn't retain Kuperafter four years in the same position. During Kuper's tenure, Minnesota ranked 32nd in pressure rate allowed on the interior in three of the last four seasons, including 2025, a ranking that led to his dismissal. Landon Dickerson was excellent in 2024 but finished the 2025 regular season with a 60.3 PFF pass-blocking grade, which ranked only 51st among 81 qualifying guards. Jordan Mailata didn't replicate his elite 2024 campaign, but he was still Philadelphia's best offensive lineman. His 83.8 PFF overall grade ranked seventh among all offensive tackles. Lane Johnson, 35, is a future Hall of Famer with a resume that includes six Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pro nods, and a pair of Super Bowl wins. Johnson's value is clear: the Eagles were 8-2 with him in the lineup this season,versus 3-4 without him. During his tenure in Philadelphia, the team's record is 94-41-1 when he plays and 15-27 when he doesn't.

Defensive line: 5

#98 Jalen Carter#90 Jordan Davis#97 Moro Ojomo#95 Ty Robinson#94 Byron Young

Philadelphia has an elite trio with Carter, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo, with Byron Young and Ty Robinson as capable backups. Despite two badly injured shoulders, Carter was the Eagles' lone Pro Bowl starter. In 12 games this season, he had 33 tackles, 41 QB pressures, 11 quarterback hits, and three sacks. Ojomo's 71.0 PFF grade was the 80th best in the NFL last season, but he's much improved, and Ojomo saw his snap count increase to 60 percent in his third year. He started nine games for the Eagles this season and played in all 17, finishing second on the team in sacks.

Ojomo will enter the final year of his deal with a $3,624,446 cap hit. Jordan Davis just signed a three-year, $78 million deal.

Edge rusher: 5

Jonathan Greenard

#58 Jalyx Hunt#3 Nolan Smith#17 Arnold Ebiketie

#93 Uar Bernard, DT, Nigeria-- International Pathway

#52 Joe Tryon-Shoyinka

Ebiketie joins Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka as athletic, hybrid pass rushers who can get after the opposing quarterbacks. The Eagles could still add Brandon Graham to this group. A solid run defender and explosive pass rusher, Smith missed seven games in 2025, logging 31 tackles, 3 sacks, one forced fumble, 33 QB pressures, 24 QB hurries, and a 67.7 PFF grade in 12 games. The 5th-year option, as it currently stands, is $14 million for 2027. Hunt became the first Eagle to lead the team in both sacks (6.5) and INTs (3) in the same season. He is the second Eagle to have 6.0+ sacks and 3.0+ INTs in a season, joining Seth Joyner (1991-92). Tryon-Shoyinka earned a 72.2 overall PFF defensive grade, and a pass-rush grade of 67.6, with a run-defense grade of 66.2. Tryon-Shoyinka generated 8 total pressures, 0 sacks, 6 hurries, and 2 QB hits. Against the run, he recorded 10 solo tackles. Tryon-Shoyinka has never produced more than 5.0 sacks in a single season and logged only 2.0 in 2024. The former Washington first-round pick only played 142 snaps in 2025.

Linebacker: 5

#53 Zack Baun#30 Jihaad Campbell#54 Jeremiah Trotter Jr.#42 Smael Mondon Jr.

#45 Chandler Martin

Last spring, the Eagles traded up a spot in the draft to pick Jihaad Campbell, whose playing time slowed when Dean returned to the lineup. Dean has departed, and Campbell will miss the off-season due to shoulder surgery. Linebacker depth is one of the strengths for the Eagles, and they'll have Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Smael Mondon Jr. looking for breakout moments. Chance Campbell is on the roster, and the Eagles just added former Ravens linebacker Chandler Martin on a two-year deal.

