There’s plenty of noise around the Eagles’ offensive line, but Lane Johnson isn’t part of the debate. The starting right tackle remains one of the NFL’s gold-standard players, and a recent ranking made that crystal clear.
FanSided writers Cody Williams and Jake Beckman put together a top 50 list of the best players heading into the 2026 season, and Johnson checked in at No. 9 - the highest spot of any Eagle.
That placement comes after a 2025 season interrupted by a foot injury, but the early part of Johnson’s year still showed exactly why he belongs in the elite tier. In 262 pass-blocking snaps, he didn’t give up a sack. If not for missing the final seven games of the regular season, he would have been in the mix for Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors again.
Beckman made the case in blunt terms:
"Hand up: 2025 was not a good season for Lane Johnson," Beckman said. "He dealt with some pretty tough injuries that caused him to miss time during games, but the kicker was a Lisfranc (foot) injury that caused him to miss the last eight games of the season.
But this is Lane Johnson that we’re talking about … Missing a handful of games in one season isn’t going to take away from the Hall-of-Fame level of player that he is.
Since the pandemic, he’s played in 76 games. That’s 4,567 total offense snaps and 2,802 pass blocking snaps (per PFF) … And he’s only allowed five total sacks.
It’s not like he’s getting help either. The vast majority of the time, the Eagles will throw him on an island and let him do his job.
He simply erases pass rushers from the field. Nick Bosa?
Not a problem. Micah Parsons?
Non-factor. Maxx Crosby?
See ya.
Over the past decade, he’s been the best and most consistent right tackle in the NFL. Hell, the dude has such an amazing kickstep that people accuse him of cheating. That’s next-level stuff."
Johnson’s résumé already reads like a future Hall of Famer’s: six Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pro selections, and two Super Bowl titles with Philadelphia.
The Eagles had two more players crack the top 50 as well. Saquon Barkley landed at No. 23, while Cooper DeJean came in at No. 42.
Barkley’s numbers dipped, but the offensive line injuries around him clearly played a role. Even so, he still finished with 1,140 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
DeJean, meanwhile, put together a breakout second season. He was second on the team with 16 pass deflections, added 93 tackles and two interceptions, and earned All-Pro recognition alongside fellow cornerback Quinyon Mitchell.
Three Eagles in the top 50 says plenty about the talent on the roster. But Johnson at No. 9 says even more about the kind of player he’s been, and the career he’s built.
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Eagles Suddenly Face A Tough Young Pass Rusher Decision
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For Philadelphia, the conversation is less about a confirmed move than about how much value it places on a young edge defender who has shown enough to draw outside interest. The Eagles have a decision to make with a player on a manageable contract and a profile that could appeal to a team trying to patch a hole quickly, but any deal would have to make sense for a front office that usually does not give away useful pass rush depth without a strong return. [Read more 🡒]