The Eagles are heading into Sunday’s 4:25 p.m. meeting with the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field with a roster that looks loaded enough to make a game like this feel like the start of something bigger. And if these 10 predictions hit, the season could wind up looking a lot better than last year’s version.
Start with the defensive line, where there are several different ways this thing could break right. Moro Ojomo could put together the kind of year Javon Hargrave had in 2022, when Hargrave finished with 11 sacks.
Jalyx Hunt also has the kind of upside that makes a big leap feel possible. But the pick here is Jalen Carter, who looks intent on turning a massive contract into a massive season.
He’ll have to fight through constant double teams, but if he wins enough of those battles, the AP Defensive Player of the Year award is in play.
The secondary has its own interesting possibilities, even if some names are too established to qualify as real surprises. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are too proven to fit that label.
Jihaad Campbell does. So does Tank Bigsby.
But the prediction goes to Riq Woolen, who has his own motivation: turning a one-year deal into something longer term. Cornerbacks are getting paid, and the recent wave includes Christian Gonzalez, Devon Witherspoon, and Denzel Ward.
The biggest surprise category took some sorting through because this roster is stacked. Jihaad Campbell is a strong candidate.
Cam Jurgens would qualify too, though only because a back issue is always a possible concern. Still, the pick is Jake Elliott, and that comes with the note that his downward spiral over the last two years makes it less of a leap than it might seem.
Dallas Goedert’s red-zone production is another area that could shift. He set a single-season team record with 11 touchdowns last year, most of them inside the 20. But the offense is expected to look different, which could trim his chances near the goal line.
Saquon Barkley, meanwhile, is projected to stay busy and productive. After scoring 15 touchdowns in 2024, he’s expected to land close to that number again, with 14 as the call. He’s also the pick to lead the team in rushing with 1,450 yards.
At quarterback, the expectations are straightforward for the 28-year-old entering his seventh season. The forecast is 3,450 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The bigger point is that he should keep showing why he’s been a winner, especially considering he hasn’t missed the playoffs in his five seasons as the full-time starter.
At receiver, DeVonta Smith is projected to top A.J. Brown’s single-season receiving record of 1,496 yards, with the number landing just over 1,500. That would be one of the louder individual numbers on the offense.
There’s also a prediction that Zach Baun will again lead the Eagles in tackles. He’s done it the last two years, and the expectation is that he’ll do it again, this time with 140.
On the edge, Jalyx Hunt is the sack pick. He posted 6.5 last season, and the forecast calls for him to double that total and finish with 13.
In the takeaway department, Riq Woolen is the interception choice as well. The thinking is that with Mitchell and DeJean around him, opponents will throw his way often enough for him to capitalize.
He had six interceptions as a rookie and has recorded at least one in every NFL season so far, with five predicted here.
There are a couple of other name checks worth noting. Makai Lemon and Markel Bell are the two receivers in the running for a bigger role, unless second-round Eli Stowers develops quickly.
Lemon is the one expected to get more chances. Jonathan Greenard could be in the sack conversation if he stays healthy, though a pec strain kept him out of every practice over the summer.
Nolan Smith has the talent too, but health is again the question.
As for the team outlook, the Eagles are projected to win a third straight NFC East title with 11 victories. The even-year trend is part of the case, since they’ve reached the Super Bowl in both 2022 and 2024. The postseason run is expected to stop against the Rams, whether that comes in the Divisional Round or the NFC title game.
In Other News...
Eagles May Have Created A Bigger Problem With A.J. Brown Move
The Eagles decision to trade A.J. Brown to New England after the 2025 season was supposed to settle a tension that had been building between the star receiver and Jalen Hurts. Instead, it has put the spotlight on how Philadelphia plans to keep its offense moving without one of the leagues most dangerous pass catchers, and rival teams are already questioning whether the move solved anything at all.
Philadelphia is now set to lean on younger options such as Makai Lemon and Dontayvion Wicks to absorb the production and attention Brown once commanded. The challenge is not just replacing his numbers, but replacing the type of threat that changes how defenses line up, and that is why the Eagles next step on offense has become so much more complicated than a simple roster move. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Week 1 Depth Chart Leaves Pressure On Two Key Roles
The Eagles have put out their full depth chart for the 2026 regular season, and it offers a clear look at where the roster is settled and where the real intrigue still sits. Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby are lined up at running back, Dallas Goedert remains the lead tight end, and Jalen Carter anchors the defensive tackle spot, but the chart also makes it plain that not every job has been neatly sorted out.
The biggest unresolved question remains at quarterback, where the backup role is still up for grabs between Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee. There are also lingering decisions on how Jonathan Greenard will be used off the edge and how the cornerback group will hold up after injuries and uneven preseason showings, leaving a few important snaps to be determined even with Week 1 here. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Keeping One Crucial Week 1 Decision Under Wraps
Nick Sirianni had plenty to say before practice, but the most important detail remained off limits. The Eagles coach addressed a handful of early-season topics, including how the team plans to handle its offense in Week 1, and confirmed that offensive coordinator Sean Mannion will likely be upstairs in the booth calling plays. He also took time to highlight the approach of injured players such as Jonathan Greenard, while continuing to show faith in rookie wideout Makai Lemon and praising DeVonta Smith for the leadership and work habits that have made him one of the teams steadier voices.
Still, the one question that tends to matter most when the games start has not been answered yet: who will back up Jalen Hurts. Sirianni stopped short of revealing the decision, leaving the depth charts most scrutinized spot unresolved as the opener approaches. For a team built around Hurts, the job behind him is easy to overlook until it suddenly is not, which is why the Eagles have kept that choice quiet even as they lay out the rest of their Week 1 plan. [Read more 🡒]