Cornerback: 6

# 27 Quinyon Mitchell#33 Cooper DeJean#2 Riq Woolen#7 Kelee Ringo#23 Jakorian Bennett#22 Mac McWilliams

After losing Jaelan Phillips, Reed Blankenship, and Nakobe Dean, the strength of this defense will be at cornerback. Philadelphia has gone from uncertainty at the position to being absolutely loaded afterlanding Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolenon a one-year deal worth up to $15 million. The move allows Cooper DeJean to remain a versatile weapon. At the same time, Michael Carter II could transition to safety, which allows the Birds to keep Jakorian Bennett and Kelee Ringo in reserve roles.

The Eagles' revamped defense will give some of the top passing offenses a run for their money, matching up with outside pass catchers and in the slot. Woolen possesses unmatched measurables for a cornerback as he's tall, athletic, physical, fast, and has top-flight ball skills. Even more impressive, he produced the second-highest lockdown percentage (65%) in the NFL this past season.According to NBC Sports Philadelphiaand Sharp Football, the Eagles used man coverage on 24.5% of their snaps last season. That ranked 12th in the NFL, whereas theSeahawks' man usage (15.2%) ranked 27th.

Safety: 4

#24 Drew Mukuba#35 Michael Carter II#29 Marcus Epps

#21 Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech

The Eagles traded Sydney Brown to Atlanta and quickly re-signed Marcus Epps and added J.T. Gray. Mukuba is a guaranteed starter in Year 2, despite returning from a season-ending injury as a rookie. The second safety spot is up for grabs after Reed Blankenship's departure. Epps is a solid contributor, but he's aging and not a dominant game-changer. Gray is a special teams standout, while Sam and Johnson are back after spending 2025 on the practice squad.

Specialists: 3

Kicker: #4 Jake ElliottPunter: #10 Braden MannLong snapper: #37 Rocco Underwood

Mann signed a four-year contract to return to the Eagles, bringing back one of the best punters in the NFL. Elliott reworked his contract, and the team guaranteed his 2026 salary, but he could see competition. The Eagles signed an undrafted free agent long snapper, Rocco Underwood, out of Florida.

The Philadelphia Eagles have begun week three of their nine-week offseason workout program, and they'll be joined byeight NFL draft picksand about 10 undrafted free agents after the record-setting weekend. Philadelphia talked about swinging the pendulum towards the offense, and the Eagles finished Saturday with five offensive players,with their first five picks going to offensive players who'll play key roles in the future. Of the five, onlyMakai LemonandEli Stowersappear set for Day 1 roles. Markel Bell, Micah Morris, and others may not seed the field until 2027 at the earliest. On defense, the Eagles added Texas Tech safety Cole Wisniewski and New Mexico pass rusher Keyshawn James-Newby, with an intriguing International Pathway Program participant, Uar Bernard, sandwiched in between.

With the rookie minicamp and OTAs fast approaching, here's an updated look at the Eagles' 90-man roster.

90-man roster following the NFL Draft

Quarterback: 4

#1 Jalen Hurts#14 Tanner McKee#16 Andy Dalton

#10 Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State

Jalen Hurts has begun hiswork with Sean Mannion,and the quarterback will benefit from having the former quarterback, along with Josh Grizzard (pass game coordinator) and another former quarterback, Jerrod Johnson, on staff as senior assistants. Tanner McKee returns, whilethe Eagles traded a 7th-round pick to Carolinato acquire veteran quarterback Andy Dalton. Former North Dakota State signal caller Cole Payton joins the roster, and all four players could make the 53-man cuts.

Running back: 5

#26 Saquon Barkley#8 Tank Bigsby#28 Will Shipley#39 Dameon Pierce#34 Carson Steele

Advertisement

#36 Cameron Latu (FB/TE)

Barkley played in 16 games (16 starts), running for 1,140 yards on 280 carries (4.1 avg.) with 7 TDs, adding 273 receiving yards on 37 catches (7.4 avg.) With two touchdowns, he became the first Eagle since LeSean McCoy in 2013-14 to post back-to-back 1,000+ yard rushing seasons. A key trade acquisition, the hard-running Bigsby participated in 16 contests (one start) with the Eagles, recording 356 rushing yards on 63 carries (5.7 avg.) and 2 touchdowns. Will Shipley will try to regain his momentum, while the Eagles added former Texans running back Dameon Pierce for more competition.

