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One of the more entertaining parts of every Philadelphia Eagles offseason is imagining what might happen once the games begin. They haven't practiced in pads. They haven't won a division title. Still, fans hold on to hope that this could be its year. That's what makes award predictions so much fun.
They aren't about certainty. They're about possibility. The Philadelphia Eagles have no shortage of candidates. Between established stars, emerging playmakers, and one of the league's most accomplished coaching staffs, several members of the organization could find themselves in the postseason awards conversation.
Here's the Eagle most likely to contend for each of the NFL's major honors. Bigger goals are the priority, but sometimes, great individual showings mean a team is on its way to reaching them.
If Saquon Barkley couldn't win the NFL's Most Valuable Player Award after the spectacular season he delivered in 2024, it's difficult to imagine a non-quarterback capturing the honor anytime soon. Whether fans like it or not, the MVP has effectively become a quarterback award, but Jalen Hurts has already proven he belongs in that conversation.
He appeared well on his way to winning the award during the 2022 season before an injury derailed his campaign, and he remained firmly in the discussion late into 2023 before Philadelphia's late-season collapse. A fresh offensive system under Sean Mannion could give Hurts another opportunity to put together the type of season that voters love.
Can Barkley do it again? That's the question surrounding one of the league's most explosive offensive weapons. Here's a vote for 'Yes'. A healthy offensive line and a new offensive coordinator could create even more opportunities for Barkley to touch the football in space.
If Philadelphia leans on him as heavily as expected, another dominant statistical season isn't out of the question. Winning Offensive Player of the Year twice in three seasons would be an incredible accomplishment, but Barkley certainly has the talent to make it happen.
Few defensive players possess Carter's ceiling. Yes, his sack totals have declined in each of his first three NFL seasons. Yes, shoulder injuries appeared to impact portions of last year. Even so, Carter remains the centerpiece of Philadelphia's defense and one of the NFL's most disruptive interior linemen.
There's another interesting detail worth mentioning. Jordan Davis enjoyed arguably the best season of his career and still missed out on a Pro Bowl selection. Carter earned his second consecutive Pro Bowl nod despite what many considered a down year. That says plenty about how coaches, players, and national observers view his talent.
If Carter combines elite production with double-digit sacks, he'll find himself firmly in the Defensive Player of the Year discussion. It's pretty hard to argue against that theory.
Lemon may not begin the season atop the depth chart, but then again, he just might. He appears to have the clearest path among Philadelphia's rookies.
His speed, route-running ability, and big-play potential give him opportunities to make an immediate impact, particularly if injuries or expanded offensive packages increase his role. Second-round tight end Eli Stowers should contribute, but Lemon projects to receive more chances to produce eye-catching numbers.
This may be the one award Philadelphia simply isn't positioned to compete for. The Eagles invested heavily in offensive talent during the 2026 draft and didn't select a defensive player until the seventh round.
Unless someone like Cole Wisniewski delivers one of the most surprising rookie campaigns in franchise history, or undrafted free agent Uar Bernard develops at an extraordinary pace under Clint Hurtt, bringing home Defensive Rookie of the Year would require an unexpected breakout.
Philadelphia arguably has the NFL's best offensive line, and several Eagles could legitimately contend for this honor. Lane Johnson still feels like the safest choice.
Even entering his mid-30s, Johnson continues playing at an elite level when healthy. His consistency, leadership, and reputation across the league make him one of the award's perennial favorites.
This qualifies as a long shot, but Greenard fits the profile. Comeback Player of the Year doesn't always go to someone returning from a major injury.
Sometimes it rewards a player who rebounds from a disappointing season with one that reminds everyone of his elite ability. If Greenard returns to the form that made him one of football's better edge rushers, he'll deserve consideration.
Sirianni may never receive enough credit for what he consistently accomplishes. He's often overlooked because he isn't viewed as one of the league's premier X's-and-O's masterminds.
Instead, he's a CEO-style head coach whose greatest strengths are leadership, culture, and getting the most from his roster. If the Eagles once again finish among the NFL's elite, it may finally become impossible for voters to ignore his résumé.
Vic Fangio probably deserved stronger consideration after what his defense accomplished a season ago. This year, however, the spotlight could shift to Philadelphia's new offensive coordinator.
If Sean Mannion successfully installs a dynamic new offense and helps unlock another level of production from Jalen Hurts and the Eagles' playmakers, he'll quickly become one of the league's rising coaching stars. In an NFL increasingly driven by offensive innovation, that kind of success rarely goes unnoticed.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles who could earn the NFL's major postseason awards
Continue reading...
