When first thinking about the Philadelphia Eagles, their offensive line is usually one of the first things that come up. Over the years, it’s been clear that the Eagles will always have their offensive line as a top priority, and the success of that unit has been paramount. They have been one of the league’s best units for the last few years and routinely top the charts as the best offensive line, according to PFF. A great offensive line is key to their offense being able to open running lanes not only for Swift but Jalen Hurts as well. What’s more, they are one of the best pass-protecting offensive lines in the league, able to keep a clean pocket for Hurts to hit deep balls to A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert.
With the importance of the offensive line being stated, now it’s time to evaluate whether the Eagles can continue to keep the same amount of dominance along the front. The Eagles have a healthy mix of older and younger players. Even though starting guard Isaac Seumalo left in free agency, it’s hard to believe the Eagles offensive line will see any type of drop at all. But, with some older players as starters, do the Eagles have enough depth?
Check out the other Eagles depth chart previews below:
Previewing the Philadelphia Eagles Offensive Line
Starters: Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Jason Kelce, Tyler Steen, Lane Johnson
Four starters on the current Eagles offensive line depth chart are essentially absolute. According to PFF, both Eagles tackles rank in the top ten offensive tackles in the league. Lane Johnson is a future hall of famer who ranks at number two, while Jordan Malaita ranks at eight. Another Eagles stalwart is another future hall of famer in center Jason Kelce, who for much of the last decade has been considered one of if not the best centers in the league. While Kelce and Johnson are aging and coming toward the end of their careers, there has been no drop-off of play from them. They are both phenomenal and Kelce has been ultra-durable, missing zero games since 2015.
The left guard spot on the Eagles offensive line is occupied by former Alabama product Landon Dickerson. Dickerson has just been damn good throughout his career for the Eagles. Even though he was drafted as a center, his size and athleticism have made him a great guard capable of opening run lanes and being immovable in the pass game.
However, the right guard spot has been in question this offseason with competition in place for the job. Third-round pick, Tyler Steen leads the Eagles depth chart at right guard and figures to be the starter come Week 1. Steen played tackle at both Vanderbilt and Alabama in college. He is a big and athletic lineman who was impressive at times in college. A lot of his struggles at tackle in college came from a lack of length and foot speed, which is not as important for NFL guards.
Second Stringers: Brett Toth, Sua Opeta, Cam Jurgens, Tyrese Robinson, Jack Driscoll
The big headliner of this group is Cam Jurgens, a second-round pick in 2022. Jurgens is a natural center, but he’s also competing for the right guard spot along the Eagles offensive line. If Jurgens doesn’t win the job at right guard, he’ll stay as Kelce’s understudy and provide good depth for the Eagles in 2023. The other name fans might know is swing tackle, Jack Driscoll. While Driscoll is not a star tackle, he is a reliably good player who has stepped in for injured starters over the last two years. He provides incredible depth and has inspired lots of confidence from the Eagles’ coaches. If Johnson or Mailata get injured, Driscoll will be able to step up with solid play to fill in.
The rest of these players are largely unknown in their quality. Both guards, Sua Opeta and Tyrese Robinson have yet to see any play time in the league. They both spent time on the practice squad last year for the Eagles but both were eventually released. They have been brought back largely due to their familiarity with the Eagles for training camp this year. Tackle Brett Toth has a little more experience, playing snaps in 17 games throughout his four-year career with one start. Toth is an Army University product who has also spent time with the Arizona Cardinals. He missed the entire 2022 season with a knee injury.
Players Fighting for Roster Spots: Roderick Johnson, Julian Good-Jones, Fred Johnson
As third-string tackles, Roderick Johnson and Fred Johnson have enough experience to challenge Toth as a second-stringer. Roderick Johnson spent three years on the Texans with six starts over that time. Fred Johnsons has spent some time with the Bengals and Buccaneers with eight starts. Both fit the Eagles mold as massive tackles who are forces in the trenches. Expect both to make the roster as depth in case the Eagles tackles get bit by the injury bug. Julian Good-Jones is another big guard who the Eagles seem to gravitate towards. Good-Jones was an offensive tackle in the CFL until he was signed in January by the Eagles. He will be an interesting player to watch to see how he translates from the CFL to the NFL. Maybe he could be a player that has a similar arc to Jordan Malaita, coming from a foreign league.
Eagles Offensive Line Conclusion
All in all, there should be no real reason to expect the Eagles offensive line to fall off this year. While there have been some injury issues from time to time with Mailata and Johnson, Driscoll has proven to be a really good backup with quality to fill in when needed. Expect Tyler Steen to win the starting job at right guard. Jurgens can still be a great player, but he doesn’t have the desired size the Eagles usually look for in starting guards. Jurgens will remain the successor to Jason Kelce and provide solid depth in the meantime. Steen can come in right away and fill out that guard spot at a valuable level even as a rookie. The rest of the second-stringers and roster spots will be decided by who performs best in camp. Don’t be surprised if Roderick Johnson or Fred Johnson beat out Brett Toth.
Main Image: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