Wide receiver: 11

#11 A.J. Brown#6 DeVonta Smith

#9 Makai Lemon, WR, Southern Cal#0 Hollywood Brown#80 Darius Cooper#89 Johnny Wilson#86 Quez Watkins#82 Danny Gray

#18 Britain Covey

#19 Elijah Moore -signed March 24

#13 Dontayvion Wicks-- Acquired via trade

DeVonta Smith (1,008) and A.J. Brown (1,003) are the only Eagles WR duo to produce 1,000+ receiving yards each in the same season, but the duo will be split up at some point after June 1. Looking to add more to the offense, the Eagles traded up to secure Makai Lemon. The explosive Hollywood Brown had 49 catches for 587 yards and 5 TDs last season. Darius Cooper is the player most impacted by Brown joining the roster. At the same time, Johnny Wilson will look to regain his training camp form from 2025, before he suffered a significant knee injury. This depth chart could drastically change around June 1. The addition of Dontayvion Wicks via trade makes things even more interesting.

Tight end: 8

#88 Dallas Goedert

#87 Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt#83 Johnny Mundt#81 Grant Calcaterra#87 Stone Smartt#84 E.J. Jenkins

#36 Cameron Latu

#45 Dae'Quan Wright

Dallas Goedert is back on a one-year deal. Goedert started 15 games, catching 60 passes for 591 yards and a career-high and Eagles franchise high 11 touchdown catches. Philadelphia drafted his successor, landing Eli Stowers in the second round. A Former college teammate of Jalen Hurts at Oklahoma, eaching the end of his rookie contract. Calcaterra played in 62 games with 22 starts. Mundt will play the third tight end, run-blocking role. Cameron Latu will assume the role of fullback. In a reduced role behind Mason Taylor, Smartt caught seven of nine targets for 52 yards while appearing in 15 games for the Jets in the 2025 season.

Smartt played mostly on special teams and drew at least one target in only three of his 15 appearances for the Jets. He spent the previous three seasons with the Chargers and has just one touchdown catch in 53 regular-season NFL games.

Offensive line: 17

LT: #68 Jordan MailataLG: #69 Landon DickersonC: #51 Cam JurgensRG: #56 Tyler SteenRT: #65 Lane Johnson

#72 Markel Bell, T, Miami

#76 Micah Morris, G, Georgia

#74 Fred Johnson, #78 Myles Hinton, #73 Cameron Williams, #67 John Ojukwu, #66 Drew Kendall, #61 Willie Lampkin, #75 Jake Majors, #63 Hollin Pierce, #64 Jaeden Roberts, #67 John Ojukwu

The Eagles' offensive line suffered multiple injuries in 2025 but will look to rebound under the new offensive line coach. The Eagles have hired Chris Kuper as offensive line coach.The Vikings didn't retain Kuperafter four years in the same position. During Kuper's tenure, Minnesota ranked 32nd in pressure rate allowed on the interior in three of the last four seasons, including 2025, a ranking that led to his dismissal. Landon Dickerson was excellent in 2024 but finished the 2025 regular season with a 60.3 PFF pass-blocking grade, which ranked only 51st among 81 qualifying guards. Jordan Mailata didn't replicate his elite 2024 campaign, but he was still Philadelphia's best offensive lineman. His 83.8 PFF overall grade ranked seventh among all offensive tackles. Lane Johnson, 35, is a future Hall of Famer with a resume that includes six Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pro nods, and a pair of Super Bowl wins. Johnson's value is clear: the Eagles were 8-2 with him in the lineup this season,versus 3-4 without him. During his tenure in Philadelphia, the team's record is 94-41-1 when he plays and 15-27 when he doesn't.

