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Ask around, and most Philadelphia Eagles fans will eventually steer the conversation toward the safety position if the topic shifts to roster concerns. That's understandable. There are legitimate questions there. What if everyone is looking in the wrong place? Or, perhaps more accurately, what if another position group deserves a little more attention than it's receiving?
The Eagles' offensive line has earned the benefit of the doubt for years. That's what happens when an organization consistently develops elite talent in the trenches. Philadelphia has become so good up front that many simply assume everything will work itself out. Who knows? Maybe it will, but then again, maybe it won't.
The starting five inspires confidence. Jordan Mailata has developed into one of the NFL's premier left tackles. Lane Johnson continues building a resume that should eventually land him in Canton. Landon Dickerson remains one of the league's best guards when healthy. Cam Jurgens has proven he belongs, and Tyler Steen appears ready to settle into a full-time starting role. That's a strong group. The concern begins when looking behind them.
Johnson is entering Year 14 and recently turned 36. While he continues performing at a high level, signs of mortality have appeared from time to time. No player beats Father Time forever. The Eagles seem aware of that reality.
That's why they invested the 68th overall pick in Markel Bell. The problem is that Bell has yet to play a single NFL snap. Neither has sixth-round rookie Micah Morris. Bell is also the only member of the 2026 draft class who is still unsigned.
The same can largely be said for recent investments elsewhere. Drew Kendall, Myles Hinton, and Cameron Williams all arrived as 2025 draft picks. Combined, they've accounted for zero offensive snaps. Kendall logged 18 special teams snaps last season. Williams added three more. That's it as far as production Philadelphia has bodies. What it doesn't have is proven depth. Fred Johnson remains the most experienced reserve, with 1,871 offensive snaps and another 303 on special teams.
Beyond him, the Eagles are relying heavily on projection. Jake Majors, Willie Lampkin, Hollin Pierce, John Ojukwu, and Jaeden Roberts all represent interesting developmental pieces, but most remain largely unknown commodities.
That's where the conversation becomes interesting. The Eagles don't necessarily need another starter. Their first unit stacks up well against anyone in football. What they may need are answers and in-depth pieces. Dickerson and Jurgens have both battled injuries throughout their careers. Johnson isn't getting younger. Offensive line depth can feel unimportant right up until the moment it becomes the most important thing on the roster.
Philadelphia's front office deserves credit for thinking ahead. Bell appears to be the heir apparent at right tackle. Several young linemen possess intriguing upside. Still, upside and proven production aren't the same thing.
The Eagles have assembled plenty of offensive linemen. Whether they've assembled enough reliable offensive-line depth is a question that may not be answered until adversity inevitably arrives. That's what makes this one of the more quietly important storylines to monitor throughout training camp and the regular season.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles offensive line depth is thinner than many realize in 2026
Continue reading...
The Eagles' offensive line has earned the benefit of the doubt for years. That's what happens when an organization consistently develops elite talent in the trenches. Philadelphia has become so good up front that many simply assume everything will work itself out. Who knows? Maybe it will, but then again, maybe it won't.
The Eagles have talent up front, but depth remains a mystery
The starting five inspires confidence. Jordan Mailata has developed into one of the NFL's premier left tackles. Lane Johnson continues building a resume that should eventually land him in Canton. Landon Dickerson remains one of the league's best guards when healthy. Cam Jurgens has proven he belongs, and Tyler Steen appears ready to settle into a full-time starting role. That's a strong group. The concern begins when looking behind them.
Johnson is entering Year 14 and recently turned 36. While he continues performing at a high level, signs of mortality have appeared from time to time. No player beats Father Time forever. The Eagles seem aware of that reality.
That's why they invested the 68th overall pick in Markel Bell. The problem is that Bell has yet to play a single NFL snap. Neither has sixth-round rookie Micah Morris. Bell is also the only member of the 2026 draft class who is still unsigned.
The same can largely be said for recent investments elsewhere. Drew Kendall, Myles Hinton, and Cameron Williams all arrived as 2025 draft picks. Combined, they've accounted for zero offensive snaps. Kendall logged 18 special teams snaps last season. Williams added three more. That's it as far as production Philadelphia has bodies. What it doesn't have is proven depth. Fred Johnson remains the most experienced reserve, with 1,871 offensive snaps and another 303 on special teams.
Beyond him, the Eagles are relying heavily on projection. Jake Majors, Willie Lampkin, Hollin Pierce, John Ojukwu, and Jaeden Roberts all represent interesting developmental pieces, but most remain largely unknown commodities.
That's where the conversation becomes interesting. The Eagles don't necessarily need another starter. Their first unit stacks up well against anyone in football. What they may need are answers and in-depth pieces. Dickerson and Jurgens have both battled injuries throughout their careers. Johnson isn't getting younger. Offensive line depth can feel unimportant right up until the moment it becomes the most important thing on the roster.
Philadelphia's front office deserves credit for thinking ahead. Bell appears to be the heir apparent at right tackle. Several young linemen possess intriguing upside. Still, upside and proven production aren't the same thing.
The Eagles have assembled plenty of offensive linemen. Whether they've assembled enough reliable offensive-line depth is a question that may not be answered until adversity inevitably arrives. That's what makes this one of the more quietly important storylines to monitor throughout training camp and the regular season.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles offensive line depth is thinner than many realize in 2026
Continue reading...
