The Eagles are heading into 2026 with the kind of expectations that don’t really go away, even after a one-and-done playoff exit and an offseason that included the trade of disgruntled star receiver A.J. Brown. The noise around the offense has only grown louder, but ESPN’s latest projection says the roster still belongs near the top of the league.
Aaron Schatz, Mike Clay, and Seth Walder have the Eagles entering 2026 with the second-best starting lineup in the NFL, behind only the Los Angeles Rams, who are boosted by their Myles Garrett acquisition. The rest of the top five includes the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, the Buffalo Bills, and the Baltimore Ravens.
That ranking matters less because of the coaches and more because of the pressure it creates. On paper, the Eagles still look like a top-five team, and the defense is the biggest reason why.
That side of the ball got even stronger with the additions of edge rusher Jonathan Greenard and cornerback Riq Woolen, plus the move that puts Jihaad Campbell into a full-time starting role. With that group now deeper into Year 3 under Vic Fangio, the ceiling remains very high.
The offense is the part that has to answer. It’s another year older, and it’s also changing direction under first-time play-caller Sean Mannion. The new system, with more under-center work and traditional play-action for Jalen Hurts, would seem to point away from the kind of plus-one impact in the running game that has helped define the offense at its best.
There are still plenty of questions there. Saquon Barkley may not repeat the historic season he had in 2025, and health remains a major concern on the offensive line, along with the depth behind the stars.
That’s why the ESPN projection feels, at least on offense, more tied to reputation than to what the team actually showed last season. It also gives a lot of credit for the offense’s underachievement to deposed coordinator Kevin Patullo, who was largely made the scapegoat for the team’s problems.
That kind of thinking - putting scheme and coaching pedigree ahead of raw talent - seems to be showing up more and more in league circles.
Still, the talent is hard to ignore. If the Eagles really are this close to the top of the NFL, they should be in position to have things break their way, unless attrition hits hard or Mannion gets in the way.
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