The Eagles have a problem with the offensive line. Injuries have exposed issues with depth, highlighting the lack of talent on the team's roster via draft picks, which is hindering development. This team used to have a plethora of OLs waiting in the wings, but they are now scrambling every time a starting lineman goes down.
For the better part of a decade, the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive line has been the foundation and the heartbeat of the team. But through seven weeks of 2025, that identity has begun to crack. Injuries to Lane Johnson, Landon Dickerson, and Cam Jurgens have only compounded their issues.
The Eagles are not controlling the line of scrimmage like they once did, and the rhythm of the running game and the comfortable pockets from which Jalen Hurts is accustomed are not clean. The communication that was once second nature now seems lost in confusion. It is more of a gradual process than a specific group of issues you can pinpoint for the struggles.
Age, wear and tear, playing late into the season, and constant transitioning of starters have taken their toll. Where they once seemed to have an answer for every loss, now seems a luxury from way back in the past.
Philadelphia lost future Hall of Famer Jason Kelce to retirement and 2024 impact player Mekhi Becton to free agency, among others. The moving pieces have caught up to them, as they have not drafted many capable starters over the last three seasons.
The Eagles have used their draft capital resources to select six Offensive linemen over that time.
In 2023, Tyler Steen was selected 65th overall. He has had to wait through a retirement and a loss of Becton to become a starter in his third year.
In the 2024 draft, the Birds selected Dylan McMahon and Trevor Keegan. Neither is still on the team.
2025 brought much of the same. Three OLs were selected: Cameron Williams (IR), Myles Hinton (IR), and Drew Kendall. Only Kendall remains on the 53-man roster.
They also spent two seasons developing international exempt player Laekin Vakalahi, who is also no longer on the team.
It may be time they use a first-round pick to solidify their line and make it a strength again. I understand the reasoning for not wanting to use that valuable draft capital before, as an OT sits on the bench and never sees a snap unless there is an injury. That is a distinct difference from drafting a DT on the other side of the trenches because they can be rotated and eat snaps. But they have had their share of misses with late-round selections and may need to invest a premium pick to correct it.
The Eagles are struggling. Protection breakdowns have been too common. Blitzes aren’t being picked up cleanly. The physicality that once defined this group is not showing up. Coaching can’t make up for every injury or inconsistency, but when technique, timing, and recognition all start slipping, it’s not wrong to look at the man in charge. Coach Jeff Stoutland is also the running game coordinator, which is the root of the offensive struggles. Not being able to run prevents the Eagles from doing much of what their offense is about.
To be clear, nobody is questioning the coaching ability of Stoutland. But for the first time in over a decade, the dominance Philadelphia is used to has turned into regression. It could be a blip or a slight reset that was bound to happen. Either way, the Eagles are starting to look human and average on the offensive line. That is an uncomfortable truth to accept for an Eagles fan base and team, which has long prided itself on being superior in this area to everyone else.
Stoutland has the pedigree to be trusted to turn this around, but until he does, Stoutland U is feeling a lot more like Stout Community College.
As always, thank you for reading!
Follow me on X @DavidNeiszPHL
