NFC Offseason Power Rankings: Where the Eagles Stand and What It Takes to Get Back

Two weeks removed from watching the Seahawks hoist the Lombardi Trophy — a trophy that was ours last year — it's time to take an honest look at where the NFC stands heading into the 2026 offseason. The Eagles aren't on top right now. But the gap is a lot smaller than you think, and the path back is clearer than most people realize.

1. Seattle Seahawks — The Team to Beat

Give credit where it's due. Seattle went 14-3, steamrolled the 49ers in the divisional round, beat the Rams 31-27 in the NFC Championship, and then dominated New England 29-13 in Super Bowl LX. That's a team firing on all cylinders. The NFC West produced three playoff teams with a combined 38-13 record, and the Seahawks were the best of the bunch. They're the standard until someone knocks them off.

2. Los Angeles Rams — Closer Than You Think

The Rams made it to the NFC Championship and gave Seattle a genuine fight. Losing 31-27 in the conference title game is nothing to be ashamed of. With Matthew Stafford's window closing, they'll be aggressive this offseason. The question is whether they can keep pace with a Seahawks team that just got the ultimate confidence boost. The Rams are dangerous, but they need one more piece on defense.

3. Philadelphia Eagles — The Sleeping Giant

Here's where it gets real. The Eagles went 11-6, won the NFC East for the second straight year — the first team to repeat as NFC East champs since the 2001-2004 Eagles dynasty — and then ran into a 49ers team that had their number in a 23-19 Wild Card loss. Disappointing? Absolutely. A reason to panic? Not even close.

Look at what this team still has. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean were both first-team All-Pros in their second year. Let that register. Two corners under 25, both first-team All-Pro, both drafted by this front office. Jalen Carter made the Pro Bowl again. Zack Baun continued his breakout. Cam Jurgens established himself as one of the best centers in football. Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley are still here. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are still here. Nine Eagles made the NFL Top 100.

The issue wasn't talent — it was the three-game losing streak after the 8-2 start, and an offense that never found its rhythm under Kevin Patullo. That problem has been addressed. Patullo is gone, Sean Mannion is in as offensive coordinator, and the hope is that a more coherent scheme unlocks what this offense is capable of. The defense doesn't need fixing. It needs maybe one edge rusher and a safety, and this team is right back in the championship conversation.

4. San Francisco 49ers — Still Dangerous

The 49ers beat the Eagles in the Wild Card round before getting obliterated by the Seahawks in the divisional. They're still talented, but the window might be starting to close with key players aging and the Seahawks and Rams dominating the division. San Francisco will be good next year, but "good" might not be enough in the NFC West.

5. Washington Commanders — The Wildcard

Jayden Daniels has changed everything in Washington. The Commanders are building something real, and in a year or two, the NFC East could be a two-team race between Philly and Washington for a decade. Daniels has the arm, the legs, and the moxie. But they're still a tier below the Eagles in terms of overall roster construction.

What the Eagles Need This Offseason

The blueprint is clear. First, get the offensive coordinator situation right — and early returns on Mannion are encouraging. Second, add an impact edge rusher through the draft or free agency. Jaelan Phillips showed flashes but was inconsistent. Nolan Smith Jr. needs to take a leap. Third, figure out the safety position — Reed Blankenship is a free agent and the secondary needs a long-term answer next to the Mitchell-DeJean tandem.

Fourth — and this is the big one — extend Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter. Both deals create cap flexibility and lock in the defensive interior for the next half-decade. As we broke down earlier, the salary cap math works. It always works when Howie Roseman is running the numbers.

The Bottom Line

The Seahawks are the champs and they deserve the top spot. But the Eagles have something Seattle doesn't: a young defensive core that's already been to the mountaintop and knows what it takes. Mitchell and DeJean are 24 and 23 years old. Carter is 24. Jihaad Campbell is a rookie All-Pro. This isn't a team in decline. This is a team that had an off year — by Eagles standards — and still won the division.

The NFC is deep, it's talented, and it's going to be a dogfight in 2026. But if you're asking me who's best positioned to be hoisting the trophy next February? I'll take the Birds. The core is there. The coaching has been upgraded. And the hunger of watching someone else celebrate in your building? That's the most dangerous fuel in sports.