Lane Johnson Returns at 36: What Version Are the Eagles Getting Back?

Lane Johnson is coming back. The 36-year-old right tackle, a six-time Pro Bowler, three-time NFC champion, and two-time Super Bowl champion, has committed to a 14th NFL season with the Philadelphia Eagles. And honestly? You should be thrilled. But you should also be realistic.

The age doesn't bug me. It really doesn't. Look at Jason Peters — the man was playing quality football at 42 years old. Great offensive linemen don't hit their prime until their thirties, and some of the best in history played deep into their late thirties. Age is not the issue with tackles the way it is at skill positions.

The Real Concern: Accumulation of Injuries

What should concern you is the accumulation of injuries. This isn't a guy who's been healthy for 14 straight years. The wear and tear on his body is the real variable here. How many games will he actually give you? That's the million-dollar question.

Here's the number to circle: 13. If Lane Johnson plays north of 13 regular season games and gets into the playoffs healthy, that's a successful return. Miss four games? That's fine. Because here's the alternative — Fred Johnson. And no disrespect, but that's not the answer and everybody knows it.

The O-Line Picture Is Bigger Than Lane

Lane isn't the only offensive lineman with health question marks. Landon Dickerson is coming back too — with 13 surgeries on his résumé. Cam Jurgens has been banged up. The offensive line that dominated during the Super Bowl run? It's not the same unit. It's older, more fragile, and now operating without Jeff Stoutland, arguably the best offensive line coach in NFL history.

That last part is the quiet storm nobody's talking about enough. Chris Kuper is now the guy developing young linemen. Does anybody feel confident about Kuper coaching up a raw tackle the way Stoutland could? Stoutland turned mid-round picks into starters and late-round guys into contributors. That's a lost superpower.

The Draft Implications

Lane coming back doesn't mean you skip offensive tackle in the draft. If anything, it means the opposite. You draft his replacement NOW and let Lane mentor the kid. Whether it's a first-rounder or a Day 2 pick, Lane's presence gives you the luxury of developing someone behind a future Hall of Famer instead of throwing a rookie into the fire.

Kaden Proctor out of Alabama is getting buzz as a potential target — a massive, athletic tackle who could be a Stoutland-type project. But without Stoutland, does that profile still work? That's a legitimate question the front office needs to answer before the draft.

Bottom Line

Lane Johnson is a future Hall of Famer, a two-time champion, and still the best right tackle on this roster by a country mile. Welcome him back with open arms. Just don't pretend the 36-year-old body with years of accumulated injuries is going to give you 17 games and a playoff run without some bumps. Get him 13-plus and into January? That's a win. Anything beyond that is gravy.