Eagles meet with a two-sport star who's a First-Team All-American

Every year at the NFL Scouting Combine, there is at least one or two prospects at every position who make you and the Philadelphia Eagles lean forward a little more than the others. That isn't always because they have blazing 40 times. It isn't always necessarily because of viral clips or highlights. Sometimes, it happens because the résumé reads differently.

Welcome to a conversation about former Oregon Ducks standout Bryce Boettcher. A two-time Second-team All-Big Ten nod (2024, 2025), he won the Burlsworth Trophy in 2024. That's an honor given to the most outstanding FBS college football player who began his career as a walk-on.

In 2025, he was also named a First-team All-American. He's a defensive tone-setter. Oh, and by the way, he's also a legitimate pro baseball talent. Boettcher was selected in the 13th round of the 2024 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros as a center fielder. That's proof that his athleticism isn't just football fast. It's a track-the-ball-over-your-shoulder skill set for someone who is also and close-on-a-gap-in-a-hurry fast.

According to reports out of Indianapolis, Boettcher has met informally with both the San Francisco 49ers and the Eagles. That alone makes his name worth circling.

Oregon LB, Bryce Boettcher, who was drafted in the 13th round of the 2024 MLB Draft as a center fielder has met informally with the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles.

Boettcher also met with the Niners at the Senior Bowl. #49ers#Eaglespic.twitter.com/hfDeUF2JLA

— Chase Senior (@Chase_Senior) February 25, 2026

Might the Eagles show Bryce Boettcher some serious interest?

Let's address the elephant in the room. The Oregon-to-Philadelphia pipeline hasn't exactly produced glowing returns. Casey Matthews never fully found his footing in midnight green. Kiko Alonso is best remembered as theguy Chip Kelly shipped LeSean McCoy off to acquire.

Both tenures are remembered more for inconsistency and infamous on-field moments than for sustained impact. So yes, Eagles fans are allowed to be skeptical when the Ducks label pops up, but that's hardly a reason to hold anything against Boettcher.

Here's the mature take. Helmets don't make players. Traits do. Boettcher brings range, closing speed, and the kind of multi-sport competitiveness that usually translates to special teams value at minimum and defensive upside at best.

In today's NFL, linebackers who can run and cover ground are in demand. Add baseball instincts, tracking angles, body control, and reaction time, and you have a developmental piece with real intrigue.

Is this a Day 1 headline selection? The truth is, he probably isn't, but these are the types of prospects smart teams quietly stack.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: NFL Combine: Eagles met with Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher