The Philadelphia Eagles have long been known for building from the trenches, and with the 2026 offseason underway, that philosophy might be more important than ever.
What once looked like a draft focused on skill positions-tight end, wide receiver-has taken a sharp turn. With longtime offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland stepping away and veterans Lane Johnson and Landon Dickerson mulling retirement, the Eagles suddenly find themselves staring down a depth chart that feels a little too thin for comfort. The offensive line, once the team’s most stable unit, is now a question mark.
That’s why more and more mock drafts are pivoting to the line, and in Bleacher Report’s first post-Super Bowl projection, the Eagles are pegged to take Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor with the 23rd overall pick.
Proctor is no stranger to the spotlight. A consensus All-American and first-team All-SEC honoree in 2025, he’s been on NFL radars for years. His college résumé is stacked-second-team All-SEC in 2024, freshman All-American in 2023-and while his 2025 season started off a bit rocky, he rebounded in the second half, showing why he was once projected as a top-10 pick.
There’s still some polish needed-Proctor isn’t a finished product-but the tools are all there. He’s massive, athletic, and versatile, with the potential to play both guard and tackle. That kind of flexibility is exactly what the Eagles could use right now.
Even with the uncertainty surrounding Johnson and Dickerson, the Eagles still have three high-level starters anchoring the line. That gives them the luxury of easing Proctor in, likely at right guard to start. And if Johnson does decide to hang it up sooner rather than later, Proctor’s experience at tackle means he’s more than just a stopgap-he could be the long-term answer.
Tyler Steen held his own at right guard last season, earning a solid 71.6 grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranked him 17th out of 81 guards. That’s respectable, but it doesn’t necessarily lock him into the starting role. If Proctor shows he’s ready, there’s a real path to playing time in Year 1.
The Eagles are clearly in a transitional phase up front, but this isn’t panic mode-it’s preparation. Adding a player like Proctor isn’t just about plugging a hole. It’s about maintaining the identity that’s helped define this team for years: physical, smart, and built to win in the trenches.
If Philly wants to keep Jalen Hurts upright and the offense humming, investing in the offensive line is the smart move. And with Proctor, they may be getting a future cornerstone at a critical moment.