Eagles 2026 Position Report Cards: Offensive Line
Philadelphia's offensive line returns all five starters in 2026 but faces critical questions about depth, Tyler Steen's development, and how a new scheme under Sean Mannion will reshape the unit's identity.
Eagles 2026 Position Report Cards: Offensive Line
The Foundation Holds — But the Margins Are Thinner
There is no sugarcoating it: the Philadelphia Eagles have the best offensive line in football. That has been true for three years running, and heading into 2026, the starting five of Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, and Lane Johnson remains the most talented collection of blockers in the NFL.
But report cards are not about reputation. They are about performance, trajectory, and whether a unit is getting better or worse. And when you dig beneath the surface of this group, the picture is more complicated than the nameplate suggests.
Overall Grade: A-
The Elite Tier: Mailata, Dickerson, Jurgens
Start with the left side, because that is where the Eagles separate themselves from every other team. Jordan Mailata posted a 95.8 PFF grade in 2024 — the best of his career — allowing just one sack while earning elite marks in both pass protection and run blocking. He followed that up with another dominant campaign in 2025, and at 27 years old, he is squarely in his prime.
Landon Dickerson is a three-time Pro Bowler who has tied the franchise record for most Pro Bowl selections at the guard position. His chemistry with Mailata on the left side creates a wall that opposing defensive coordinators simply cannot scheme around. Dickerson is the kind of player who makes everyone around him better — his communication, his physicality, and his consistency are the backbone of this unit.
Cam Jurgens stepped into Jason Kelce's shoes and made the job look seamless. His athleticism at the center position allows the Eagles to run their stretch and pull concepts at an elite level, and his ability to get to the second level on zone runs is a legitimate weapon. Jurgens is entering his age-25 season and still has room to grow.
These three players would anchor any offensive line in football. They are the reason the Eagles rushed for a club-record 3,048 yards in 2024 — the sixth-highest total in NFL history.
The Question Mark: Tyler Steen at Right Guard
This is where the grade takes a hit.
Tyler Steen entered 2025 with something to prove. After ranking 75th out of 77 qualifying guards in PFF grades during his limited 2024 action — which included four holding penalties — the third-round pick needed a complete transformation. And to his credit, he earned every first-team rep in training camp and played all 63 snaps in the 2025 opener to solid reviews.
But consistency remained elusive. Steen flashed dominant stretches where his 6-6, 321-pound frame looked like exactly what the Eagles needed as Mekhi Becton's replacement. Then he would follow it up with a game where he struggled against interior speed rushes or got caught in no-man's land on combo blocks.
The talent is real. The question is whether Steen can put together a full 17-game season of starter-caliber play without the peaks and valleys. At just 25 years old heading into 2026, there is still time for the light to fully come on. But the Eagles cannot afford to wait forever — not with a championship window wide open.
The Anchor: Lane Johnson
Lane Johnson is 36 years old. That sentence alone should terrify Eagles fans, but Johnson continues to defy father time with elite-level play. He remains one of the best pass protectors in the league, and his leadership in the room is irreplaceable.
The reality, however, is that Johnson's window is closing. Every offseason brings questions about whether this is the last ride, and the Eagles need to start planning for life after their franchise right tackle. Fred Johnson's one-year re-signing helps as a swing tackle option, but the long-term answer is not on this roster yet.
Depth: The Concerning Part
This is where the grade really gets dinged. The Eagles lost Brett Toth to the 49ers and Matt Pryor to Arizona this offseason. Those were their top interior backup and a versatile veteran, respectively. Fred Johnson's return on a one-year deal provides swing tackle insurance behind Mailata and Lane Johnson, but the interior depth is genuinely thin.
If Dickerson, Jurgens, or Steen misses time, the Eagles are in trouble. The 2026 NFL Draft needs to address this — a Day 2 or early Day 3 interior lineman should be near the top of Howie Roseman's priority list.
The Scheme Factor
New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion inherits one of the most talented offensive lines in football, but his scheme will demand different things from this group. How the transition from Kellen Moore's system plays out will determine whether this unit takes a step forward or treads water.
The good news: the talent is scheme-proof at the top. Mailata, Dickerson, and Jurgens can do anything you ask of them. The question is whether Mannion's system maximizes Steen's strengths and puts the unit in positions to dominate the way Jeff Stoutland's coaching once did. New offensive line coach Chris Kuper has big shoes to fill after Stoutland's departure.
The Verdict
The Eagles' offensive line is still the best in football. That is not debatable. But the margin between best-in-the-league and vulnerable-in-January is thinner than it has been in years. The starting five is elite at three positions, developing at one, and aging at another. The depth behind them is the weakest it has been since this core came together.
Grade: A- — The starters are phenomenal, but depth losses and the Steen question keep this from an A. If Steen takes the leap and Roseman addresses the backup situation in the draft, this becomes an A+ by September.
Enjoying this article?
JAKIB members get premium articles, ad-free shows, exclusive content, and community access. Starting at $4.99/mo.
The JAKIB Staff
AI-powered content assistant for JAKIB Sports. Articles generated from show transcripts and Eagles coverage.
Related Articles
The Eagles Built the NFL's Best Cornerback Trio — And Nobody Saw It Coming
The Eagles Built the NFL's Best Cornerback Trio — And Nobody Saw It Coming
With Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and Riq Woolen, Philadelphia has quietly assembled the most talented cornerback group in football. Here's why it could be the foundation of a championship defense.
Why Lane Johnson Will Be Harder to Replace Than AJ Brown
Why Lane Johnson Will Be Harder to Replace Than AJ Brown
Wide receivers are dime a dozen in the modern NFL. A Hall of Fame right tackle? That's a once-in-a-generation find. Here's why Lane Johnson's departure will hurt more than AJ Brown's.
How the Eagles Could Land Myles Garrett for Just One Net First-Round Pick
How the Eagles Could Land Myles Garrett for Just One Net First-Round Pick
The math works. Trade AJ Brown post-June 1 for a first, trade out of 23 for another, and suddenly three firsts for Myles Garrett only costs the Eagles one net pick. Here's the full blueprint.
The A.J. Brown Trade Is Inevitable — Here's Why June 1 Changes Everything
The A.J. Brown Trade Is Inevitable — Here's Why June 1 Changes Everything
The Eagles are going to trade A.J. Brown — the only question is when and for what. The June 1 cap deadline is the most important date in Philadelphia's offseason, and Howie Roseman knows exactly what he's doing.
Ian Cummings Breaks Down the Eagles' Best Tight End Targets in the 2026 Draft
Ian Cummings Breaks Down the Eagles' Best Tight End Targets in the 2026 Draft
With 21 draftable tight ends, the 2026 class is loaded. Here are the names that fit the Eagles' Shanahan-style offense — and where they'll likely come off the board.
Breaking Down the Top 5 Edge Rushers in the 2026 NFL Draft
Breaking Down the Top 5 Edge Rushers in the 2026 NFL Draft
With edge rusher as arguably the Eagles' biggest need, here's a deep dive into the top 5 edge prospects in the 2026 draft class — and why none of them may be available at pick 23.