Ranking the Eagles' offensive position groups ahead of the 2025 NFL draft
Ranking the Eagles' offensive position groups ahead of the 2025 NFL draft Philadelphia builds through the draft and with the first round approaching, we're ranking the Eagles offensive position groups
After months of waiting, the 2025 NFL draft is here, and a loaded Eagles offense will look to replace Kenneth Gainwell (Steelers) and Mekhi Becton (Chargers), among other losses in free agency.
Philadelphia is loaded on the offensive side of the football, and GM Howie Roseman could look to restock the defense with three of the first 96 picks and five selections in round five.
With the first round of the draft set to begin, we're ranking the Eagles' offensive position groups from top to bottom.
Offensive line
The Eagles build through the trenches, and everything about this Super Bowl roster starts with the NFL's most talented and dominant offensive line. Philadelphia saw Fred Johnson depart in free agency, and has Le'Raven Clark and Jack Driscoll as free agents. The Birds signed Lane Johnson to a contract extension and inked Kendall Lamm to a one-year deal. An All-Pro, Mailata's 85.5 PFF overall grade in Week 17 led all offensive tackles and was the highest-graded offensive tackle in the NFL (95.8). Mailata led the NFL in run blocking grade (94.9), and he's second in pass blocking (91.7), according to PFF. Last season, Johnson ranked 1st among NFL RTs in PFF pass-blocking grade (88.1), pressure percentage (2.2%), and knockdown percentage (0.2%). He allowed zero sacks and 1 QB hit in 451 pass-blocking snaps. Cam Jurgens is a Pro Bowler, and Landon Dickerson is an All-Pro. Lamm and Darian Kinnard provide excellent depth.
Running Back
Everything starts with the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Saquon Barkley. Philadelphia signed former Packers running back A.J. Dillon to a one-year deal. The NFL's reigning Offensive Player of the Year, Barkley, led the league with a franchise record of 2,005 rushing yards, making him the ninth player in NFL history to post 2,000+ rushing yards in a season. Overall, Barkley logged the 8th-most rushing yards in league history, trailing only Eric Dickerson in 1984 (2,105), Adrian Peterson in 2012 (2,097), Jamal Lewis in 2003 (2,066), Barry Sanders in 1997 (2,053), Derrick Henry in 2020 (2,027), Terrell Davis in 1998 (2,008) and Chris Johnson in 2009 (2,006). Note: O.J. Simpson, in 1973 (2,003), was the other member of the 2,000+ yard club. Including playoffs, Barkley's 2,329 rushing yards (119 in the NFC Wild Card Playoff vs. Green Bay) are the 3rd-most in NFL single-season history, behind Terrell Davis in 1998 (2,476) and 1997 (2,331). He is just 148 rushing yards shy of breaking Davis' record. Dillon and Aaron Jones teamed up in Green Bay for a dynamic one-two punch, and that could happen in Philadelphia with the Eagles looking to take some of the load off of Saquon Barkley following a season in which he led the league with 2,0005 yards. Last summer, Dillon was set to enter a contract year in 2024, but he was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury and missed the entire season. Dillon was selected 62nd overall (second round) in the 2020 NFL Draft. The six-foot, 247-pound back, known as "Quadzilla" by Packers fans, has been cleared for action. Dillon averaged 15 games played per campaign in his time in Green Bay -- excluding the missed 2024 season -- but only started 11. Dillon recorded 2,186 rushing yards between 2021 and 2023. Former Clemson star running back Will Shipley will battle A.J. Dillon for the backup role behind Saquon Barkley. As a rookie, Shipley rushed 30 times for 82 yards (2.7 YPC) across 16 regular-season appearances with the Eagles in 2024. He also secured all four targets for 35 yards and compiled 173 yards as a kick returner.
Shipley, a 2024 fourth-round pick, logged a 77-yard run and a score, the first of his career, on just four carries versus Washington in the NFC Championship Game.
Wide Receiver
The Eagles didn't add any wide receivers during the free agency process, but saw Parris Campbell sign with the Cowboys, while Britain Covey remains an unrestricted free agent. Despite missing three games due to injury, A.J. Brown led the team with 1,079 receiving yards. He also ranked 1st in receiving average (16.1) (min. 60 catches) and 3rd in receiving yards per game (83.0) (min. 13 games), behind Ja'Marr Chase (100.5) and Justin Jefferson (90.2). Jahan Dotson caught 19 of 33 targets for 216 yards in 17 regular-season games with the Eagles in 2024 after being acquired in a trade from Washington. He also rushed once for 13 yards. Despite his struggles, Dotson played 649 offensive snaps during the regular season for Philadelphia, working as a No. 3 receiver behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Dotson improved with time and had his most impactful game of the season during the Eagles' win over Kansas City in Super Bowl LIX, with two catches for 42 yards on three targets. The 2022 first-round pick could have an increased role for the 2025 season if Philadelphia moves on from Goedert. DeVonta Smith posted a career-high 8 TDs in the regular season and hauled in a 46-yard TD in Super Bowl LIX. During the run to the Super Bowl, he became the franchise's all-time leader in postseason receiving yards (595). Second-year players Johnny Wilson and Ainias Smith will be pressured to fight off Terrace Marshall for snaps and a roster spot.
Quarterback
It's a team ranking of position groups, but make no mistake, Jalen Hurts is one of the best players in the NFL at his position after winning Super Bowl MVP. After watching Tanner McKee shred the Giants, Philadelphia felt comfortable entering this season with the former Stanford star as the backup quarterback. The Eagles traded Kenny Pickett to Cleveland for former UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Hurts, crowned Super Bowl LIX MVP, became just the second quarterback in Eagles history to deliver a Super Bowl to the City of Philadelphia, joining Nick Foles (Super Bowl LII MVP). According to Elias Sports, Hurts is only the seventh NFL quarterback to appear in multiple Super Bowls and win a championship in their first five seasons. The other quarterbacks who did so are Troy Aikman, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Ben Roethlisberger, Kurt Warner, and Russell Wilson. He'll enter 2025 with renewed confidence and weapons at every key position.
Tight End
Dallas Goedert is a star, and when he's healthy, the talented pass catcher is one of the top tight ends in the NFL. Goedert is 30 years old, and like Zach Ertz before him, the Eagles seem to be preparing for an exit strategy as they work to get younger at the position. Goedert is set to enter the final year of his deal and has no guaranteed money with his $11,810,583 salary cap hit for 2025. Last season, Goedert played in 10 games, logging 42 receptions for 496 yards, averaging 11.8 yards per catch, and two scores. Goedert has missed 15 games since the 2022 season and has only played a full slate of games once. Philadelphia added veterans Harrison Bryant and Kylen Granson in free agency. Nick Sirianni was noncommittal and obviously unsure when he responded, "He's on our team." ESPN's Tim McManus was even less optimistic, stating that "outside of him taking a pay cut, it's hard to envision Goedert returning to Philly in 2025." A player who could benefit the most from a Goedert departure, Calcaterra finished his third professional season with career highs in catches (24), yards (298), and touchdowns (one).
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