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The Eagles saw a host of veteran players depart, Kevin Patullo was fired, and Jeff Stoutland departed the organization after developing the offensive line into the NFL's best. On defense, Christian Parker took the Dallas defensive coordinator job, while Reed Blankenship, Nakobe Dean, and Jaelan Phillips took big-money deals to depart Philadelphia.
With the changes, the Eagles spent the offseason reshaping portions of the roster while transitioning into a new offensive structure under Sean Mannion and continuing the defensive evolution under Vic Fangio.
Some changes were dramatic.
Others were subtle but equally important.
From personnel departures to schematic adjustments and depth-chart openings, several returning veterans now enter the 2026 season in significantly improved situations compared to where they stood at the end of last year.
Here are five Eagles veterans who appear positioned to benefit most from Philadelphia's offseason changes.
Few players may benefit more from Sean Mannion's arrival than Goedert.
The Eagles are expected to incorporate more under-center concepts, expanded play action, and additional motion into their offense, all staples of systems associated with the Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan coaching trees. Tight ends traditionally play major roles inside those offenses, particularly versatile players capable of blocking in-line while also creating mismatches down the seam. Goedert still remains one of the NFL's most complete tight ends when healthy.
Philadelphia's offensive transition should create more opportunities for him both in the middle of the field and in the red zone, where the Eagles already ranked among the league's best offenses last season. With A.J. Brown expected to depart, Goedert's target share could increase even further.
Wilson quietly enters one of the more important offseasons on the roster. After missing all of last season, the massive receiver already worked with portions of the first-team offense during organized team activities and appears positioned for a legitimate opportunity within Philadelphia's reshaped receiver room. Brown's expected departure dramatically alters the depth chart.
While first-round rookie Makai Lemon and veteran additions Hollywood Brown and Dontayvion Wicks will command attention, Wilson offers something unique physically because of his size and catch radius. Philadelphia's evolving offense could also create more opportunities for bigger receivers operating out of condensed formations and motion packages.
Wilson no longer feels buried on the roster.
Opportunity has arrived for Trotter. The Eagles lost Nakobe Dean during the offseason, while rookie Jihaad Campbell continues recovering from shoulder surgery that could limit portions of his offseason preparation. Those developments create valuable early reps and developmental opportunities for Trotter entering training camp.
Philadelphia still expects Zack Baun and Campbell to headline the linebacker room eventually, but Trotter now enters a significantly more competitive depth-chart situation than he faced a year ago.
The third-year linebacker also benefits from continuity inside Fangio's defense.
Understanding the scheme, communication structure, and expectations should allow Trotter to play faster this season, particularly as the Eagles continue evaluating rotational linebacker combinations throughout the offseason.
Epps returns to Philadelphia, entering a much different secondary structure than the one he previously left.
The Eagles now possess greater versatility throughout the defensive backfield, particularly with Cooper DeJean expected to spend substantial time at safety and in the slot. That alignment creates additional flexibility for players like Epps, who may no longer need to handle every responsibility traditionally associated with a deep safety role.
During OTAs, Epps already appeared positioned for a meaningful competition with Michael Carter II, depending on how Fangio deploys various personnel groupings. The familiarity with Philadelphia's culture and defensive expectations should also help Epps transition quickly back into the system.
With Fangio prioritizing interchangeable defensive backs who can disguise coverages and rotate responsibilities post-snap, Epps could become an important stabilizing veteran presence.
Bigsby may quietly become one of the offense's more valuable rotational pieces.
Philadelphia's expected increase in under-center formations and downhill rushing concepts naturally fits Bigsby's physical running style. The Eagles are expected to continue featuring Saquon Barkley heavily, but the offense's structural changes could also create more opportunities for complementary runners capable of handling early-down work and physical carries. Bigsby offers exactly that profile.
The veteran also benefits from the Eagles' likely desire to better manage Barkley's workload after another physically demanding season. Philadelphia understands it must preserve Barkley for late-season football, and that creates opportunities for secondary backs throughout the regular season. Within Mannion's offense, Bigsby could carve out a much larger role than many initially expected.
The Eagles remain one of the NFL's deepest rosters, but offseason changes inevitably create new opportunities across the depth chart.
For veterans like Goedert, Wilson, Trotter, Epps, and Bigsby, the combination of roster turnover, schematic evolution, and increased opportunity may ultimately position them for some of their most important seasons yet in Philadelphia.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Five Eagles positioned to thrive after offseason overhaul
Continue reading...
