After the congratulatory hugs, picture posing and victory lap, Yan Diomande pointed to the sky.
It was unclear whether the Ivory Coast forward was thinking of his departed sister or just his country’s unprecedented accomplishment in the World Cup as he exited the field at Philadelphia Stadium following a 2-0 win over Curaçao on Thursday.
But surely it was a moment of emotion for the 19-year-old wunderkind.
Diomande’s arrival in the international consciousness of soccer took another step after the Ivory Coast advanced to the knockout stage of the tournament for the first time, ever. He might not have been Player of the Match — that honor was reserved for teammate Nicolas Pépé, who scored both goals — but Diomande assisted on the first and produced other chances.
The cutout of Yan Diomande (far right), is on display as (right to left) Yed Anikpo, of Ivory Coast, is with his family Jude, 13, Zeke, 9, and Eden, 14 at Thursday’s Ivory Coast-Curaçao match.
He will get at least one more opportunity to represent his homeland when Ivory Coast faces Norway in the round of 32 on Tuesday in Dallas. Philly, though, will be remembered as where Diomande first launched his star in America, especially for casuals who haven’t followed his meteoric rise over the last two years.
Most hardcore fans have been aware of the former United States high school athlete for some time. He was Rookie of the Season in the German Bundesliga playing for RB Leipzig, where he scored 12 goals and had nine assists last season.
And he’s been one of the most sought-after signings this offseason with powerhouse European clubs like Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich reportedly in pursuit. Diomande might not be a household name here, but the New York-based Roc Nation is his agency.
Rapper Jay-Z, Roc Nation’s founder, attended Ivory Coast’s first fixture of group play at Philadelphia Stadium, normally known as Lincoln Financial Field, in support of his client. Diomande dominated that game — a 1-0 victory over Ecuador on June 14 — from both wings.
On Thursday, five days after Ivory Coast suffered a late, gut-punching 2-1 loss to Germany, the forward played exclusively on the left flank. Diomande needed only minutes to make his presence felt. Gifted a Curaçao turnover, he penetrated along the end line and found Pepe in front for a one-touch goal in the 7th minute.
Diomande continued to be problematic when he dribbled at defenders. His combination of speed, agility, and power forced Curaçao to send multiple defenders his way. And yet, he still created the most chances (3) by the half.
Pépé’s second goal came in the 64th minute when he received a pass just inside the box and ripped a left-footer past keeper Eloy Room. Three minutes later, Diomande was subbed off, likely to preserve him for next week.
Yan Diomande (left) has put on a show in his pair of appearances with the Ivory Coast in Philadelphia.
Diomande has been playing with a heavy heart. A year ago, his 15-year-old sister, Roxane, died back home after her drink was spiked. Diomande penned an emotional open letter to his sister in The Players’ Tribune upon his return to the U.S. for the World Cup.
“I don’t feel anything. It’s like I’m not even human,” he wrote. “Since you died, I’m just blank.”
Diomande has, if anything, been the opposite on the pitch. In fact, that’s exactly how Ivory Coast native Lucas Droh described him before the match as he and his older brother, Pacome, tailgated in the lot outside Xfinity Mobile Arena.
“He’s expressive,” Lucas, 32, said. “He plays happy and with an imagination.”
10/10 – 🇨🇮 Yan Diomande is the only player this century to do the following across his first three FIFA World Cup games:
The Drohs, along with cousin Kevin Gnako, traveled from Charleston, S.C., to watch Diomande and Les Éléphants play on Thursday. They are from Abidjan, the largest city in the West African nation, and emigrated to the United States 15 years ago after their mother married.
Diomande is also from Abidjan. He wrote about his impoverished childhood and how he wore plastic sandals to play because his family couldn’t afford cleats. When he was finally given proper footwear, he wore them to bed, although he said that he still dons the sandals when he’s home.
“He’s from the streets,” Lucas said. “He grew up poor, so he’s hungry.”
At 15, Diomande relocated to the U.S. and ended up at DME Sports Academy in Florida. He had a short stint in the United Premier Soccer League and drew attention from MLS clubs, but Europe beckoned.
English Premier League teams like Chelsea, Bournemouth, and Crystal Palace, along with clubs in other countries, tried Diomande out. But it was Leganes in Spain that signed him in 2024. Just before he made his debut against Real Madrid, the former squad of his hero, Cristiano Ronaldo, he found out Roxane had died.
Côte D’Ivoire supporters take pictures with 19 year-old Yan Diomandé in stands after the match in Philadelphia, the shining star of the tournament so far for Les Éléphants 🐘🇨🇮 pic.twitter.com/9OfhcfOcIw
“I never got any answers. I don’t know if I want to know why,” Diomande wrote in the letter to his sister. “Maybe it was jealousy. Maybe it’s just something that happens in our country. Maybe I could have protected you. I don’t know.”
Diomande said that he doesn’t care about playing for money, and that he wants to use his success “to show the whole world” what Roxane saw in him, and that every time he scores, “I’ll make sure everybody knows your name.”
He has yet to score here, but goals are forthcoming, just like fame and fortune. While Liverpool reportedly balked at Leipzig’s initial price tag, Diomande could ultimately fetch close to €100 million.
In the meantime, he’s focused on the World Cup. Ivory Coast failed to qualify in 2022 and 2018, but it’s trying to recapture the glow of the early-to-mid 2000s when Didier Drogba, Yaya and Kolo Touré wore the orange in three appearances. As talented as those lineups were, they never got out of the group stage.
The Droh brothers and Gnako touted this version of Les Éléphants, which had knocked off France, 2-1, in a tune-up friendly earlier this month.
In the backdrop of an impressive performance in this World Cup from the Ivory Coast’s Yan Diomande is the heartbreak at the passing of his younger sister, Roxane.
“We didn’t lose a friendly coming in,” Pacome said. “The Elephant is going to do some stomping.”
Ivory Coast will likely have to ride Diomande if they are to advance. Pépé (Villareal), forward Ange-Yoan Bonny (Inter Milan), and midfielder Ibrahim Sangare (Nottingham Forest) are formidable and among many on the roster who play for European clubs.
But Diomande has been dubbed the second coming for his country.
“That’s the next Drogba. Everybody wants him now,” Pacome Droh said. “But he’ll always be ours.”
New Eagles edge rusher Jonathan Greenard met the media Saturday.
As the newest Eagles edge rusher, Greenard expressed an understanding that he isn’t just representing the current group. He emphasized his admiration for the players of the past, including Brandon Graham, Chris Long, Derek Barnett, and Josh Sweat, who have set the standard for the newcomers.
“I respect the hell out of the guys that have come before me, and all I can do is continue to just carry that light and make sure the things they’ve done in the past doesn’t go in vain,” Greenard said. “So I love everything about it. I love the historic franchise. I’m wanting to be a part of that.
“I want to be a part of having some hardware on my finger.”
Still rehabbing, Greenard thinks he could play today
Football has been on the back burner for the last several months as new Eagles edge rusher Jonathan Greenard recovered from season-ending left shoulder surgery in December. The injury limited him to just 12 games in 2025. Greenard said he is still rehabbing, but he is making progress.
“They don’t want me to say it, but if we had to play, I could play,” Greenard said. “But ultimately, man, I feel good. I’m in a good spot, and coming here with the best trainers as well, and the best docs here, stuff like that, I know I’m in good hands.”
As he gets back on football field in 2026, Greenard will look to return to the Pro Bowl form he achieved in 2024, his first season with the Vikings. That year, he registered 12 sacks, four forced fumbles, three pass breakups, and 18 tackles for a loss.
But the Steelers may have been violating a league rule.
They weren’t on the clock until pick No. 21, and were apparently unaware the Eagles jumped in front of them and traded with Dallas for pick No. 20.
Former Eagles executive turned consultant Jake Rosenberg pointed out on X Friday that “clubs that are not ‘on the clock’ may have discussions with the representative of one or more draft-eligible players not yet selected (or discussion with the players themselves) regarding the player’s interest in playing in the League, playing with a particular club or type of club, the player’s health, or other such non-financial matters, so long as these discussions do not interfere with discussions between a player and the club that is ‘on the clock.’”
According to Pro Football Talk, that is the correct interpretation of the rule, and PFT reached out to the NFL about the rule. “The league reviews all aspects of the Draft the week after its conclusion,” the NFL told PFT in a statement.
It’s unclear of course if the league will do anything about the phone call, of course, or just chalk it up to an simple mistake. It certainly made for embarrassing opening night for Pittsburgh, the draft’s host city.
The Eagles got their guy, and the Steelers had to settle for Arizona State tackle Max Iheanachor.
Penn State Nittany Lions offensive lineman Drew Shelton is headed to the Cowboys.
Drew Shelton, a two-year starter at Penn State and a Downingtown West graduate, was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys 112th overall in the fourth round of the NFL draft.
Shelton, who succeeded Jets offensive linemen Olu Fashanu at left tackle beginning in the 2024 season, becomes the second consecutive Downingtown West graduate to get drafted. Will Howard was selected by the Steelers in the sixth round of last year’s draft.
Leading up to the draft, Shelton was training in Dallas with Duke Manyweather, the offensive line guru and the cofounder of OL Masterminds with Lane Johnson.
Now, he will have an opportunity to return at least once a year when Dallas travels to Philly for one of two matchups inside of the NFC East.
