The Eagles’ offense may not have the same buzz it once did, but the new version of the trio still has plenty to work with in 2026.
The conversation around Philadelphia has shifted fast, especially after the trade of A.J. Brown.
CBS Sports writer Jared Dubin’s latest ranking of the NFL’s best triplets reflected that slide, with Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and DeVonta Smith landing at No. 10.
That’s still respect, but it’s also a clear step back from where the Eagles were before.
“Philly fell from second to ninth. That's due to a combination of drop-off from both Hurts and Barkley, and the downgrade from the departed A.J.
Brown to Smith, who now steps into the role as Hurts' No. 1 option. It felt last year like the Super Bowl shine was carrying the Eagles' rankings, and now that the shine has worn off, they are probably in a more appropriate place on this list.”
Still, the idea that Philadelphia is suddenly in trouble without Brown feels overstated. The gap between Brown and Smith is not nearly as wide as it’s being made out to be.
Smith actually led the Eagles in receiving yards last season with 1,008, just ahead of Brown’s 1,003. The difference was slim, but Smith was the steadier presence. Brown had his moments, yet his season ended poorly with two drops in the NFC Wild Card Round loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Brown also wasn’t operating at the same level he had shown in earlier seasons. The play-calling didn’t help, but his own frustration showed up too, and it spilled into his performance.
Barkley had his own issues behind an offensive line that was dealing with injuries at three of the five starting spots. Even so, he still finished in the top 12 in rushing yards and scored seven touchdowns.
Hurts wasn’t as sharp throwing the ball as he has been in the past, but he took care of the football and kept mistakes to a minimum. He still put up a career-high 25 touchdown passes and earned his third Pro Bowl selection.
So while the outside world may not view Hurts, Barkley, and Smith with the same fear factor they once reserved for Brown, this is still a trio that can do damage. And with less noise coming from the wide receiver room, Philadelphia may actually be in a cleaner place heading into 2026.
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The transition matters because Mailata is not just being asked to hold his usual standard, he is also adjusting to a new system built around a wide-zone run game. For a player who has already climbed so far in his NFL career, the learning curve has brought a fresh edge to camp, and Mailata has embraced it as a chance to feel challenged again while helping anchor whatever version of the Eagles offense comes next. [Read more 🡒]