The Eagles are heading into a pivotal 2026 season with plenty of pressure spread across the roster, and not every player can afford a slow start. Some spots already feel like they’re under a microscope, and if those players don’t deliver, Philadelphia could be looking for different answers before long.
Tyler Steen is one of the names right in that conversation. He had a solid first full season as the starting right guard, but he still wasn’t on the same level as the other four starters, who are viewed as top-10 players at their positions. There’s room for him to keep climbing, but the clock is ticking. 2026 is his chance to show he can become more than just a decent starter, because if he doesn’t improve, he could be on the move to another team.
Nolan Smith Jr. is another player facing a huge year. He posted only three sacks last season, and that came on the heels of his arrest about a month after the Eagles picked up his fifth-year option on his rookie contract.
The first-round pedigree is there, but the production hasn’t matched it. Whether he stays in Philadelphia or gets traded in the offseason could come down to what he does this season.
Jake Elliott also lands on the list, and this one is hard to argue with after back-to-back seasons of hitting under 80% of his field goals. He has the tools to be one of the better kickers in the league, but his issues from 50 yards and beyond have been a real problem. 2026 gives him a chance to quiet the noise and get back into a rhythm.
Will Shipley is in a different kind of spot, but the pressure is still real. He’s had some preseason moments that helped him get back on Eagles fans’ good side, yet his regular-season track record over the last few years hasn’t been strong enough. With Tank Bigsby potentially bringing more to the table this season, Shipley has to prove he belongs in the long-term picture if he wants his time in Philly to turn around.
And then there’s Jalen Hurts, a name that will absolutely raise eyebrows. This isn’t about him losing his job in 2027, but it is about how much his future changes if 2026 doesn’t bring a better season.
If Hurts doesn’t take a step forward, the Eagles could draft a young quarterback in the first or second round to push him. That might not be the right move, but it’s a possibility.
His situation gets even more interesting if Nick Sirianni is fired after the 2026 season, which also sounds insane.
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 🡒]