Eagles center Jason Kelce (left), offensive tackle Jordan Mailata (second from left), and running back Kenny Gainwell (right) were all Day 3 picks.
The Eagles only have three remaining picks on Saturday — for now — and they’re not on the lock until pick No. 178, but this day has historically brought them some important players.
To be sure, some not-so-good players, too. And only having three picks makes it a little less statistically likely they have a high hit rate on the Day 3 class in 2026.
But in case you need some reminding, here are some of Howie Roseman’s best Day 3 picks:
C Jason Kelce: The Eagles picked the future Hall of Fame center at No. 191 (sixth round), helping save an otherwise bad 2011 draft class that started with Danny Watkins, the first-round firefighter, and second-round pick Jaiquawn Jarrett.
LT Jordan Mailata: Mailata had never played American football before the Eagles selected him in the seventh round in 2018. He’s now one of the steadiest left tackles in football, and part of arguably the best Eagles draft class under Roseman.
DT Moro Ojomo: Ojomo is another seventh-round steal, this one in 2023. Ojomo has turned into a productive interior defensive lineman who likely will earn a nice paycheck in free agency after this season.
DE Josh Sweat: Sweat, a fourth-round pick in that 2018 class, had a strong argument for Super Bowl MVP two seasons ago.
CB Jalen Mills: Another seventh-round pick, Mills helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl.
There are some notable honorable mentions, too: Kenneth Gainwell; Tanner McKee; Avonte Maddox; Beau Allen; Grant Calcaterra; and more.
Greenard got his first taste of Philly at Sixers game: ‘It’s different up here’
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard jogs off the field after an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
New Eagles edge rusher Jonathan Greenard has never played at Lincoln Financial Field, but he got a taste of Philadelphia fans during Friday night’s Sixers playoff game at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
“They lost, but that was a crazy environment,” Greenard said. “I was just at the Hawks game back home in Georgia. Looking at that and comparing the two, I was just like, man, this environment was way, way, way better. No disrespect to them. Ultimately, man, it’s different up here. They take pride in it. They take pride in everything they do. It’s a blue collar city. When you work your tail off, everything is going to be rewarded back to you. They’re just passionate, and I love that.
“Ultimately, they want one thing. And why not? We want the same thing. I carry that chip on my shoulder. I respect the hell out of this city, respect the hell out of this [organization], and I just definitely understand what putting this jersey on, putting this helmet on, actually means to this city. And I’m going to take pride in that.”
How Jonathan Greenard sees himself fitting on Eagles defense
The Eagles introduced their new edge rusher, Jonathan Greenard, Saturday morning, just over 12 hours after acquiring him from the Vikings for a pair of third round picks.
So what does he think of the defense already in place? And how does he see himself fitting alongside the team’s current front seven?
“If you look at it across the board, they’ve got some dogs,” Greenard said of the Eagles current defensive front. “Already, you start interior-wise, [Moro] Ojomo and obviously J.C. [Jalen Carter] and J.D. [Jordan Davis], they’re going to do their things. On the edge guys, it’s such a young presence and guys who are just relentless. I feel like that’s where I can add to it, just like a vet presence. You’ve got Nolan [Smith] already doing his thing and elevating his game, and Jalyx [Hunt] as well. …
“All these guys are just hungry, and I think that adding my little expertise, and then still bringing my relentless energy and my effort to the game and polishing up my techniques — because I’m still learning too. Even though I’m a vet, I still feel like I’ve got a long way to go polishing up my technique. But just adding to what has already been put here is something I want to bring to the table. I’m not going to change anything up, change anything about what I do myself, just going to play ball and keep doing what I’ve done since I’ve been in the league.”
Former Eagles receiver coached Eli Stowers in college
As a first-year coach I had the honor of working with @eli_stowers3 every day. Coaching is easy when your players possess his level of athleticism, intelligence, and playmaking ability. AND he’s an even better person. @Eagles fans, you’re going to LOVE him! pic.twitter.com/xvsBQ8aasH
The Eagles enter the third and final day of the draft with three picks, at least for now. Here’s a look at their picks:
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With only three picks, what’s the Eagles plan for Day 3?
Eagles GM Howie Roseman has been active during the NFL draft.
On Day 3 of the draft, Howie Roseman has said in the past he is looking for players with unique traits who can develop into starters.
But as it currently stands, the Eagles are set to take fewer swings at identifying those future starters on the draft’s final day. Roseman has just three picks at his disposal — Round 5, No. 178, Round 6, No. 197, and Round 7, No. 244. He traded 2026 picks away to move up for Makai Lemon and to acquire Jonathan Greenard from the Minnesota Vikings and Dontayvion Wicks from the Green Bay Packers.
Roseman considers Greenard and Wicks to be exploits of this draft, even though they are veterans. Still, Roseman expressed a sense of longing for his since-departed Day 3 picks.
“It stinks,” Roseman said on Friday night. “We have a great meeting tomorrow morning where everyone has passion players on Day 3. Not picking in the fourth round hurts, but I think that when we look at what we’ve done and the players that we added overall, we’ll get through those couple hours and be excited about the guys we have and the opportunities that we have tomorrow to add some players.”
What are the Eagles’ remaining needs?
On Day 3, the likelihood that the Eagles will be addressing immediate roster needs are slim. Instead, as mentioned above, they’ll attempt to identify players with starting upside.
Still, the biggest question mark among the starting jobs is at safety alongside Drew Mukuba. Michael Carter and Marcus Epps are the likely contenders for the gig, but could the Eagles add a competitor to the mix, either through the draft or via trade?
While the Eagles added a tackle in the third round on Friday in Markel Bell, they likely aren’t finished adding to the offensive line. Last year, the Eagles went into training camp with 17 offensive linemen. As the roster currently stands, they have 13. One noteworthy deficiency is guard depth behind Landon Dickerson and Tyler Steen.
The Eagles will also add a quarterback at some point before training camp. Typically, the team carries four quarterbacks on the 90-man roster. The room currently stands at three with Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, and Andy Dalton.
Additionally, the Eagles have four running backs on the roster in Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley, and Dameon Pierce. Last year, they went into training camp with seven.
Bowry, the 6-foot-5, 314-pounder, was a two-year starter at left tackle at Boston College. He is heralded for his athleticism at the position, as evidenced by his 5.08 40-yard dash (80th percentile) and his 34.5-inch vertical jump (96th percentile). Bowry could be better suited for guard at the next level given his size, although he did not play the position in college.
RB Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
Could the Eagles add another running back from Penn State? According to PennLive, Singleton took a pre-draft visit to the Eagles. While the top of the team’s depth chart is set with Barkley and Bigsby, Singleton could still compete for a role with Shipley and Pierce. Singleton had an underwhelming 2025 season and broke a bone in his foot at the Senior Bowl, hence his availability on Day 3. But he was stellar in 2024 as a junior, eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards.
DB Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina
Kilgore, 6-1, 210, is a versatile defensive back who primarily played at nickel throughout his three seasons at South Carolina. Over the last two seasons in particular, he had excellent ball production, combining for seven interceptions and 15 pass breakups in that span. Those skills combined with his elite athleticism (4.4 40-yard dash) should be enticing to a team like the Eagles in search of a prospective starting safety.
Howie Roseman explains Eagles’ moves on ‘eventful’ Day 2
The Eagles acquired edge rusher Jonathan Greenard from the Vikings Friday night.
Jonathan Greenard, edge rusher
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman sat at the podium Friday night after what he called an “eventful” Day 2 of the 2026 NFL draft.
The Birds made two draft picks, but the bigger move was acquiring Minnesota edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, who the Eagles signed to a four-year deal worth $100 million.
“There wasn’t a game that we didn’t watch of his, and what you see is a relentless player,” Roseman said. “We just felt like we had a really good D-line but we wanted to elevate it.
“It really made sense with where our football team was to acquire the player.”
Markel Bell, offensive lineman
Roseman called 6-foot-9 tackle Markel Bell, the Eagles’ third-round pick, a “passion player” throughout the draft process.
The Eagles selected Bell with the 68th pick. He has rare size at the position and didn’t allow a sack in 2025. Roseman said he wondered what might happen if the 21-year-old Bell went back to college for another year. As in, he probably would be a more sought-after prospect next draft cycle.
“Really, when you watch the tape, he is hard to get around in pass protection,” Roseman said. “This was a guy that’s hard to find.”
Eli Stowers, tight end
Stowers, a first-team All-American, had 62 receptions for 769 yards and four touchdowns with the Commodores. The 6-foot-4, 239-pound native of Texas is a former quarterback who has played tight end for just three seasons after beginning his college career at Texas A&M as a quarterback.
Shoulder injuries made it so that Stowers “couldn’t throw the ball the same,” he said. He transferred to New Mexico State, where he competed with Diego Pavia for the starting quarterback job. Pavia won, but Stowers went into offensive coordinator Tim Beck’s office and told him he’d do “anything” to get on the field, he said.
He transitioned to tight end, went with Pavia and the coaching staff to Vanderbilt, and has excelled.
“I think it’s exciting that he has only played the position for a short time,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “We’ve done a ton of homework on the guy, obviously. Great character guy. High football IQ having played quarterback. Those guys continue to develop, and excited to work with him because he’s got a lot of room to improve.”