Defensive line: 6

#98 Jalen Carter#90 Jordan Davis#97 Moro Ojomo#95 Ty Robinson#94 Byron Young#96 Gabe Hall

Philadelphia has an elite trio with Carter, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo, with Byron Young and Ty Robinson as capable backups. Despite two badly injured shoulders, Carter was the Eagles' lone Pro Bowl starter. In 12 games this season, he had 33 tackles, 41 QB pressures, 11 quarterback hits, and three sacks. Ojomo's 71.0 PFF grade was the 80th best in the NFL last season, but he's much improved, and Ojomo saw his snap count increase to 60 percent in his third year. He started nine games for the Eagles this season and played in all 17, finishing second on the team in sacks.

Ojomo will enter the final year of his deal with a $3,624,446 cap hit. Jordan Davis just signed a three-year, $78 million deal.

Edge rusher: 10

Jonathan Greenard

#58 Jalyx Hunt#3 Nolan Smith#17 Arnold Ebiketie

#93 Uar Bernard, DT, Nigeria

#52 Joe Tryon-Shoyinka#43 Jose Ramirez

#77 Ta'Quon Graham

#50 Keyshawn James-Newby, Edge, New Mexico

#46 Joshua Weru UDFA

Ebiketie joins Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka as athletic, hybrid pass rushers who can get after the opposing quarterbacks. The Eagles could still add Brandon Graham to this group. A solid run defender and explosive pass rusher, Smith missed seven games in 2025, logging 31 tackles, 3 sacks, one forced fumble, 33 QB pressures, 24 QB hurries, and a 67.7 PFF grade in 12 games. The 5th-year option, as it currently stands, is $14 million for 2027. Hunt became the first Eagle to lead the team in both sacks (6.5) and INTs (3) in the same season. He is the second Eagle to have 6.0+ sacks and 3.0+ INTs in a season, joining Seth Joyner (1991-92). Tryon-Shoyinka earned a 72.2 overall PFF defensive grade, and a pass-rush grade of 67.6, with a run-defense grade of 66.2. Tryon-Shoyinka generated 8 total pressures, 0 sacks, 6 hurries, and 2 QB hits. Against the run, he recorded 10 solo tackles. Tryon-Shoyinka has never produced more than 5.0 sacks in a single season and logged only 2.0 in 2024. The former Washington first-round pick only played 142 snaps in 2025.

Linebacker: 7

#53 Zack Baun#30 Jihaad Campbell#54 Jeremiah Trotter Jr.#42 Smael Mondon Jr.#59 Chance Campbell

#45 Chandler Martin

#47 Deontae Lawson

Last spring, the Eagles traded up a spot in the draft to pick Jihaad Campbell, whose playing time slowed when Dean returned to the lineup. Dean has departed, and Campbell will miss the off-season due to shoulder surgery. Linebacker depth is one of the strengths for the Eagles, and they'll have Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Smael Mondon Jr. looking for breakout moments. Chance Campbell is on the roster, and the Eagles just added former Ravens linebacker Chandler Martin on a two-year deal.

Cornerback: 10

# 27 Quinyon Mitchell#33 Cooper DeJean#2 Riq Woolen#7 Kelee Ringo#23 Jakorian Bennett#32 Jonathan Jones#22 Mac McWilliams#41 Tariq Castro-Fields

#34 Kapena Gushiken#38 Ambry Thomas

After losing Jaelan Phillips, Reed Blankenship, and Nakobe Dean, the strength of this defense will be at cornerback. Philadelphia has gone from uncertainty at the position to being absolutely loaded afterlanding Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolenon a one-year deal worth up to $15 million. The move allows Cooper DeJean to remain a versatile weapon. At the same time, Michael Carter II could transition to safety, which allows the Birds to keep Jakorian Bennett and Kelee Ringo in reserve roles.

The Eagles' revamped defense will give some of the top passing offenses a run for their money, matching up with outside pass catchers and in the slot. Woolen possesses unmatched measurables for a cornerback as he's tall, athletic, physical, fast, and has top-flight ball skills. Even more impressive, he produced the second-highest lockdown percentage (65%) in the NFL this past season.According to NBC Sports Philadelphiaand Sharp Football, the Eagles used man coverage on 24.5% of their snaps last season. That ranked 12th in the NFL, whereas the Seahawks' man usage (15.2%) ranked 27th.

