Philadelphia Eagles ranked No. 2 in ESPN 2026 NFL rosters
The Philadelphia Eagles are ranked No. 2 in ESPN's 2026 NFL roster rankings, behind only the Los Angeles Rams and ahead of the Seattle Seahawks. Analysts Mike Clay, Aaron Schatz, and Seth Walder individually graded every projected starting lineup, then combined ballots weighing talent, age, and production. For a franchise that reshaped its roster through trades, free agency, and the draft, the placement keeps the Philadelphia Eagles among the league's top championship contenders.
Key Takeaways
- ESPN ranks the Philadelphia Eagles second among all 32 NFL teams for projected 2026 starting lineups.
- Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson anchor the roster's biggest strength at offensive tackle.
- Safety is the clearest concern after Reed Blankenship signed with Houston.
- In NFC East comparisons, the Eagles and Dallas Cowboys remain far ahead of the Giants and Commanders.
- Cornerback Riq Woolen and receiver Hollywood Brown are key players to watch this season.
Why Did ESPN Rank the Philadelphia Eagles Second?
ESPN's preseason roster list reflects combined analyst ballots rather than a single opinion. Clay projected every starting lineup and identified each team's strongest and weakest position groups. Walder named an X factor for every roster, while Schatz highlighted nonstarters who could matter.
The Rams claimed the top spot, with Clay calling Los Angeles the league's "clear-cut best roster" behind reigning MVP Matthew Stafford. Seattle rounded out the top three. Philadelphia's No. 2 finish signals that national analysts still view the Eagles as a near-elite roster on paper, even after an eventful offseason. For more trending coverage, see our Fintech & Crypto Alerts section.
What Is Philadelphia's Biggest Roster Strength?
Clay identified offensive tackle as the Eagles' top asset. He wrote that Philadelphia has many strengths, especially on defense, but that Jordan Mailata at left tackle and Lane Johnson at right tackle form arguably the NFL's best tackle duo.
Mailata has ranked no lower than sixth among tackles in Pro Football Focus grade in each of the past three seasons. Johnson is 36 and missed time with injury in 2025, yet Clay noted he still ranks in the upper quarter of the league in PFF grade, pass block win rate, and run block win rate.
Where Is the Eagles' Biggest Weakness?
Safety stands out as the thinnest position. Reed Blankenship departed for the Houston Texans, leaving second-year Andrew Mukuba—who missed half his rookie season with a broken ankle—and Marcus Epps, a backup for most of 2025, as the primary options. Cooper DeJean may see snaps at safety, though his role as the team's main slot corner limits how much he can help there.
A Blogging The Boys NFC East analysis using PFF-based positional rankings paints a similar division picture. The Eagles and Cowboys dominate, while the Giants and Commanders lag well behind in top-35 player quality.
How Do the Eagles Compare to the Rest of the NFC East?
That Blogging The Boys breakdown found Philadelphia carries 11 blue-chip players in its top 35, versus eight for Dallas, though the Cowboys have 21 players in the top two quintiles compared with 20 for the Eagles. Snap-adjusted, Philadelphia's top-35 score slipped from 68.0 in 2025 to 67.0 for 2026 after losing four elite players including A.J. Brown and replacing them with four additions in the 60–80 range.
Dallas moved from 65.3 to 65.4, narrowing the gap but not overtaking Philadelphia. The Eagles also field a heavier top-35 snap load, with 23,183 combined snaps versus 19,801 for the Cowboys—a 17% edge that reflects how much Philadelphia relies on its core starters.
Which Eagles Players Could Define the 2026 Season?
Walder flagged cornerback Riq Woolen as Philadelphia's X factor. Woolen leads all cornerbacks with at least 500 coverage snaps over the past four seasons in yards allowed per coverage snap, per NFL Next Gen Stats, yet opinions on him remain divided after he started only seven of 16 games played for Seattle in 2025.
Schatz highlighted wide receiver Hollywood Brown as a nonstarter to know. Brown posted 49 catches for 587 yards and five touchdowns with Kansas City in 2025, averaging 12.0 yards per reception—his highest mark since 2020. ESPN expects him to play a regular role even if he does not open as a starter, though he scored just 32 out of 100 in ESPN's receiver scores.
The full breakdown is available in ESPN's 2026 NFL roster rankings. On paper, the Philadelphia Eagles still own one of the two best rosters in football heading into training camp.