Lane Johnson's 94-41 Record Tells You Everything About the Eagles' OL Crisis
The Eagles are 94-41-1 with Lane Johnson and 15-27 without him. At 36, his future is uncertain — and replacing him might be harder than replacing AJ Brown.
The JAKIB Staff
contributor
Here's a stat that should terrify every Eagles fan: Philadelphia is 94-41-1 with Lane Johnson in the lineup. Without him? 15-27. That's not a slight decline. That's a completely different football team. And heading into 2026, the Eagles have no idea which version of Lane Johnson they're getting back.
The Numbers Are Staggering
Ninety-four wins. Two Super Bowl appearances. A franchise-altering presence at right tackle. Lane Johnson has been the anchor of one of the NFL's best offensive lines for over a decade. But he's 36 years old, and Father Time is undefeated. The question isn't whether Johnson has been great — it's whether he can still be great enough.
When you have a 36-year-old on your roster in the NFL, the "what version am I getting?" question applies every single season. And with Johnson coming off an inconsistent second half of 2025, the Eagles can't bank on him being the same player who dominated for years.
Draft an Offensive Tackle — Now
The Eagles need to draft an offensive tackle this spring. Not as a luxury pick. Not as a "develop for the future" move. As an insurance policy that could become a starter by midseason. The Jeff Stoutland era is over. The offensive line identity that defined Philadelphia football for the better part of a decade needs to be rebuilt, and it starts with addressing the tackle position.
Optimistically, Johnson comes back healthy and gives the Eagles a significant upgrade over what they had in the second half of last year. But optimism isn't a roster strategy. Howie Roseman needs a plan for the very real possibility that Johnson's best football is behind him.
Harder to Replace Than AJ Brown
Everyone's talking about the AJ Brown trade debate. But as discussed on The National Football Show with Zander Krause, replacing Lane Johnson might actually be the harder problem. Elite offensive tackles don't grow on trees. The 2026 draft class has some options, but none of them are walking in and replicating what Johnson has meant to this franchise.
The Eagles' offensive line has been their identity for years. If they don't address it this offseason — aggressively, not passively — that 15-27 record without Johnson could become a preview of what's coming.
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The JAKIB Staff
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