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler said “Stowers will need to prove himself as a serviceable blocker at the NFL level, but he is explosive as a pass catcher, and I love the way he maximizes his catch radius. He has mismatch-creating potential and can eventually develop into an NFL starter.”
The NFL’s 2026 free agency period is ongoing — even as the lion’s share of the league’s headline-grabbing signings have come off the board. The Eagles are one team for whom the situation remains fluid, but enough has occurred to take stock of the post-free agency picture nonetheless.
The Inquirer’s Eagles reporting team of Jeff McLane, Olivia Reiner and Jeff Neiburg got together for a roundtable with a week of free agency movement in the rear-view mirror.
What has been your biggest surprise of the Eagles free agency period to date?
McLane: Nothing the Eagles have done or not done so far qualifies as surprising from this vantage point. Howie Roseman essentially laid out his plans ahead of free agency. He would be selective in retaining his own players, prudent in signing others, and continue to build from within via the draft. I thought that maybe the Eagles would make an effort to keep safety Reed Blankenship considering the relatively affordable contract he signed with the Texans at $8.25 million a year. But I guess the greater shock was that Roseman would make a cornerback his first free agent signing.
There isn’t some rule that general managers have to fill roster spots by order of need. And signing Riq Woolen indicated that Roseman saw value in inking the 26-year old to a one-year contract worth up to $15 million. In theory, that is good business. But the third corner spot behind Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean is a luxury. Woolen has enviable attributes in size and speed, if not issues with consistency and temperament. He could be a steal on a “prove-it” deal. But he’s essentially a rental with Mitchell and Cooper slated for extensions next offseason. The Eagles have time to address holes at edge rusher, safety and find the next generation on the offensive line and at tight end. So this isn’t a critique of Roseman’s initial choices. Just an early assessment.
Reiner: Jaelan Phillips was always going to get paid this offseason, it was just a question of how much. He was a young, talented player at a premium position within a relatively underwhelming free-agent class. While the Eagles had interest in bringing him back, it seemed unlikely that they were going to overpay him, given the team’s need to reward homegrown defensive players who are eligible/will become eligible for extensions. Plus, Phillips had just five sacks last season (two with the Eagles) and hasn’t yet eclipsed his career best of 8½ sacks set during his rookie season in 2021.
He signed with the Carolina Panthers for four years, $120 million, good for a $30 million average annual value. While I figured his AAV would be high, I didn’t anticipate it would be that high. That’s a pretty significant projection, especially for a player not too far removed from a pair of serious injuries. I’m not surprised the Eagles were outbid, but I am surprised that they were outbid by that much.
Neiburg: My surprise is that it’s March 17 and the only addition to the edge rushing corps has been Arnold Ebiketie. There is, of course, plenty of time for that to change. But I expected Phillips to be back — though not at that number — and if not, expected the Eagles to bring in another top-end talent like Trey Hendrickson or Maxx Crosby. It’s the lone position on the team right now screaming for an infusion of talent, so I’d expect something to change relatively soon.
New Eagles tight end Johnny Mundt (86) arrives from Jacksonville with a sterling reputation as a blocker.
Which new Eagles face needs to be the most immediate difference-maker?
McLane: The pickings are slim here so I’ll go with Ebiketie. I don’t imagine the Eagles will go into next season with the former Falcon as the third outside linebacker behind Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt. But right now that’s where he lines up in the pecking order. Ebiketie dropped down the depth chart in Atlanta after new faces arrived last season, but he was still effective. He had a solid 16.4% pressure rate, if only two sacks. He had six sacks in each of the two previous seasons, though.
Ebiketie projects as more than a serviceable rotation edge rusher. The same could have been said for Azeez Ojulari and Joshua Uche — two outside linebackers the Eagles signed to one-year contracts a year ago that didn’t exactly pan out. It wasn’t all their fault. They weren’t given much of chance. Roseman traded for Phillips and Brandon Graham was lured out of retirement. As stated above, the GM is likely to add more bodies at the position, even if it isn’t a No. 1 guy. Until then, Ebiketie will have to do the heavy lifting as the projected No. 3.
Neiburg: The answer for me right now is Johnny Mundt, which probably says more about the quiet nature of the free agent class so far. The second tight end isn’t all that sexy. But I think Mundt’s job with the Eagles is a more important one than Woolen’s. Sure, Woolen is the high-profile name, but we saw last year that CB2, in this defense, with Mitchell and DeJean, wasn’t that much of an issue. Adoree’ Jackson did fine, and Woolen is better. The running game, on the other hand, suffered from poor blocking from the tight ends. That needs to change, especially in this new scheme, to get the offense back on track. Mundt needs to be as advertised. Woolen, meanwhile, can get away with just being OK.
Reiner: With Dallas Goedert and Grant Calcaterra now under contract in 2026, the addition of the 31-year-old Mundt is all the more important. Howie Roseman admitted in advance of the combine that the Eagles needed a more diverse skill set in the tight ends room last season, given Goedert, Calcaterra, and Kylen Granson were stronger receivers than they were blockers.
That’s where Mundt comes in. The Eagles’ run game is poised to lean more into a wide-zone scheme under new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion. Mundt should be familiar with the revamped run game and the coaches installing it. He played with Mannion with the Rams in 2017 and 2018 and the Minnesota Vikings in 2021 and 2023. New Eagles offensive line coach Chris Kuper also served in the same role in Minnesota while Mundt was on the team. Given the struggles of last year’s unit, Mundt has the potential to make a positive impact on the ground as a blocker. After all, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell once called him “the best third tight end in the NFL.”
Jordan Mailata (left), Lane Johnson (center) and Landon Dickerson (right) are the present of the Eagles offensive line. The Eagles know they must think about the future in the trenches.
Name a position that concerns you heading into next month’s draft.
Reiner: Edge rusher. The Eagles could still use some more pass-rush prowess on the edge, especially after a quiet wild-card showing from the group (no sacks, just one quarterback hit, according to Pro Football Focus). Last year, the Eagles went into the season with Smith and Hunt as their top two edge rushers and ended up acquiring Phillips at the trade deadline to lead the group. Roseman ought to take a more proactive approach this year and add an impact player at the position before the season begins. Then, the Eagles should be set at the position for 2026 (and potentially beyond), as Smith and Hunt are promising, yet still developing.
Neiburg: In the immediate future, it’s edge rusher, but the long-term future of the offensive line is my primary concern for the state of this Eagles roster, and one they will need to help address in the draft. Lane Johnson’s career is winding down. Injuries and pain could soon force Landon Dickerson to retire before he hits 30. Cam Jurgens, like Dickerson, just got a treatment for his ailments in Colombia that they don’t do in the U.S. A position that has long been a strength of the Eagles has a lot of question marks as they enter the 2026 season.
McLane: I’ve mentioned the holes at edge rusher and safety, but I’m looking at a position with a longtime returning starter with question marks: left guard. We know that Dickerson will be back for a sixth season. Will he be able to finish it? I think that’s a fair question considering doubts he expressed about his future at the end of the season, and from sources close to Dickerson who know the full extent of injuries he’s played through the last several seasons. There might not be a tougher player on the roster, but a nowhere-near-100-percent Dickerson was often a detriment to the offense in 2025.
As Jeff mentions, he addressed his ailing body by receiving stem cell treatment, following Jurgens to Colombia earlier this month. Jurgens doesn’t get off scot-free. His regression last season wasn’t solely because he wasn’t full recovered from back surgery. He needs to bounce back. But the Eagles didn’t reduce the number of years left his contract like they did with Dickerson. They clearly know the end is nearing for the former Pro Bowler. They don’t have an obvious backup at this point after Brett Toth and Matt Pryor left in free agency. Roseman will likely add a veteran. But he may have to start thinking about finding a replacement in the draft, and that’s on top of preparing for Johnson’s retirement, which could be coming in a year.
Will the Eagles have regrets over whatever their decision is on A.J. Brown?
Crystal ball: What will we be saying about A.J. Brown at the end of the 2026 season?
Neiburg: Hello from late January. The Eagles just lost in the NFC title game despite A.J. Brown’s eight catches for 84 yards and a touchdown. The Eagles never got an offer worthy of parting with Brown, and so they kept him on the team and ran it back with Brown and DeVonta Smith at the top of the depth chart. Mannion’s offense opened up the passing and running games a bit, and Brown did fire off a few cryptic social media posts, but he went over 1,000 yards for the fifth consecutive season.
Reiner: Brown is still a great player … whether he is on the Eagles or not. Lately, it seems like “not” is the more likely outcome for the two parties. Perhaps the Eagles will wait to move him until after June 1, when they can spread out his dead cap charge over the next two seasons. Regardless, whoever ends up with Brown in 2026 is the better-off team. Even a 29-year-old Brown can make a difference in an offense, given he posted a paltry 1,003 receiving yards in a relatively down season in 2025.
McLane: I doubt there will be one uniform statement said about Brown, whether he’s with the Eagles or not. I suspect there will be a growing chorus, however, suggesting that he has taken another slight step back. We saw glimpses of that last season and perhaps that is why Brown voiced his frustrations in the middle of last season. He was still great at times. And it wasn’t like his average separation numbers when targeted dropped. He actually had a slight increase from 2.1 to 2.2 yards, per Next Gen Stats. But dropped passes and an occasional lack of effort were concerning. Jalen Hurts and Kevin Patullo weren’t solely to blame for last season.