They aren't about certainty. They're about possibility. The Philadelphia Eagles have no shortage of candidates. Between established stars, emerging playmakers, and one of the league's most accomplished coaching staffs, several members of the organization could find themselves in the postseason awards conversation.
Here's the Eagle most likely to contend for each of the NFL's major honors. Bigger goals are the priority, but sometimes, great individual showings mean a team is on its way to reaching them.
Most Valuable Player — Jalen Hurts
If Saquon Barkley couldn't win the NFL's Most Valuable Player Award after the spectacular season he delivered in 2024, it's difficult to imagine a non-quarterback capturing the honor anytime soon. Whether fans like it or not, the MVP has effectively become a quarterback award, but Jalen Hurts has already proven he belongs in that conversation.
He appeared well on his way to winning the award during the 2022 season before an injury derailed his campaign, and he remained firmly in the discussion late into 2023 before Philadelphia's late-season collapse. A fresh offensive system under Sean Mannion could give Hurts another opportunity to put together the type of season that voters love.
Offensive Player of the Year — Saquon Barkley
Can Barkley do it again? That's the question surrounding one of the league's most explosive offensive weapons. Here's a vote for 'Yes'. A healthy offensive line and a new offensive coordinator could create even more opportunities for Barkley to touch the football in space.
If Philadelphia leans on him as heavily as expected, another dominant statistical season isn't out of the question. Winning Offensive Player of the Year twice in three seasons would be an incredible accomplishment, but Barkley certainly has the talent to make it happen.
Defensive Player of the Year — Jalen Carter
Few defensive players possess Carter's ceiling. Yes, his sack totals have declined in each of his first three NFL seasons. Yes, shoulder injuries appeared to impact portions of last year. Even so, Carter remains the centerpiece of Philadelphia's defense and one of the NFL's most disruptive interior linemen.
There's another interesting detail worth mentioning. Jordan Davis enjoyed arguably the best season of his career and still missed out on a Pro Bowl selection. Carter earned his second consecutive Pro Bowl nod despite what many considered a down year. That says plenty about how coaches, players, and national observers view his talent.
If Carter combines elite production with double-digit sacks, he'll find himself firmly in the Defensive Player of the Year discussion. It's pretty hard to argue against that theory.
Offensive Rookie of the Year — Makai Lemon
Lemon may not begin the season atop the depth chart, but then again, he just might. He appears to have the clearest path among Philadelphia's rookies.
His speed, route-running ability, and big-play potential give him opportunities to make an immediate impact, particularly if injuries or expanded offensive packages increase his role. Second-round tight end Eli Stowers should contribute, but Lemon projects to receive more chances to produce eye-catching numbers.
Defensive Rookie of the Year — No clear candidate
This may be the one award Philadelphia simply isn't positioned to compete for. The Eagles invested heavily in offensive talent during the 2026 draft and didn't select a defensive player until the seventh round.
Unless someone like Cole Wisniewski delivers one of the most surprising rookie campaigns in franchise history, or undrafted free agent Uar Bernard develops at an extraordinary pace under Clint Hurtt, bringing home Defensive Rookie of the Year would require an unexpected breakout.
Protector of the Year — Lane Johnson
Philadelphia arguably has the NFL's best offensive line, and several Eagles could legitimately contend for this honor. Lane Johnson still feels like the safest choice.
Even entering his mid-30s, Johnson continues playing at an elite level when healthy. His consistency, leadership, and reputation across the league make him one of the award's perennial favorites.
Comeback Player of the Year — Jonathan Greenard
This qualifies as a long shot, but Greenard fits the profile. Comeback Player of the Year doesn't always go to someone returning from a major injury.
Sometimes it rewards a player who rebounds from a disappointing season with one that reminds everyone of his elite ability. If Greenard returns to the form that made him one of football's better edge rushers, he'll deserve consideration.
NFL Coach of the Year — Nick Sirianni
Sirianni may never receive enough credit for what he consistently accomplishes. He's often overlooked because he isn't viewed as one of the league's premier X's-and-O's masterminds.
Instead, he's a CEO-style head coach whose greatest strengths are leadership, culture, and getting the most from his roster. If the Eagles once again finish among the NFL's elite, it may finally become impossible for voters to ignore his résumé.
NFL Assistant Coach of the Year — Sean Mannion
Vic Fangio probably deserved stronger consideration after what his defense accomplished a season ago. This year, however, the spotlight could shift to Philadelphia's new offensive coordinator.
If Sean Mannion successfully installs a dynamic new offense and helps unlock another level of production from Jalen Hurts and the Eagles' playmakers, he'll quickly become one of the league's rising coaching stars. In an NFL increasingly driven by offensive innovation, that kind of success rarely goes unnoticed.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles who could earn the NFL's major postseason awards
Continue reading...
