Eagles' Offensive Line and Running Game: From Historic to Hoping for Health

The Philadelphia Eagles' offensive line went from historically dominant to merely above average in 2025, and the running game suffered even more. On Tuesday's Birds 365, John McMullen dove into the PFF numbers and delivered a take that will raise some eyebrows: Saquon Barkley may have been the worst individual performer among the Eagles' offensive skill players and linemen.

Saquon by the Numbers

PFF graded Barkley 42nd out of 59 qualifying running backs this season. With only 32 starting jobs in the league, that puts him well below average. His rushing grade alone was 25th of 53 — middle of the pack — but his receiving grade was "dismal" and his pass-blocking grade pulled his overall mark down significantly.

McMullen pointed out that Barkley himself acknowledged the issue all year, talking repeatedly about needing to be better on "dirty runs" — gaining two or three yards when that's what's blocked rather than losing five trying to break a big play. The Eagles also had the highest rate of contact behind the line of scrimmage in the league, though McMullen argued that wasn't solely an offensive line problem.

The O-Line Health Equation

McMullen is cautiously optimistic about Cam Jurgens' recovery from back surgery, noting that Jurgens himself expects to be better with a full offseason. Jurgens graded 18th of 37 centers by PFF — middle of the road but not as catastrophic as the lowlight reels suggested. McMullen believes some of Jurgens' technique breakdowns, particularly the whiffed blocks that went viral, may have been influenced by the injury.

Landon Dickerson is the bigger concern. McMullen was "very shaken" by Dickerson's post-loss comments and noted his injury history traces all the way back to college at Florida State and Alabama — double knee braces, ankles, the works. Lane Johnson's status remains a complete unknown.

The Draft Solution

When asked about potentially bringing back Makai Becton if he's released, McMullen was firm: "Lightning struck. Don't go back and expect it to strike again." Instead, he advocated for drafting a young offensive lineman with the 23rd pick — someone like Kaden Proctor who could start at right guard and eventually kick outside to replace Lane Johnson when the time comes. Tyler Steen provides versatility as a swing option at both guard spots.

The bottom line: the Eagles need their running game to return to at least 2021-2023 levels. They'll almost certainly never replicate the 2,000-yard Saquon season of 2024, but the baseline of the Miles Sanders and DeAndre Swift eras has to be the floor. Anything less and this offense will continue to struggle — especially if the passing game can't pick up the slack.

Watch Birds 365 on YouTube. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify.