With the 2026 regular season getting ready to open, the Philadelphia Eagles have a handful of players who need to raise their games. Not just hold steady - really push their production and overall impact into a different tier.
Some of the names on that list are young players trying to turn promise into proof. Others are veterans or contract-year pieces who could shape how this season unfolds for the Eagles. Either way, the margin for growth is clear.
Darius Cooper is one of the more intriguing names in that group. The undrafted wideout from Tarleton State drew plenty of positive attention again in his second training camp, and with Week 1 against Washington approaching, there’s a real opportunity in front of him.
Rookie Makai Lemon is still working back from hamstring issues, AJ Brown is out of the picture, and there are snaps and targets available in that receiver room. Veterans Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, and Elijah Moore are part of the mix, but Cooper has built undeniable chemistry with Jalen Hurts, and that trust gives him a real edge.
He looks close to becoming a household name for NFL fans.
Drew Kendall is another player who has put himself in position to matter. The second-year lineman out of Boston College has been earning strong reviews from teammates and coaches after a rookie season in which he was inactive for 10 games.
Now, after a quiet start to his career, he’s back with purpose and appears to be the top backup offensive lineman. That role matters even more because the Eagles’ offensive line is loaded with talent, but also dealt with major injury issues in 2025.
If Kendall is called on, the team will need him ready in a hurry.
At safety, the spotlight is squarely on Andrew Mukuba. The second-year defender out of Texas showed flashes as a rookie, including playmaking ability, but there were also coverage issues along the way.
This season, the ask is simple: become a steady presence in the secondary. Mukuba has had a strong summer, but that has to show up when the games count.
Tank Bigsby also has a big opportunity in front of him. He’s in the final year of his contract and coming off a season in which he averaged 5.7 yards per carry.
That kind of efficiency opens the door for a larger role, both as a complement to Saquon Barkley and as a player trying to set himself up for a new deal. Bigsby has been running with conviction all summer, and with new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion favoring a spread-the-ball approach, the setup is there for him to make a real impact.
Tyler Steen rounds out the list. The former Alabama guard is also in a contract year, and while his 2025 season was solid, there’s still more in the tank.
PFF ranked him 17th out of 81 guards, but the biggest challenge for Steen now is consistency. If he can deliver that on a regular basis, he can turn a good season into a much more valuable one for himself and the Eagles.
In Other News...
Eagles Quietly Fixed A Week 1 Problem Fans Remember Too Well
After a season in which tight end blocking was too often a lingering issue, the Eagles have made a quiet but pointed addition in Johnny Mundt, a veteran known more for the work he does without the ball than with it. Philadelphia brought him in to help stabilize the edge of the formation, where tight ends can have just as much responsibility in protection and the run game as they do as pass targets, especially on the right side of the line.
Mundt joins a tight end room that still has Dallas Goedert as the biggest receiving threat, along with E.J. Jenkins and rookie Eli Stowers, giving the Eagles a blend of roles as they get ready for Washington in Week 1. The move does not change the identity of the group, but it does suggest the staff is serious about cleaning up a part of the offense fans noticed last year, even if the bigger questions around usage and matchups are still waiting to be answered. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Have A Camp Battle Fans Should Feel Better About
The Eagles have spent camp shoring up the interior of their offensive line, and the early returns are enough to make the competition feel more like an encouraging sign than a problem. Howie Roseman has been vocal about his confidence in the growth of Drew Kendall, Willie Lampkin and Micah Morris, a trio that has given the staff reasons to believe the depth along the front is moving in the right direction.
Drew Kendall and Willie Lampkin have been the most visible parts of that battle, each showing enough at guard to make a real case for playing time. Both have also contributed heavily in preseason action, and offensive line coach Chris Kuper has pointed to their progress and consistency throughout camp, which is exactly the kind of development the Eagles want to see before the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Home Opener Could Mean More Than Fans Realize
The Eagles are getting set for their Week 1 home opener against the Washington Commanders, and the usual buzz around the start of a new season carries a quieter layer of significance. For Philadelphia, this one could double as a look at two familiar faces who have been part of some of the franchises biggest moments: veteran tight end Dallas Goedert and right tackle Lane Johnson.
Goedert is playing on a one-year deal, with Eli Stowers waiting in the wings as a possible successor, while Johnson is viewed as someone who may be nearing the finish line of his career. Both have been central figures for the Eagles and have helped deliver two Super Bowl rings, which makes the possibility of this being their last home opener at Lincoln Financial Field feel like more than just another early-September game. [Read more 🡒]