With the changes, the Eagles spent the offseason reshaping portions of the roster while transitioning into a new offensive structure under Sean Mannion and continuing the defensive evolution under Vic Fangio.
Some changes were dramatic.
Others were subtle but equally important.
From personnel departures to schematic adjustments and depth-chart openings, several returning veterans now enter the 2026 season in significantly improved situations compared to where they stood at the end of last year.
Here are five Eagles veterans who appear positioned to benefit most from Philadelphia's offseason changes.
1. Dallas Goedert, tight end
Few players may benefit more from Sean Mannion's arrival than Goedert.
The Eagles are expected to incorporate more under-center concepts, expanded play action, and additional motion into their offense, all staples of systems associated with the Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan coaching trees. Tight ends traditionally play major roles inside those offenses, particularly versatile players capable of blocking in-line while also creating mismatches down the seam. Goedert still remains one of the NFL's most complete tight ends when healthy.
Philadelphia's offensive transition should create more opportunities for him both in the middle of the field and in the red zone, where the Eagles already ranked among the league's best offenses last season. With A.J. Brown expected to depart, Goedert's target share could increase even further.
2. Johnny Wilson, wide receiver
Wilson quietly enters one of the more important offseasons on the roster. After missing all of last season, the massive receiver already worked with portions of the first-team offense during organized team activities and appears positioned for a legitimate opportunity within Philadelphia's reshaped receiver room. Brown's expected departure dramatically alters the depth chart.
While first-round rookie Makai Lemon and veteran additions Hollywood Brown and Dontayvion Wicks will command attention, Wilson offers something unique physically because of his size and catch radius. Philadelphia's evolving offense could also create more opportunities for bigger receivers operating out of condensed formations and motion packages.
Wilson no longer feels buried on the roster.
3. Jeremiah Trotter Jr., linebacker
Opportunity has arrived for Trotter. The Eagles lost Nakobe Dean during the offseason, while rookie Jihaad Campbell continues recovering from shoulder surgery that could limit portions of his offseason preparation. Those developments create valuable early reps and developmental opportunities for Trotter entering training camp.
Philadelphia still expects Zack Baun and Campbell to headline the linebacker room eventually, but Trotter now enters a significantly more competitive depth-chart situation than he faced a year ago.
The third-year linebacker also benefits from continuity inside Fangio's defense.
Understanding the scheme, communication structure, and expectations should allow Trotter to play faster this season, particularly as the Eagles continue evaluating rotational linebacker combinations throughout the offseason.
4. Marcus Epps, safety
Epps returns to Philadelphia, entering a much different secondary structure than the one he previously left.
The Eagles now possess greater versatility throughout the defensive backfield, particularly with Cooper DeJean expected to spend substantial time at safety and in the slot. That alignment creates additional flexibility for players like Epps, who may no longer need to handle every responsibility traditionally associated with a deep safety role.
During OTAs, Epps already appeared positioned for a meaningful competition with Michael Carter II, depending on how Fangio deploys various personnel groupings. The familiarity with Philadelphia's culture and defensive expectations should also help Epps transition quickly back into the system.
With Fangio prioritizing interchangeable defensive backs who can disguise coverages and rotate responsibilities post-snap, Epps could become an important stabilizing veteran presence.
5. Tank Bigsby, running back
Bigsby may quietly become one of the offense's more valuable rotational pieces.
Philadelphia's expected increase in under-center formations and downhill rushing concepts naturally fits Bigsby's physical running style. The Eagles are expected to continue featuring Saquon Barkley heavily, but the offense's structural changes could also create more opportunities for complementary runners capable of handling early-down work and physical carries. Bigsby offers exactly that profile.
The veteran also benefits from the Eagles' likely desire to better manage Barkley's workload after another physically demanding season. Philadelphia understands it must preserve Barkley for late-season football, and that creates opportunities for secondary backs throughout the regular season. Within Mannion's offense, Bigsby could carve out a much larger role than many initially expected.
The Eagles remain one of the NFL's deepest rosters, but offseason changes inevitably create new opportunities across the depth chart.
For veterans like Goedert, Wilson, Trotter, Epps, and Bigsby, the combination of roster turnover, schematic evolution, and increased opportunity may ultimately position them for some of their most important seasons yet in Philadelphia.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Five Eagles positioned to thrive after offseason overhaul
Continue reading...