Roseman wouldn’t be open to trading Brown if there wasn’t evidence that he’s slipping in his age-29 year. Every team knew about his knee concerns before the draft. The Eagles are the only ones to know how they’re holding up as he enters his eighth season. Any potential partner would perform a physical before signing off on a trade. But Brown isn’t coming off knee surgery like Maxx Crosby. There’s an uncertain expiration date with chronic injury. And some receiver-needy team is likely to take that risk. The Patriots or some other suitor will have to meet Roseman’s demands, but the asking price could drop post-June 1, especially if the Eagles draft a receiver.
The 2026 NFL free agency period begins on Monday, when “legal tampering” will give way to a number of reported deals across the league. Free agency will officially begin on Wednesday, and the Eagles will be players — though how aggressive general manager Howie Roseman and Co. will be remains to be seen. With limited available cap space and the specter of a possible A.J. Brown trade adding to the uncertainty, how the Eagles handle this period elicits a wide range of possibilities.
The Inquirer’s Eagles reporting team of Jeff McLane, Olivia Reiner, and Jeff Neiburg got together for a roundtable ahead of next week’s festivities.
What’s one practical free agent move you could see the Eagles making next week, given their cap space and personnel situation?
McLane: Dallas Goedert is slated to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career, but even if he signs with another team, the Eagles won’t have a clean break from their longtime tight end. They still have an approximate $20 million dead money charge from a void year added to Goedert’s contract. That’s a lot of money to eat for a productive player they may want to keep. The Eagles, more than any other team, have been comfortable kicking cash into future years. But Roseman can’t be reckless, and if trading Brown becomes a reality, the general manager would have around $45 million more in dead money on the books.
Could franchise staple Dallas Goedert run it back in Philly after his career touchdown year?
Brown’s return, though, could warrant Goedert coming back for a ninth season. He put up solid numbers, catching 60 passes for 591 yards and a team-high 11 touchdowns, despite the Eagles’ pass offense inconsistencies.
Was Goedert as dynamic as in years past after the catch? No. But he wasn’t given as many chances to run in space. The new Shanahan-McVay parts of the offense could accentuate Goedert’s post-catch abilities. The bigger question is whether he can run block like he once did. The Eagles weren’t happy with his output there. You have to wonder if taking a $4.25 million pay cut last season affected his effort, or occasional lack thereof. Goedert will have suitors on the open market. Is he worth as much as the Ravens’ Mark Andrews, who signed a three-year, $39 million deal in December? If so, it seems unlikely the Eagles re-sign Goedert, unless he wants to end his career in Philly and takes less.
The draft is believed to be deep at the position and there are other avenues to finding a No. 1 tight end — perhaps a trade? — but there’s an argument to be made for keeping Goedert.
Reiner: Re-signing Braden Mann. This seems like the football equivalent of a layup (a check down, perhaps). Mann, 28, is coming off the single best season by an Eagles punter in franchise history. He averaged 49.9 gross yards per punt, making his Eagles career average a franchise-leading 49.5. His net yards per punt (subtracting return yardage) finished within the top 10 in the NFL (43.1; No. 9 in the NFL).
Mann often helped flip the field during a season in which he was forced to punt a lot (72 punts, tied for No. 4). He deserves an extension, which wouldn’t break the bank. The Eagles are just a few years removed from their previous punter woes and they shouldn’t go back down that path by starting over with new contenders for the gig.
Is Christian Kirk (13) a free agent wideout possibility for the Birds?
Neiburg: Signing Christian Kirk to a relatively cheap contract given his talent. This is with or without Brown on the roster. Kirk has been limited by injuries over the last few seasons and ran routes with a crowded receiving corps in Houston. But he had a stretch of really good football from 2021 through 2023, tallying 2,877 yards on 218 catches, 16 of them for touchdowns. Kirk’s alignment favors the slot, but he has played plenty on the outside. The Eagles need to infuse the unit with more young talent, but Kirk, 29, could help bridge the gap, and if Brown is traded he would give the Eagles an experienced running mate for DeVonta Smith.
What’s a bolder, but perhaps less likely move you could see the Eagles making?
McLane: Trade for Maxx Crosby. If the Eagles decide they can’t afford Jaelan Phillips, they could be in the market for a top-end edge rusher. Crosby qualifies as a difference maker and would be an upgrade over Phillips or the returning Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith. It would cost a lot, of course. The Raiders are said to want two first-rounders and a player (Smith?) in return. But elite edge rushers are rarely available and Crosby’s existing contract isn’t a backbreaker. He has four remaining years at around $29 million per season, but only next season’s $30 million base salary is guaranteed. (editor’s note: Crosby was traded to the Ravens Friday night).
Crosby has made it clear he wants out of Las Vegas. He has expressed his fondness for the Eagles and Philadelphia as a sports town. Perhaps he would be willing to adjust his deal to expedite a trade. Roseman may be cautious for various reasons. Crosby turns only 29 in August, but he’s logged more snaps than almost any defensive end over the last five seasons. He’s also coming off back-to-back season-ending injuries that required surgery to repair his ankle and a torn meniscus in his left knee. That’s why I think the Raiders’ reported asking price is unrealistic.
There will be competition for Crosby, but the Eagles aren’t likely to repeat the mistake of going into another season with just Hunt and Smith on the edge. Phillips was a good trade deadline acquisition, but a tepid pass rush was an under-the-radar reason why the Eagles defense struggled in the second half of the playoff loss to the 49ers.
Jaelan Phillips is a top-5 NFL free agent who could end up with a huge deal in a location other than Philadelphia.
Reiner: Re-signing Phillips. He might be the Eagles’ top priority among their own group of pending free agents, but he isn’t a slam dunk to return. At 26 years old, he slotted in nicely to Vic Fangio’s defense in a short period of time at a premium position. He made an impact on the pass rush despite posting unassuming sack numbers (two in eight games). He stayed healthy for all 17 games in 2025, with the Eagles and the Miami Dolphins, one year removed from a partially torn ACL (and two years removed from a torn Achilles).
But the Eagles ought to be realistic about a potential extension. Phillips was a net-positive addition last season, but he was not a game-wrecker. The Eagles likely won’t be inclined to pay him as such, given their lack of cap space in 2026 and their need to extend key defensive players both this offseason and in years to come. The Eagles will likely set a walkaway number for Phillips and move on if another team outbids them.
Neiburg: Trading Brown … and trading for his replacement. Trading Brown is pretty bold in itself, but if it happens, the Eagles have a big hole to fill. There’s no doubt DeVonta Smith can handle all that comes with being the focal point of the passing game, but the roster is bereft of receiver depth, and if the Eagles aren’t thrilled with the free agent market — like, say, Kirk or someone like Romeo Doubs are more expensive than they prefer — they could go the trade route and trade from their roster or draft picks to acquire a receiver. Who could be available? Here are a couple of names to target via trade: Jacksonville’s Brian Thomas Jr. and Buffalo’s Keon Coleman.
Does Sean Mannion scheme require a tailoring of the team’s offensive personnel?
How much do you think the team’s offensive staff changes will inform their free agent and draft approaches?
McLane: Aside from the quarterback position, the offensive line is the most likely to be affected by the expected scheme changes. New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion is bringing with him a Shanahan-McVay system that will alter blocking in the run game. Will there be a complete whitewash? No. But the Eagles are likely to shift from less mid-zone to more wide-zone blocking. Those terms might not indicate how different the techniques are, but the former emphasizes more reactionary blocking and winning at the point of attack, while the latter features O-linemen firing off the ball and blocking at an angle.
Asked how the changes may affect his evaluations, Roseman conceded he may be looking for more agile O-linemen. The Eagles already have athletic freaks up front, although injury-riddled left guard Landon Dickerson may not qualify as such.
I don’t think Roseman will do much at the position in free agency. He does have decisions on reserves Fred Johnson and Brett Toth. I don’t think the scheme change rules out either for a return. But they don’t have an advocate in former offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland anymore. His replacement, Chris Kuper, won’t likely have as big a voice as Stoutland in personnel. But the Eagles are almost guaranteed to expend a high draft pick on an O-lineman with right tackle Lane Johnson closer to retirement than ever.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah recently projected seven first-round O-linemen in the 2026 draft and then a drop-off in terms of talent. Maybe one of the top guys slips into the second round and there’s a chance to pick up value, but I’d be surprised if Roseman didn’t expend the Eagles’ No. 23 overall pick — or more in a move up — to secure Lane Johnson’s expected successor.
Neiburg: It should inform the approach plenty. Especially when it comes to how they address the tight end position. Roseman knows he has long appreciated the receiving component of the tight end, but the new scheme will require a lot better blocking than the Eagles got last year and even in prior seasons from the players behind Goedert. As Jeff mentions, it’s possible Goedert returns in 2026 in free agency, but the Eagles would need to slot players behind him who block a lot better than Grant Calcaterra. One name I could see fitting in well is Jake Tonges, who doesn’t offer a ton in the pass game but was an elite blocker for the 49ers.
A.J. Brown’s situation could have an impact on the team’s free agency approach.
Reiner: Given the expected shift in run-game philosophy under Mannion, the tight end and offensive line additions could reflect those changes. I think the prospective wide receiver additions will have layered influences, especially as it relates to Brown’s future. Naturally, the Eagles’ need at receiver becomes much more pressing if (big if) they decide to move the star receiver before the start of the season.
