The Philadelphia Eagles ended 2025 with their tails between their legs. A Super Bowl defense felt likely, but there was always lingering doubt that the untreated flaws in the team would haunt them, and that's exactly what happened. Needless to say, the team has some big questions to answer this year.
The Eagles rightly parted ways with Kevin Patullo, but is replacing him going to magically solve the offensive problems? Few are calling for Head Coach Nick Sirianni to be fired, but questions have to be asked. For three seasons, the same patterns have occurred, whether it was a Kellen Moore offense, a Kevin Patullo offense, or I would imagine, one you would call if hired.
The offense is very much Sirianni's, and while he doesn't call plays, it's his scheme being implemented, and his gameplan executed. The woes of offense have persisted through the Super Bowl run and into this season. Complaints were still there in that magical season, but winning cures everything... until it doesn't.
There has to be something fundamentally implemented to stop history repeating itself once more. Be it a tighter leash from Mr. Lurie, or a new set of expectations for Sirianni.
The CB2 spot was an eyesore for most of the season. It became apparent that Kelee Ringo wasn't quite at the level many anticipated, and while Adoree Jackson flashed, he's not a long-term solution.
The Eagles could flex Cooper DeJean out wide, but it doesn't make sense to move one of the best nickel corners in the game and create a new weakness. Finding the next CB2 is imperative this offseason, but whether the Eagles decide to attack that through free agency or the NFL Draft is anyone's guess.
The offensive line drastically underwhelmed this season. Penalties, poor run-blocking, and a flurry of injuries really hampered the unit. One of the biggest disappointments was Cam Jurgens, who looked noticeably different following an offseason back surgery, and a step below the great play shown in 2024.
Tyler Steen is still not really at the level expected of an Eagles' starter, and Lane Johnson isn't getting any younger.
Only adding to those woes is a lack of depth at the position. The Eagles really need to reinvest in their offensive front in order to not waste the prime years of both Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts, but doing so would take priority away from a needier, more fixable spot, like CB2.
It's a difficult problem to have, and one that could shape the entire offseason.
The Eagles did well to build a band of discount toys at EDGE this offseason. Azeez Ojulari, Josh Uche, and even an unretired Brandon Graham arrived to reinforce Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt, both of whom played well. But beneath them, depth was always a worry.
Compounding that issue now is the fact that recently-signed Jaelan Phillips, arguably the savior of the group, is hitting free agency along with nearly every other non-starting defensive end on the roster.
With Nolan Smith's contract entering a critical phase, the Eagles need to once again smartly restock the cupboard.
Dallas Goedert had a career-year in terms of touchdowns this year, but he's not the young buck he used to be. Grant Calcaterra hasn't shown much progress as a run-blocker, and the Eagles have now passed on drafting a TE in two consecutive drafts. Bringing in a proven free agent could be a temporary fix for a TE2, but the consistently failed developmental options have haunted this team, and at some point, Goedert will no longer be there to shoulder the weight of the entire position.