Safety: 9

#24 Drew Mukuba#35 Michael Carter II#29 Marcus Epps#48 J.T. Gray#31 Andre' Sam#49 Brandon Johnson

#21 Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech

#37 Tucker Large

#36 Maximus Pulley

Before last Friday, Philadelphia had Mukuba, Sydney Brown, Andre Sam, and Brandon Johnson on the roster. On Friday afternoon, the Eagles traded Brown to Atlanta and quickly re-signed Marcus Epps and added J.T. Gray. Mukuba is a guaranteed starter in Year 2, despite returning from a season-ending injury as a rookie. The second safety spot is up for grabs after Reed Blankenship's departure. Epps is a solid contributor, but he's aging and not a dominant game-changer. Gray is a special teams standout, while Sam and Johnson are back after spending 2025 on the practice squad.

Specialists: 3

Kicker: #4 Jake ElliottPunter: #10 Braden MannLong snapper: #37 Rocco Underwood

Mann signed a four-year contract to return to the Eagles, bringing back one of the best punters in the NFL. Elliott reworked his contract, and the team guaranteed his 2026 salary, but he could see competition. The Eagles signed an undrafted free agent long snapper, Rocco Underwood, out of Florida.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire:Philadelphia Eagles 53-man roster prediction

byAndy Corry

in

May 06, 2026

Eagles' 53-man roster projection following the rookie minicamp

ThePhiladelphia Eagleshave begun week three of their nine-week offseason workout program, and they'll be joined byeight NFL draft p...

Read More

Cavs use third-quarter surge to best Raptors in Game 7

Jarrett Allen scored 14 of his career playoff-high-tying 22 points in the third quarter and grabbed 19 rebounds, powering the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 114-102 win over the visiting Toronto Raptors on Sunday night in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Fourth-seeded Cleveland, which trailed by double digits in the first and second quarters, will play the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the East semifinals, beginning Tuesday in Detroit. The home team won every game in the Cavaliers-Pistons series.

Donovan Mitchell also had 22 points and James Harden posted 18 points and six rebounds for the Cavaliers, who built a 94-72 lead early in the fourth. Allen had 10 rebounds -- five offensive -- in the third when Cleveland outscored the Raptors 38-19.

"Emotions were high and the crowd was into it," Allen said, before laughing, "Dr. J-A. I just had to let 'em know. I was just playing hard, trying to get us ahead."

Mitchell agreed about Allen's impact on both the game and the crowd.

"The crowd brought the same energy as Jarrett Allen," Mitchell said. "That dude took over. He was doing everything, getting steals, rebounds, scoring points."

Scottie Barnes collected 24 points, nine rebounds and six assists for fifth-seeded Toronto. RJ Barrett had 23 points on 9-of-25 field-goal attempts and Jamal Shead added 14 points and seven assists.

"For the stage of his career, (Barnes) gave it all," Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said. "I don't want to sound like a broken record, but this is not the best version of Scottie we're going to see. He's going to be even better next season."

Despite his coach's praise, Barnes found plenty to blame for his team's loss.

"They worked harder than us in this game," he said. "They had 20 offensive rebounds. They had four guys crashing every play, even 5-10, 5-11 guys crashing the glass."

Advertisement

Cleveland is 5-0 all-time at home in Game 7 and has beaten the Raptors all 11 times in the playoffs in its arena. The Cavaliers also have won all four of their postseason series against Toronto.

Evan Mobley, who had 13 points, scored the first basket of the second half to give Cleveland its initial lead at 51-49. It turned into a 20-2 run spanning the second and third quarters when Mitchell made a hoop with 9:28 remaining in the third to make it 58-49.

"Jarrett (Allen) really took us over the top with that third-quarter performance," Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. "That's the best I've ever seen him. He was just absolutely incredible tonight."

Cleveland used an 11-2 run to close the opening half, tying the score for the first time at 49-all on a Jaylon Tyson 3-pointer. Shead and Barnes led all players at the half with 14 points apiece, while Harden had 10 points and Sam Merrill added eight off the bench.

