PHILADELPHIA — After a lost 2025 in which a pricey offense underperformed and a championship-caliber defense went to waste, the Eagles face an offseason full of questions — well beyond a new offensive coordinator.
Here are some fundamental questions that must be answered.
A.J. Brown’s future
Star wideout A.J. Brown, frustrated about his underuse dating back to 2024, asked to be traded multiple times this past season, according to a pair of reports. Perhaps a new OC could change his outlook, but Brown reportedly puts the brunt of the blame on quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Hurts, it was revealed in November, often didn’t run the offense as designed — which frustrated many people within the organization, not just Brown.
Still, the receiver’s visible exasperation during games sparked speculation about his future, but general manager Howie Roseman tried to extinguish those rumors, at least publicly.
“When you’re trying to be a great team, it’s hard to trade great players, and A.J. Brown’s a great player,” Roseman said.
Brown’s 1,003 yards were his lowest as a pro when he’s played in 14 games or more.
Lane Johnson and O-line depth
Right tackle Lane Johnson, who turns 36 in May, remains one of the NFL’s best players at his position. But he dealt with injuries again last season, not playing after Week 11. His reliability — and whether he even wants to keep playing — are up in the air.
Fred Johnson backed him up much of the season, doing a mostly solid job, but his contract is up and he wants to be a full-time starter. The Eagles let him walk last year, only to reacquire him in a trade with Jacksonville.
The offensive line as a whole, which led the Birds to a Super Bowl title last February, was additionally stretched by injuries to center Cam Jurgens and left guard Landon Dickerson.
“Injuries are a part of this game and building depth is a part of my job,” Roseman said. “It’s something that I think is incredibly important when you’re talking about our lines.”
Free agents and hard choices
Several key contributors are headed for free agency. Dallas Goedert, 31, had a career year, hauling in 11 touchdowns — a franchise record for tight ends — while staying healthy. But health has been an issue in the past, and he’ll command a high price on the open market.
Strong safety Reed Blankenship, 26, has been among the league’s most reliable, but whether the Eagles can afford to retain him is another matter.
Linebacker Nakobe Dean, 25, is an elite player and team leader, but he has often struggled to stay healthy. With a No. 1 pick invested in Jihaad Campbell and Zack Baun locked in at the other inside spot, Dean may be out.
Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, 26, stabilized the defense when he arrived before the trade deadline, though he didn’t stand out in the playoff loss to the 49ers. If the Eagles don’t re-sign him, they’ll have to figure out how to replace him.
Roseman noted there are “players that we can’t lose,” but also stressed that tough decisions are unavoidable.
CB2 and free safety questions
The Eagles’ must decide if Adoree’ Jackson is their long-term answer at second outside corner. He steadily played better as the season progressed after a rough start.
Also, free safety Andrew Mukuba’s explosive flashes provided optimism in his rookie campaign, which ended with him on IR. Marcus Epps stepped up and performed well down the stretch, but the Eagles are counting on Mukuba to bounce back and be consistent.
Kicker Jake Elliott gone?
Jake Elliott, 31, has been a model of consistency for most of his career, but his 2025 season was rocky. He made just 74% of his field goals — some high-leverage misses as well as some gimmes — and a missed extra point in the divisional playoffs changed the game. The Birds have a decision to make at kicker.
“Not good enough,” Roseman said of the Eagles’ 2025 campaign. “If it doesn’t end with confetti falling on our heads, I don’t feel like it’s good enough.
“I go into every offseason thinking we’re going to do whatever it takes to win a Super Bowl, and when we fall short, I look at myself, I look at the things that I could have done differently, and I look to improve. That’s where I’m at right now.”
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