Otherwise, aside from adding a WR3, the Eagles don’t need to overhaul their receiving corps to fit the scheme. If we’re looking to the Packers offense for clues about what the Eagles might look like in 2026, we can expect to see more under-center play action, pre-snap motion, and misdirection as a means of scheming open space in the passing game. That space helps receivers generate yards after the catch and explosive plays downfield.
The prosperity of the scheme seems to be rooted more in its design, not so much in the raw talent of its players, a departure from Eagles offenses past. That isn’t to say the Eagles aren’t looking for talented receivers, but more so that the prototype of a talented receiver isn’t likely to change dramatically.
Besides A.J. Brown, who else could the Eagles trade?
McLane: This may seem like a reach, but I could envision a world in which Nolan Smith is being floated on the trade market, assuming either Phillips, Crosby or some edge rusher equivalent is on the roster by the draft. Smith hasn’t been a bust — far from it. A shoulder injury limited him during his rookie season, but he blossomed in the second half of his sophomore year. Tricep woes sent him to injured reserve last season and he finished with just three sacks and 11 quarterback hits. He’s good at setting the edge and has a high motor, but he’s undersized and struggles to win consistently as a pass rusher.
Hunt has a higher ceiling, is one year younger and was drafted two rounds after Smith. It’s going to be tough for Roseman to pay both, especially with defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter slated for possible extensions this offseason.
Is Nolan Smith Jr.’s long-term future with the team set in stone?
The Eagles could pick up the fifth-year option (around $15 million) on Smith’s first-round rookie contract after the draft. That isn’t an exorbitant amount for a premium position player. He has potential he hasn’t tapped into. But I’d be worried about his durability. And there will be the occasional casualty after strong drafts on the defensive side and upcoming deals for All-Pro cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.
Reiner: Tanner McKee. Ahead of the combine, Roseman expressed just how much he values the backup quarterback position and the importance of having a competent player in the role. McKee certainly fits the bill despite his limited action in his lone year as the full-time backup. But the soon-to-be-26-year-old quarterback is going into the final year of his rookie deal. If Roseman doesn’t see a future for him in Philadelphia beyond next season, would he be inclined to move McKee at the peak of his value to the team?
This offseason is a seller’s market at quarterback. The draft lacks high-end talent beyond Fernando Mendoza, who doesn’t have the cachet of other recent No. 1 overall picks. The free-agent market is led by Kyler Murray and Malik Willis. If McKee has a market among teams that want him to compete for the starting gig, the Eagles ought to entertain offers. But Roseman would need to get a strong return for McKee, all the while feeling comfortable about a replacement plan in 2026 for Jalen Hurts’ backup. Perhaps they liked what they saw from Sam Howell in practice enough to warrant a low-cost extension and make him the full-time No. 2.
Neiburg: Sydney Brown. The Eagles have a few candidates in their secondary who are due for a change of scenery, and Brown might be at the top of the list. The Eagles need help at safety, but they won’t be lining up with Drew Mukuba and Brown at the back of the secondary to start the 2026 season. Brown, who has one year left on his rookie deal, will be a backup again, and will see some work on special teams. But if you can convince a team to part with a Day 3 pick to acquire a player who isn’t part of your long-term plans, you have to do it.
INDIANAPOLIS — Mike Vrabel’s recent comments about A.J. Brown may not qualify as tampering, but they are reflective of a certain preoccupation those associated with the Eagles have had with the wide receiver’s future at the scouting combine this week.
And, to some degree, the rest of the league shares that preoccupation — elite receivers still in the prime of their careers rarely are available.
Vrabel didn’t bring up Brown on his own. The Patriots coach first was asked about his relationship with his former player during a news conference on Wednesday and then about possibly trading for him during an interview session with New England-area reporters shortly afterward.
“I think that we’ll look at everything that we can possibly look at to add to our roster,” Vrabel said in answering the second question. “There’s a lot of back-and-forth. Taking on compensation. And so, I’m sure there’ll be a lot of opportunities for us to talk about trades, not only this week, but as we prepare and get closer to the draft.”
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has expressed his affection for A.J. Brown, but how that translates to a potential deal remains unknown.
It was a rather innocuous response, and Vrabel made sure not to mention Brown by name, as that could be considered tampering with a player under contract with another team. But the former Titans coach, who drafted the receiver in 2019 and coached him for three seasons, didn’t avoid going into detail about how close he remains to Brown.
“I think the relationship with players — and, specifically, you asked about A.J. — has meant a lot,” Vrabel said earlier from the combine media center podium. “I watched him grow. I watched him mature. I’m proud of him, proud of the father that he is. I’m proud of the husband. And that has nothing to do with where he plays or where he played.
“So those are the things that are important. We reach out, text each other during the things that happen good to each other. And sometimes things don’t go so well for the people that you’re close with and you text those, as well. So it’s been a two-way street of support and reminders of what got us to where we are here today.”
There’s little wrong with what Vrabel said, as it’s been consistent with his comments about Brown since the Titans traded him to Philly almost four years ago. Just last January, after he was hired in New England and as the Eagles were in the middle of their Super Bowl run, Vrabel said the following about Brown on Boston radio:
“I love him to death and I have a very, very close relationship with him.”
A lot has changed around Brown’s Eagles and Vrabel’s Patriots a year later. And with Eagles general manager Howie Roseman unwilling to shut the door on Brown being obtainable for the right price, Vrabel’s openness about his communication with the 28-year old could be characterized as flirtatious.
Not that Roseman should take any issue with his remarks, as they could help spur activity and give the general manager the type of leverage he would need to receive compensation for an All-Pro-caliber receiver whose exit would leave a giant hole on offense and trigger significant salary cap repercussions.
A.J. Brown (left) eventually warmed to Mike Vrabel’s coaching in Tennessee, though it was Vrabel’s Titans who ultimately dealt Brown.
And that is why a decision on Brown seemingly will be made sooner — as in the next 10 days ahead of the official start of the “legal tampering” period on March 9 — rather than later. At least that’s the sense sources close to several Eagles with uncertain futures have gotten from their conversations with the team this week.
Roseman should be compelled to make a decision in the immediate future. Moving or keeping Brown impacts almost every other personnel decision he will make this offseason in terms of free agency, contract extensions, and the draft. It’s not an imperative, but waiting would make putting the roster puzzle together more difficult.
Roseman’s messaging has been consistent since the end of the season.
“It’s really hard to find great players,” Roseman said last week to Eagles beat reporters. “I think A.J. is a great player. I think that, from my perspective, we’re looking to improve in all areas, and you don’t do that by subtracting.”
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni tweaked his initial response to questions about Brown after he said he couldn’t “guarantee” the receiver’s return — based on the notion that nothing in life is guaranteed — during his media rounds at the combine on Tuesday. Sirianni avoided the phrasing and said he expects and wants Brown back.
But Roseman will make the final call and he will be the one entertaining offers. And that’s exactly what he has made obvious to interested teams every time he’s been asked about Brown: We’re open for business. Give us your best shot.
“I think you go into the league year listening to offers for everything and anything,” Roseman said last week. “I don’t think that you can go into any conversation with anyone and just shoot things down without hearing what they have to say, because you never know.”
What Roseman is doing here is creating momentum and building a market that would draw in competing offers. All he needs is two interested teams to create leverage. Three teams could get him closer to the finish line, depending upon the value he has assigned to Brown.
Roseman’s tactics are renowned. He’ll set the cost much higher than prevailing wisdom says it should be. One NFL executive said he heard the Eagles were seeking a return that included a first- and second-round draft pick. Whether accurate or not, the price tag is already being floated within league circles.
Teams will check in, some with more interest than others, but Roseman will get a sense of who is serious by their initial offers. He’ll then whittle down their counter-arguments until he grinds out what he views as suitable compensation.
If he doesn’t get that compensation, he won’t trade Brown, even if the receiver has told the Eagles he wants out of Philly. The cap hit — about $45 million — is just too steep. And even if the teams have a handshake deal to wait until June 1 so the Eagles can spread the charge over two years, Roseman probably won’t take anything less than a conditional second-rounder.
Brown may seem to be on the decline. He may have a chronic knee condition that hurt his stock as far back as the pre-draft process. He might be emotional and the occasional headache. But he’s still better than most receivers and seemingly anyone who will be available in free agency.
The draft is another animal. But teams like the Patriots, Bills, and Ravens might be only a Brown away from getting over the championship hump. All three teams have picks in each of the first two rounds. The Patriots have Nos. 31 and 63, the Bills have Nos. 26 and 60, and the Ravens have Nos. 14 and 45.
The Eagles have eight projected picks with one first-rounder (No. 23), one second-rounder (No. 54), and two third-rounders (No. 68 and a No. 98 projected). It’s possible Roseman would accept a 2027 first-rounder in return for Brown.
Howie Roseman acknowledged that nothing is off the table when it comes to trade talks. But he has a history to suggest he won’t be fleeced.
But it seems inconceivable that the Eagles would take anything less than what the Seahawks got for receiver DK Metcalf last offseason — essentially a second-rounder — or the Bills got for receiver Stefon Diggs — essentially second- and fifth-rounders — two offseasons ago.