"It felt like we had them," Barrett said. "That's what's going to hurt. We definitely could have won this game and won this series."

The Cavaliers committed 13 turnovers in the first half, which Toronto turned into 14 points. Cleveland had six miscues in the first quarter and seven in the second.

Barnes netted the first five points of the evening after Allen missed a dunk on Cleveland's opening possession. Shead made a runner to give the Raptors a 22-12 advantage, but Merrill had five points in the final three minutes to cut it to 26-24.

Shead scored seven points in the period and Barnes had five points and four assists, helping Toronto shoot 55% (11 of 20) from the floor.

The Raptors were without two starters, small forward Brandon Ingram (right heel soreness) and point guard Immanuel Quickley (right hamstring strain).

"We gave it all, everything we had today," Rajakovic said. "Our guys were awesome. We made it hard on (the Cavaliers)."

--Field Level Media

byAndy Corry

in

May 06, 2026

Cavs use third-quarter surge to best Raptors in Game 7

Jarrett Allen scored 14 of his career playoff-high-tying 22 points in the third quarter and grabbed 19 rebounds, powering the Cleveland...

Read More

8 Shocking Rules Met Gala Guests Have to Follow

The Met Gala is held annually on the first Monday in May

NEED TO KNOW

• Guests must follow rules at the exclusive event, including a no-phone policy

• Attendees have to pay for a ticket, which costs $100,000

The first Monday in May has arrived, which means fashion's biggest night — a.k.a.the Met Gala— is here.

This year, another set of A-listers will ascend the iconic steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the fashionable festivities. The dress code is "Fashion Is Art," tied to the theme for the2026 Met Gala, "Costume Art," which celebrates the spring 2026 exhibition sharing the same name.

But the notoriously exclusive night isn't without its rules — and steep price tag.Vogue's global editorial director and former editor-in-chiefAnna Wintour, who has been at the helm of the Met Gala as either chair or co-chair since 1995, famously discourages attendees from offering insight into what takes place inside the hallowed halls of the Met, asking stars to refrain from using their phones or revealing too much about the night itself.

Still,Voguehas shared certain details. "Guests must abide by a no-phone (and, therefore, no social media) policy once they’ve entered the museum," anarticle on the magazine's sitereads. "But the run-of-show involves cocktails, dinner and a high-profile performer (or two). Attendees always have a moment to explore the exhibition, too."

While rumors that Wintour has toapprove everyone's looksare untrue, the event still follows strict guidelines, from how to dress to what can be shared.

Here are the most surprising rules you didn't know Met Gala attendees must follow.

Attendees have to be invited to the Met Gala

In order to attend the Met Gala, you must be invited (and just because you were invited once, that doesn't guarantee entry every year!). Celebrities, sports stars, fashion figures and other prominent pop culture names of today are among the prestigious bunch who receive invites.

The A-list guest list is kept confidential until the night before the Met Gala, though fashion fans cast predictions based on years past. Regulars who often attend, for example, includeBeyoncé,Kim Kardashian,Blake Lively,Gigi HadidandRihanna.

Plus, fashion designers are often invited to accompany their muses on the red carpet and showcase their elaborate designs. Marc Jacobs, Christian Siriano, Nicolas Ghesquière and Zac Posen are step staples.

Attendees have to pay for a Met Gala ticket

Receiving the invite is only the beginning: You must also purchase a ticket to attend, or be a guest of someone who has.

After all, at its core, the Met Gala is a fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The earnings go toward its extensive fashion collection consisting of garments and accessories from the past seven centuries.

Therefore, should you be so lucky to receive a coveted invite from Wintour, be prepared to pay upwards of thousands of dollars to enter.

This year, an individual ticket costs $100,000 (up $25,000 from 2025) — while a table starts at $350,000, perThe New York Times.

Attendees are encouraged to follow a Met Gala dress code

Each year, the Costume Institute commissions an exhibit that pulls together art-quality pieces of fashion, and the hosts issue a corresponding dress code for the gala that helps inform the attendees' ensembles for the evening.