A trade partner would have to be willing to take on the remaining amount of the three-year, $92 million extension Brown signed two offseasons ago — at about $25 million per over the next two seasons. But that isn’t a backbreaking commitment for a player who turns 29 in June.
The Patriots have a need at the position, even if Diggs reached 1,000 yards receiving in his first season in New England. It was clear in Super Bowl LX that quarterback Drake Maye, despite his deficiencies, was lacking a true No. 1 target.
Brown was rooting for the Patriots, having been a fan since he was young. He went on the Dudes on Dudes podcast hosted by former Patriots Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski before the title game and spoke about his affinity for the team and for Vrabel, the coach he said he didn’t initially like in Tennessee.
The Patriots, of course, lost to the Seahawks. The podcast did not air until Feb. 18, however, so Brown’s chumminess with an enemy team might have come off as brash to some Eagles fans. Edelman ended the show by saying, “Just remember, we’re all Patriots. You know that, right?”
Brown winked, as if to suggest that he would become a Patriot, but quickly rebounded and said, “No, no, no. I’m trolling.”
The constant media attention on a potential Brown trade may seem like trolling to Eagles fans reluctant to see the star receiver leave after four dominant seasons. But the prospects are real. Whether it happens or not, the answer could come in a matter of days.
AJ Brown’s future…Sean Mannion’s hiring as offensive coordinator…Jeff Stoutland’s awkward exit…the Eagles’ strategy for free agency and the draft. These have been the dominant storylines of the Eagles’ offseason. More than a month after the team’s unceremonious exit from the playoffs, its top two decision makers finally weighed in publicly on these topics. Ahead of this week’s NFL combine, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Olivia Reiner participated in beat reporters-only interview sessions with general manager Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni. With the embargo lifted, Jeff and Olivia discuss their main takeaways.
00:00 Roseman and Sirianni speak!
01:13 Roseman and Sirianni address the AJ Brown situation
10:26 Sirianni indicates that offense will be different under new coordinator Sean Mannion
20:15 Sirianni gives his side of the Jeff Stoutland story
26:34 How will coaching changes affect Howie Roseman’s offseason personnel strategy
unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the season, including day-after-game reactions.
INDIANAPOLIS — Howie Roseman opened his session with Eagles reporters last week in Philadelphia ahead of the NFL scouting combine by laying out a basic blueprint for building a championship-caliber roster: Draft well, re-sign your best homegrown talent, add here and there in free agency, and hopefully rinse and repeat.
But in setting those parameters, Roseman was also managing expectations for how the Eagles will approach their 19 unrestricted free agents, those who will reach the market next month, and how the general manager will navigate a tightening salary cap after years of pushing cash into future years.
On Tuesday at the combine, Roseman was asked about specific players whose contracts are up, and some still under contract who aren’t guaranteed to return next season — not that the GM would ever promise that any player will be back (see: wide receiver A.J. Brown).
Roseman, conversely, didn’t rule out the return of anyone he was asked about, even though he made clear last week that the Eagles will have to say goodbye to many of their free agents, a group that includes some starters they drafted.
Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips would seem to be a priority signing, even if he’s projected to be one of the more sought-after free-agent commodities when the new league year opens on March 11. The Eagles had Phillips for only two-plus months but praised his work.
“You certainly see his fit with Coach [Vic] Fangio in our defense, which a lot of times when you’re talking about free agency is a big part of free agency,” Roseman said. “How is this guy gonna fit into our defense? So you see that there, you’ve been with the guy. He’s got tremendous character, tremendous work ethic.
“And then all the things that you’re doing, you’re trying to balance the other factors that go along with that to try to come down with a value.”
In other words, the Eagles will negotiate, but they might be willing to only go so far. If they can’t bring the 26-year-old Phillips back, they may need to find other avenues at the position. Nolan Smith Jr., Jalyx Hunt, and Jose Ramirez, who signed a futures contract after the season, are the only Eagles edge rushers currently under contract.
“We usually take seven or eight guys to camp. We only have three on the roster right now,” Roseman said. “So definitely think we’ll have to address it. It’s a priority position for us.”
Aside from Phillips, Josh Uche, Azeez Ojulari, Ogbo Okoronkwo, and Brandon Graham are all slated to become free agents. Roseman didn’t rule out welcoming back the 37-year-old Graham, who came out of retirement in early November, for an unprecedented 17th season in midnight green.
“Brandon Graham is always welcome in Philadelphia,” Roseman said. “Obviously, when I think about what he’s done for us as a player, as a person, and then last year, even when he came back in, the versatility that he showed, coming in in the end of the year and reducing inside and playing defensive tackle, just an all-time Eagles great, future Eagles Hall of Famer.”
Dallas Goedert led the Eagles in touchdowns but might have played his last game with the team.
Roseman speaks on Goedert, Blankenship, other free agents, extension candidates
Roseman had the following to say about the Eagles’ three other free agents who started last season:
On tight end Dallas Goedert:
“Tremendous player and person for the Philadelphia Eagles. Really glad we were able to figure it out and bring him back to Philadelphia this year and for the season and [be] tremendously productive for us. Just a huge asset for our offense to have him on our football team. Again, we got to put the whole puzzle together. To sit here — we got a lot of other free agents, too — and say, ‘Hey, we’re definitely going to get this guy back …’ When we get this late, obviously, the market dictates a lot of that, as well. But we’ll certainly sit down with his agent here over the next couple of days and have a conversation.”
Goedert isn’t the Eagles’ only free agent tight end. Grant Calcaterra and Kyle Granson will be unrestricted in a few weeks. Roseman said last week he needed to do a better job of evaluating the position in prioritizing hybrids who can also block. He has a chance to remake the position, with new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion expected to implement the Kyle Shanahan-Sean McVay scheme.
On safety Reed Blankenship and linebacker Nakobe Dean:
“Really proud of Reed, undrafted free agent, and played in two Super Bowls, four years, four playoff appearances. Was a captain this year for our team, tremendous player, tremendous person.”
Roseman wasn’t asked directly about linebacker Nakobe Dean, but when the topic of 2025 first-rounder Jihaad Campbell stepping back into a starting role was brought up, he brought up Dean.
“Obviously, we have a free agent at that position, a guy that we drafted, a guy that we think is a really good player, and unbelievable character,” Roseman said. “And so, all those decisions here [will be] made in the next couple of weeks.”
Still, it seems unlikely that Dean will be back. Blankenship’s future in Philly seems more dependent upon his leaguewide value or whether the Eagles can afford Phillips.
On potential contract extensions across the defensive line:
The Eagles also have three defensive players available for extensions three years into their rookie deals: defensive tackles Jalen Carter and Moro Ojomo along with linebacker Nolan Smith Jr.
The Eagles picked up the fifth-year option for defensive tackle Jordan Davis last offseason rather than extend him, and their gamble paid off after he took a jump in Year 4. Davis may be the most likely of the quartert to have his contract reworked this offseason.
“That’s another guy, obviously, that you draft, you develop, tremendous character and continues to get better,” Roseman said. “That’s a group of a lot of players that we have, that we have tremendous confidence in, and the puzzle is trying to keep as many of them together as we possibly can.”
Howie Roseman expressed confidence in up-and-down kicker Jake Elliott.
On Jake Elliott:
Kicker Jake Elliott is under contract for three more seasons, but he has become increasingly inconsistent after having a career year in 2023. Elliott has been under 80% in field goal efficiency the last two years. Roseman gave him a strong endorsement, however.
“Jake has been a tremendous kicker for us since we got him off practice squad in Cincinnati in 2017,” Roseman said. “Tremendously clutch. Have a lot of confidence in him as a player, as a kicker, as a person, captain on our team, and continue to believe in him as our place kicker.”
At cornerback, the Eagles have two of the best at their respective positions: outside corner Quinyon Mitchell and nickel corner Cooper DeJean. The third spot was unsettled until veteran Adoree’ Jackson settled into the spot in the second half of the season.
But he is also a free agent and the Eagles are unlikely to spend with Mitchell and DeJean likely to warrant big extensions next offseason.
“When you look at Q and Coop leading that group — two All-Pro players, guys who we want to be part of Philadelphia Eagles for a long time,” Roseman said. “Coop, he can play anything. He can play outside corner, he can play nickel, he could play at an All-Pro level anywhere. So having him gives you some flexibility.
“And so, we’ll go into the offseason looking to add to that position. Adoree’ did a really nice job for us last year and got better throughout the course of the year. … He’s a free agent and we’ll just kind of see how the offseason plays out.”
Nick Sirianni sat back in a chair with his feet up in UGG slippers. The Eagles coach looked as relaxed as he has in over a year, and certainly since a tumultuous 2025 season ended with him having to oust consigliere Kevin Patullo as offensive coordinator last month.
Sirianni met with reporters at the newly named Jefferson Health Training Complex on the Friday before the scouting combine. He and general manager Howie Roseman normally answer questions with locals in Indianapolis before they hit the combine podium. But with so much change already — and more to come — the Eagles opted for the more familiar setting of their draft room to address pertinent matters about the team.
Sirianni and the more upright Roseman spoke separately, each for around 40 minutes. They tackled subjects ranging from wide receiver A.J. Brown’s uncertain future to longtime offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland’s departure. But a significant portion of their availability — especially the coach’s — was spent on new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion.