The 2026 theme is "Costume Art" and the Met Gala dress code is "Fashion Is Art" whichVoguesaid "encourages attendees to consider the many ways that designers use the body as their blank canvas."

The dress code is one of the most talked-about aspects of the evening, with high-profile celebrities and their designers dreaming up creative, head-turning interpretations of the theme.

Some choose the literal route, others opt for avant-garde — and yet others, likeKaty Perryin 2019,go haute hamburger.

Advertisement

(But if you don't have a fairy godstylist like Law Roach outfitting you and you just want an elegant gown for the evening, err on the side of formality; in past years they've specified white tie.)

Attendees aren't allowed to use their phones while at the Met Gala

Voguemaintains a "no-phone policy" within the walls of the event.

Attendees aren't allowed to post on social media inside the Met Gala

A no-phone policy inside the Met Gala means a no-social media policy from inside the event, either.

However, when the stars convene in the bathroom,it appears all bets are off!

Attendees can't smoke inside the Met Gala

WhileVoguehas its fair share of Met Gala guidelines in place, the Metropolitan Museum of Art itself has its own set of rules to ensure the safety of the guests in attendance.

No smoking is among them, outlined on themuseum's website.

"Smoking, including electronic cigarettes, is prohibited in the Museum or near the entrances," the visitor guideline reads.

In addition to the safety of the partygoers, this rule protects the priceless art inside the exhibit as well.

Attendees must sit in assigned seats at the Met Gala

Seating is thoughtfully arranged for the exclusive affair, with expert party planner Eaddy Kiernan in charge.

“We start with a seating document when the names come together in December,” she previously toldVogue.

While she says the "actual seating chart" doesn't come together until about a month before the gala, the early process gives them "a sense for the layout of the room and the flow of the evening.”

Kiernan’s goal is for everyone to have fun, pairing stars who they think "will just get on like a house on fire" and considering what guests will "talk about" if they’re seated next to each other.

"And we try to make sure someone isn’t staring into the eyes of a former flame,” she added.

Since the guest list changes every year, so does the seating chart. “It’s fun for me to look back through them, to see who was invited, who was sitting next to whom," she said. "They’re almost little time capsules of what was going on each year."

Guests must be 18 or older to attend the Met Gala

Met Gala invitees must be 18 or older to attend the event, a rule that was brought to light in May 2018 whenDance MomsalumMaddie ZieglertoldThe Hollywood Reporterthat she "can't go because I'm not old enough" at the time.

“Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination" was the Met Gala theme that year, prompting suspicion over whether the age restriction was in place because of it.

Event organizers told the outlet that it had nothing to do with the theme, rather an executive decision that “it’s not an appropriate event for people under 18.”

Read the original article onPeople

byAndy Corry

in

May 05, 2026

8 Shocking Rules Met Gala Guests Have to Follow

The Met Gala is held annually on the first Monday in May NEED TO KNOW Guests must follow rules at the exclusive ev...

Read More

Olympian Molly Huddle Runs Marathon Six Months Postpartum, Says It Was Something She ‘Needed to Do’ (Exclusive)

Molly Huddle ran a marathon six months postpartum to challenge herself and inspire other mothers

NEED TO KNOW

• Now, she is writing a book offering advice for mothers training through pregnancy and postpartum

• Huddle emphasizes the importance of individualized recovery timelines and balancing motherhood with personal goals

Six months after having her second child, two-time OlympianMolly Huddlecrossed the finish line atEvery Woman's Marathon.

For Huddle, 41, completing the race was something she felt she needed to do for herself and, by extension, for other women.

Now, Huddle is working on a book specifically for mothers, where she talks to experts such as pelvic health physical therapists, nutritionists, mental health counselors and researchers studying female athletes who train through pregnancy and postpartum, to offer advice on training.

"They all say it's difficult to advise because it's complex what happens to you in pregnancy and postpartum, and it's very individualized too, like how quickly you can come back or what issues you might face, given what kind of birth you had, what kind of athlete you are, so many things," Huddle tells PEOPLE. "I feel like that has been the excuse for why there isn't much [research] out there, and I feel like that's not a great excuse."