Why did Sirianni hire the inexperienced former Packers quarterbacks coach? Why was the search drawn out? How much did wanting the Shanahan-McVay offense factor into the decision? What did Sirianni like about the scheme? How much autonomy will Mannion have? How will quarterback Jalen Hurts and other returning players adapt to the new system? And how will the changes affect evaluations of Brown and future Eagles?
Sirianni was light on details — how could he not be with so many unknowns? — but he and Roseman did provide enough information to allow for informed perspective on Mannion, the new scheme, and what could be an inflection point for the coach, his quarterback, and the Eagles overall. Here are 10 takeaways about the offense from Friday’s interviews:
1. The Eagles pivoted in their approach to the OC search after it became obvious that Mike McDaniel and Brian Daboll wanted to explore other opportunities.
Former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel (left) and former Giants coach Brian Daboll.
Sirianni didn’t confirm Inquirer reporting that McDaniel and Daboll were leading candidates, but he said he entered the offensive coordinator search looking for a veteran play-caller.
“I went into it … like I’d like for somebody to have some of the experience that’s done this,” Sirianni said. “Obviously, Sean has not had experience calling the plays. That, to me, was [secondary]. Like, we got into it and that kind of changed. I’m like, ‘No, this is the best guy for the job.’”
Sirianni also said he went into the process most interested in the Shanahan-McVay scheme, which would suggest that McDaniel was the primary target. Daboll comes from another system of offense, but he worked previously with Hurts at Alabama and would have checked other boxes. McDaniel went to the Chargers, while Daboll was hired by the Titans.
We’ll never know if the Eagles would have offered either McDaniel or Daboll the position, but clearly the search shifted into another phase. Sirianni said he interviewed a total of 17 candidates and that seven reached the second round. Only four of the final seven names — Josh Grizzard, Jim Bob Cooter, Jerrod Johnson, and Mannion — became public.
Mannion’s first interview was virtual, while the second was in person. Sirianni said that once he got him in the building, it confirmed his initial impression that the 33-year-old former quarterback was the guy for the job even though he had never called plays.
“What I was really looking for was the detail in which everything was explained to me, because the detail is so critical, conviction on what they believed and why they believed in it, and the vision and conviction of that how they went about it,” Sirianni said. “Like, OK, you haven’t called plays, but how do you go about thinking about calling plays in this particular area, like the vision for the offense, the vision and the conviction for how you would call it?”
2. Sirianni led the search and made the final decision — a fact that was made abundantly clear.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni listens to questions from media members with general manager Howie Roseman on Jan. 15.
Roseman, who touted Sirianni’s credentials as a CEO-type coach last month, made light of outside perception that he and owner Jeffrey Lurie hold strings over a powerless Sirianni when asked why he made those unprompted comments.
“Hold the strings, like during the games?” Roseman said. “Am I in his ear?”
Roseman, of course, remains one of the more entrenched figures in his position after two Super Bowl titles and 10 playoff appearances in 16 seasons as GM. He has final say over both the 90- and 53-man rosters and his influence with Lurie also can’t be overstated.
Roseman is also one of the most resourceful executives in the NFL. He helped Sirianni identify Mannion as a budding prospect.
“As you talk to people around the league, and they described him and his future, it became somebody that we really felt like we needed to talk to,” Roseman said. “It’s just his name kept coming up as we were doing things and as we were talking about the way that we were kind of moving from an offensive perspective.”
Sirianni, who spoke before Roseman, talked about a collaborative approach but identified himself as the “point man” in the search.
“The coaches that we bring in here always going to fall on me, right?” Sirianni said. “And I have to make those final decisions.”
Were the Eagles powers-that-be trying to empower their coach in giving him ownership over the coaching changes, or were they distancing themselves from the moves? Maybe only Lurie and Roseman can answer that question.
3. The Eagles are hoping Mannion will be the offensive coordinator version of Sirianni.
Nick Sirianni’s 2021 hire was an outside-the-box choice. Is Sean Mannion another diamond-in-the-rough choice?
The Eagles have had unprecedented success under Sirianni. They have a Super Bowl MVP in Hurts. They have Pro Bowl-caliber offensive players at multiple spots. And yet, there were rumblings that some OC candidates didn’t consider the job as desirable as other vacancies.
While previous coordinators Shane Steichen and Kellen Moore parlayed winning into promotions, Brian Johnson and Patullo were out after just one season at the helm. The position comes with both internal and external pressures. There’s also a question of Sirianni’s permanence in Philly and how Hurts has factored into coordinator turnover.
The Bears’ Declan Doyle, for instance, declined an interview request and reportedly told the Eagles he was staying in Chicago, even though he doesn’t call plays. Not long after, he took the offensive coordinator job with the Ravens, although it should be noted that he will work under defensive-minded coach Jesse Minter in Baltimore.
“All that really matters,” Sirianni said, “is the guy that you end up picking for the job and his excitement and willingness to be there.”
Sirianni might feel some kinship with Mannion, who didn’t interview for any of the other 14 coordinator openings this offseason. Sirianni, too, was an under-the-radar choice who surfaced late in the process when the Eagles tabbed him to be coach.
While Mannion had no other bites this offseason, like Sirianni five years ago, it doesn’t mean he won’t pan out.
4. It was the Shanahan-McVay scheme that led the Eagles to Mannion.
The schematic principles favored by Sean McVay (left) and Kyle Shanahan held increasing appeal for Nick Sirianni as he went through the OC process.
Sirianni interviewed coaches with backgrounds and experience in various offenses, but one scheme stood out more than others.
“It was in my forefront of my mind to say, ‘I’m interested in this,’” Sirianni said of the Kyle Shanahan-Sean McVay scheme. “But I didn’t necessarily say, ‘I have to have this.’ And then as the process went forward that’s where I kind of got to with that.”
The Shanahan-McVay system is often run-based that utilizes a wide-zone blocking scheme. It often marries the run with the pass through under-center play action. It features motion and misdirection. And it uses all the above to create space in the passing game for easy reads, yards after the catch, and explosive plays downfield.
While there were some commonalities between Sirianni’s and Moore’s schemes which allowed for a relatively easy transition, and maybe prevented the latter from fully implementing his offense, the Shanahan-McVay system is significantly different than Sirianni’s on early downs.
“Third down, red zone, backed up, four-minute [offenses] — a lot of those things are pretty similar in the thought process of people,” Sirianni said. “It’s the first- and second-down run, play action where people are a lot different and have different philosophies. And … that’s where I see just it’s going to be a little bit of a change there, but we’ve got good players.”
5. Improving the run game was paramount in choosing the new coordinator and scheme.
Could a Saquon Barkley renaissance be in store in the new Eagles offense?
There’s no question the Eagles’ passing offense was substandard and there needs to be more sophistication in the operation. But when Sirianni’s teams have had their greatest successes, it’s been behind a dominant running attack.
The Eagles were bound to face challenges after Saquon Barkley’s historic campaign in 2024. Injuries on the offensive line didn’t help matters. But when opponents devoted their efforts to stopping the run with increased numbers in the box, the Eagles struggled to adjust and make defenses pay through the air.
Sirianni equated how the Shanahan-McVay rushing offense handles defensive intricacies with how some passing offenses have adapted to modern coverages.
“You’ve seen a lot of teams that have done things where they’re reading pure progressions to handle all the junk that is being thrown at you by the defense,” he said. “This version of the run game is kind of in that mix, as well. It’s the run-game version of it.
“There’s a lot of junk that’s being thrown at you. This handles a lot of it.”
6. The run-blocking scheme changes were probably the chief reason Stoutland resigned.
Jeff Stoutland’s O-line alignment principles would not have meshed easily with Sean Mannion’s scheme.
The most significant change in the running game will come with the offensive line. The preferred wide-zone blocking scheme of the Shanahan-McVay offense is much different than the mid-zone scheme Jeff Stoutland employed with the Eagles for 13 seasons.
Stoutland was also the run game coordinator since 2018, but the alteration meant that he wouldn’t have returned in that role. Sirianni confirmed that he wanted Stoutland back, although the 64-year-old assistant would have had to teach his O-linemen a new run-blocking technique.
At its most elemental, wide-zone blocking has offensive linemen fire off the ball and block at an angle to create cutback running lanes. Mid-zone blocking has O-linemen more under control, perhaps required to win more at the point of attack and shuffle in their assignments.
One is not better than the other, they’re just different. The Eagles think their returning O-lineman can block in any scheme, but there will be an adjustment. The change could benefit an athletic center like Cam Jurgens, or it could hinder a cinder block like left guard Landon Dickerson.
“Will there be maybe a little bit more emphasis on movement and athleticism?” Roseman said. “Maybe a click. Maybe.”
Roseman was talking about how the new scheme may affect his evaluations in the upcoming draft. Right tackle Lane Johnson is returning for a 14th season, but the Eagles could be searching for his successor.
Stoutland was as involved as any coach in the pre-draft process and through his prioritization of “critical factors” helped the Eagles land Johnson, Dickerson, Jurgens, and left tackle Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player.
“We’re looking for a lot of the same things,” Roseman said, “with a lot of the same — a shout-out to Stout — critical factors that we’ve always been looking for.”
7. Hurts may actually run even less in the new offense.
Jalen Hurts might run less in the Sean Mannion scheme.
Hurts’ history with different offensive coordinators and play callers dating back to college is a fact that has been repeated so frequently at this point it’s almost not worth mentioning, especially for a quarterback entering his seventh NFL season.
He has admitted that having first-year success with Moore should give the discourse less meaning. The scheme has also been relatively similar during the Sirianni-Hurts partnership. There has been a natural progression with his coaches asking him to do a little more under center, off play action, and with motion.
“He’s shown that he can do all these things,” Sirianni said. “I think what’s awesome about Jalen is he’s shown he can do a lot of things really well. … The great thing about great players is they can usually fit to any scheme.”
And yet, the Eagles have never majored in any of the above. Was that on Sirianni and his coordinators, or was it on Hurts? How much did Stoutland’s preferred run scheme prevent the offense from evolving? All of the above were likely factors.
Whatever the answer, change is coming. Hurts should be on board, especially if he wants to run less and desires more schemed-up layups in the passing game. With less shotgun, there won’t be as many designed quarterback run opportunities.
It remains to be seen whether less of Hurts on the ground is a good thing. It wasn’t last season. There are ways to incorporate some quarterback runs into the Shanahan-McVay scheme, but there will likely be fewer zone reads and run-pass option plays.
8. Sirianni left plenty of wiggle room for carryover from the previous offense.
Nick Sirianni will continue to have a voice on offense, as he has had in all previous iterations of the attack.
While some Sirianni critics may have short attention spans, he has presided over an offense that has often been among the best in the league. And in winning a Super Bowl last year he was able to retain some of the better parts of his scheme and incorporate it with Moore’s.
He said the same will happen with Mannion.
“I think that some of the things that you can sprinkle in from the things that we’ve done, it’ll just be a good mesh of different things,” Sirianni said. “You want to have something that you can [hang] your hat, which I think that we’ve always had, but then adapt that to different things that your players do well.”
The best coaches scheme to their players’ skill sets. In 2021 and 2024, the Eagles installed pass-based offenses before switching at midseason to feature the run. Some of that had to do with Hurts’ limitations as a dropback passer, but also to emphasize his mobility, a dominant O-line, and Barkley.
It would be foolish for Sirianni to commit to anything, although the Shanahan-McVay offense will initially be the scheme the Eagles hang their hats on. But there won’t be a complete whitewash.
“Its ever-evolving,” Sirianni said. “Shoot, you might end up saying, ‘Hey, I wanted to be an outside zone team, but it looks like we’re going to be a little bit more of a gap team, or vice versa, right?’ And it could be the same with, ‘Hey, I wanted to be a little bit more play action, but it looks like we’re going to be a little bit more naked and move the pocket and stuff like that.’”
Mannion won’t have autonomy like defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. How could he with no experience? The offensive-minded Sirianni will obviously be involved at some level. But he wants Mannion to ultimately be responsible for running the offense.
“I know that the most important thing that I need to do is be the head football coach of the football team, not the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles,” Sirianni said. “I need to be the head football coach in charge of everything. It’s setting that vision, all the different things that go into it.
“But I’ve had a lot of experience in putting together an offense, so I’m here as a resource for him in that aspect.”
9. Mannion will work closely with Hurts.
Sean Mannion’s experience as an NFL quarterback could help ease communication with Jalen Hurts.
Mannion’s pedigree as a quarterback played some role in his hiring. Hurts had his best seasons under former quarterbacks in Steichen and Moore. Mannion has been credited with assisting the development of Packers starter Jordan Love and the reclamation of backup Malik Willis.
Hurts has a strong personality, so it’s no guarantee that Mannion’s playing experience or his relative youth will translate to a harmonious relationship. That could go in any direction. But Mannion’s former teammates and coaches have been unanimous in their praise of how he comports himself.
As for Hurts’ actual position coach, the Eagles opted to move pass game coordinator Parks Frazier to quarterbacks coach and let Scot Loeffler go. Sirianni said he wanted some continuity, but also pointed to Frazier’s one season working in the Shanahan-McVay scheme with the Dolphins under McDaniel.
Grizzard offered Sirianni the chance to keep a runner-up for the job who also has experience in the system and one year of play-calling under his belt. While he could be viewed as a backup if Mannion struggles, the Eagles were likely more focused on having an in-house replacement to guard against what happened after Steichen and Moore left.
New tight ends coach/run game coordinator Ryan Mahaffey and offensive line coach Chris Kuper were Mannion hires and will be instrumental in installing the new wide zone blocking scheme.
10. The new scheme probably won’t increase the likelihood that Brown wants to stay in Philly.
Change is coming to the Eagles offense, but it’s not necessarily the kind of change that will make A.J. Brown happier.
Roseman will ultimately do what’s best for the team even if Brown no longer wants to be an Eagle. Brown has expressed his love for Philly, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he wants to return if the passing game is going to remain secondary.
Brown could envision a scenario in which the Shanahan-McVay scheme improves Hurts as a thrower and gives the receiver opportunities to use his skills after the catch. But if the running game remains the focus, he may not get the targets he desires.
Replacing Brown wouldn’t be easy, even if receiver DeVonta Smith has a more prominent role. The free-agent market is light at the position. And while the draft is said to be deep, there are few Day 1 starters at receiver. The Eagles also have other needs.
Roseman may need to replace all three of his top tight ends with Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcaterra and Kylen Granson slated for free agency. The Shanahan-McVay scheme favors hybrid tight ends who can run-block.
“I would say that the tight-end position starts with me in evolving,” Roseman said. “I think that from my perspective, I’ve always had an affinity for kind of the receiving tight ends. I think that that’s shown in my work.”
It certainly showed this past season. Goedert, Calcaterra, and Granson were detrimental to the running game. They weren’t the only ones.
The offseason is about to blast into full swing and, unlike this time a year ago, the Eagles are surrounded by question marks. On the heels of the team’s failed bid for another Super Bowl, coaching changes ensued, which are expected to usher in a significant philosophical pivot on offense. But with next week’s scouting combine approaching, the Eagles, along with the rest of the NFL, will start to focus more on personnel decisions. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane has covered plenty of combines, and knows where and how to dig up juicy intel. He and Inquirer colleague David Murphy examine Eagles storylines that figure to be front and center when the league descends on Indianapolis.
00:00 Getting gossip at the NFL’s biggest power broker mixer of the year
02:36 Forecasting A.J. Brown’s future
13:34 Which Eagles free agents could stay, go
20:55 Contract extensions and their implications on the defensive line
29:45 Diving into Sean Mannion and his scheme
37:01 How much will the Eagles change the offense?
44:20 Closing the book on Jeff Stoutland’s exit, Chris Kuper’s hiring
unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the season, including day-after-game reactions.
Lane Johnson is officially returning for a 14th season with the Eagles.
The right tackle told The Inquirer on Thursday that he will be back in 2026 after a month of uncertainty about his future following a season-ending injury and significant change in the Eagles’ coaching staff, most notably the departure of offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland.
Johnson said he would address Stoutland’s sudden resignation and the new staff, led by offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, at his next media availability. But he met with Mannion and new O-line coach Chris Kuper recently and is excited about turning the offense around, sources close to the situation said.
The return of Johnson, who turns 36 in May, will be key to coach Nick Sirianni’s expressed desire to “evolve” an offense that regressed significantly following a Super Bowl title just a season ago. Mannion is expected to bring with him the “Shanahan” system he both played and coached under as a quarterback and quarterbacks coach.
There will likely be changes to the Eagles’ blocking schemes, especially in the running game. Stoutland left when it was apparent he would no longer have responsibilities as run game coordinator. Sirianni did want him to return as O-line coach, however, sources told The Inquirer.
A six-time Pro Bowl player, Johnson was having another strong season until he suffered a Lisfranc foot fracture in Week 11. He had missed parts of other games with various setbacks, but the foot injury shelved him for the final eight games, including the wild-card playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Johnson avoided surgery on his foot, but the injury never healed enough for him to return last season. He has continued to rehab and is expected to be at full strength in the near future.
The Eagles have been a decidedly different team when Johnson is in the lineup vs. when he isn’t over his 13-year career. They are 110-57-1 when he plays and 18-27 when he doesn’t.
Center Cam Jurgens, (center) and guard Landon Dickerson (right) are among the other Eagles who were banged up this past season.
Johnson wasn’t the only offensive lineman who was banged up this past season. Left guard Landon Dickerson missed just two games, but he underwent knee surgery in August and played with multiple injuries throughout the campaign.
Dickerson, 27, expressed some doubt about his future immediately after the 49ers defeat. He has yet to publicly address his plans, but there have been concerns inside the Eagles organization about his health.
Recent indications are that Dickerson will return for his sixth season. The Eagles will likely have a clearer understanding of his plans ahead of next week’s NFL combine, when Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman are expected to be available to reporters in Indianapolis.
Center Cam Jurgens wasn’t 100% following offseason back surgery, especially early last season. He struggled to return to form, although he was the lone Eagles offensive lineman voted to the Pro Bowl in 2025. Jurgens recently traveled to Colombia for stem cell treatment on his back.
“I’m excited to get healthy and get ready for this next season, so that’s why I’m down here,” he posted on Instagram, referring to the country in South America.
Left tackle Jordan Mailata and right guard Tyler Steen didn’t miss time to injury, but the unit was clearly affected by the tenuous health of the O-line, particularly in the running game. The Eagles again had one of the better pass-blocking units, according to most metrics.