One of the reasons she wanted to write a book of helpful tips was because, oftentimes, "pregnancy and postpartum is one of those phases where women walk away from sport."

"Athletes who maybe were running every day or racing or having it in their life in such a positive way, often that's when it drops," the long-distance runner shares. "I hope to provide a resource to help you get through this time more easily because I see how running and sport in general are an enriching part of a woman's life."

Huddle notes that, with all the changes motherhood brings, it's crucial for women to find time for themselves to move their bodies.

"Especially in motherhood, for that to drop, that's the last thing that needs to fall out of your life. I feel like it's a multipurpose, beneficial thing in your life. Working out, exercising and running are such easy ways to do it," she shares.

Her goal, she says, is "to make it simpler for pregnant and postpartum women to keep running."

However, she acknowledges that it can be hard to find time for exercise, as moms are often told to "sleep when the baby sleeps."

"I'm probably running when the baby sleeps. She's in the stroller, and I'm running. Otherwise, when would I do it?" she asks.

While Huddle, who competed in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, was able to get back into running a few months after birth, she emphasizes that it can feel like there's not much "nuance" around timelines.

"I ran this marathon six months postpartum, which I wouldn't say is aspirational," she says. "It may take someone a long time to return to marathon running postpartum. That's a relatively quick timeline."

Advertisement

She notes that "postpartum recovery is too often rushed."

"I wouldn't want anyone to take that into their running recovery, too," she says. "If you're not running a marathon six months postpartum, that is completely normal. It might take a year, it might take a year and a half, but I'm intense, and I'm a professional runner, so for me, it was, like, just something I needed to do."

Mothers, she says, "get a lot of rush signals, bounce back signals," and for Huddle, running the Every Woman's Marathon, presented by Team Milk, was more of a "personal challenge" rather than feeling like she was "trying to bounce back to my old self."

"It was more just, I feel alive when I'm trying to chase something, like a challenge. I like to push myself. That's what this is more about," Huddle affirms.

"I coach some women who are postpartum and training for road races and stuff, and every once in a while, someone will be like, 'I'm frustrated, this isn't going well, or that's not going well.' It'll only have been a couple of months."

Ultimately, she shares that goals are "individual" and "it takes generally longer than that to come back."

Balancing competing and motherhood is always shifting, but the way Huddle looks at it is to pick certain priorities at a time and stick to them. She admits that "a lot of other things are a lot less focused on" when she is training for a marathon — and that is okay. For her most recent race, she wanted her training to be built around her life, rather than the other way around.

"I'm postpartum and trying to take care of myself, and I might have one other work-related thing, like coaching or writing a book, then cleaning and cooking, and maybe things I normally would do for someone fall to the wayside during that season," the mother of two says.

"I'm really letting some things drop so that I can focus on some other things. That's what I did with this," she continues. "Weekends are for my long run, for four or five weeks. So maybe we put aside something else we were gonna do that day, we definitely have a messy house, definitely have a lot of laundry [and] definitely eat chicken nuggets that day. But that's what we did."

"It's the compromises that come in and out, and it's not forever, but that was my approach," Huddle adds.

A race to her is "great to kind of encourage you to make space for that every day."

"Ideally, you do say, 'My health is important, and I have 30 to 60 minutes a day to dedicate to it,' but sometimes, everything stacks up, and it gets squeezed out," she tells PEOPLE. "I'm competitive, so I like to train for racing. So putting a race like Every Woman's Marathon on the schedule made me think, now I have to make a certain amount of time every week to do this. It takes care of so many others, it ticks so many boxes for me anyway."

Read the original article onPeople

byAndy Corry

in

May 05, 2026

Olympian Molly Huddle Runs Marathon Six Months Postpartum, Says It Was Something She ‘Needed to Do’ (Exclusive)

Molly Huddle ran a marathon six months postpartum to challenge herself and inspire other mothers NEED TO KNOW No...

Read More