If you’ve spent any time at a deli in Delco this week, you know the vibe. It’s heavy. The Philadelphia Eagles roster just finished a 2025 campaign that felt like a rollercoaster with no brakes—finishing 11-6, snagging the NFC East crown, and then promptly getting bounced by the 49ers in the Wild Card round.
It’s January 2026. The locker cleanouts are done. The "reserve/future" signings are already hitting the wire. Honestly, the roster we’re looking at right now is a strange mix of "win-now" veterans and a defensive youth movement that is finally starting to show some teeth.
The Quarterback Room and the Offensive Crossroads
Everything starts with Jalen Hurts. Love him or hate him, he’s the engine. In 2025, Hurts put up 3,224 passing yards and 25 touchdowns against just 6 interceptions. Those are solid numbers, basically a 98.5 passer rating. But the "eye test" tells a different story. The offense felt stagnant at times, leading to the news just yesterday that Nick Sirianni officially fired Offensive Coordinator Kevin Patullo.
People are calling for a total overhaul. Whether that's Frank Reich coming back or a dark horse like Philip Rivers, the next OC has to figure out how to maximize a roster that still has elite weapons.
Behind Hurts, it’s a bit of a developmental project. Tanner McKee has firmly entrenched himself as the QB2. He saw some action in 2025—274 yards and a score—and he looks like a legitimate NFL backup. Sam Howell is still in the building as the QB3, but he’s basically an insurance policy.
The Weapons: Who’s Staying and Who’s Gone?
Saquon Barkley is still the man. He eclipsed 1,100 yards again in 2025 and remains the heartbeat of the backfield. But the depth behind him is shifting. Tank Bigsby has emerged as a really nice change-of-pace guy, averaging nearly 6 yards a carry in limited touches last season.
- A.J. Brown: Still a beast. He’s the WR1 until further notice.
- DeVonta Smith: The most consistent route runner on the planet.
- Dallas Goedert: He had 10 touchdowns in 2025. In Philly, that’s legendary for a tight end.
- Darius Cooper: Keep an eye on the kid. He had 9 catches in his rookie year and looks like he could steal the WR3 spot from Jahan Dotson.
The Philadelphia Eagles Roster and the Defensive Youth Surge
While the offense is looking for a new identity, the defense is undergoing a massive facelift. Vic Fangio’s unit actually finished 5th in the league in points against (19.1 per game). That’s pretty wild considering how much people complained about the secondary early on.
The "Georgia Connection" is finally the veteran core. Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis are the anchors. Carter notched 3 sacks last year, while Davis played a career-high in snaps and finished with 4.5. But the real story is the edge rush. Jalyx Hunt led the team with 6.5 sacks. Yeah, you read that right. The small-school kid is outperforming the big names.
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The All-Pro Secondary
You’ve gotta talk about the kids in the back. Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell both made First-Team All-Pro in 2025. That hasn’t happened for a pair of young corners in Philly... well, basically ever. DeJean is a Swiss Army knife. He plays slot, he returns punts, and he hits like a linebacker.
- Quinyon Mitchell: Shutdown corner. Period.
- Cooper DeJean: The Pro Bowl playmaker.
- Reed Blankenship: The "blue-collar" safety who led the secondary with 83 tackles.
- Zack Baun: This was the signing of the decade for Howie Roseman. Baun led the team with 123 tackles. He’s everywhere.
Why the Trenches Look Different
Lane Johnson is 35. Let that sink in. He’s still elite, but he ended the season with a foot injury that has his status for 2026 training camp a little murky. On the other side, Jordan Mailata is the bedrock.
The middle of the line is the Cam Jurgens show now. With the big contract extension he signed, he’s the undisputed leader of the group. Landon Dickerson is still Mauler #1 at left guard, but the right guard spot is a bit of a battle between Tyler Steen and Matt Pryor. Honestly, Steen hasn't quite locked it down the way the coaches hoped.
The "New" Faces for 2026
Howie Roseman never sleeps. Literally. On Monday and Tuesday, the team signed 12 guys to "reserve/future" contracts. These aren't just camp bodies; some of these guys will play.
Carson Steele is a name to watch. He’s a fullback/running back hybrid formerly with the Chiefs. With the way the Eagles love the "Tush Push" and heavy sets, Steele fits the vibe. They also brought back Quez Watkins on a futures deal. It’s a low-risk move, but Philly fans have a long memory with Quez, so we'll see how that goes.
Current Futures Signings (Notable):
- Carson Steele (FB/RB)
- John Ojukwu (OT)
- E.J. Jenkins (TE)
- Gabe Hall (DT)
- Tariq Castro-Fields (DB)
The Harsh Reality of the Salary Cap
The Eagles are in a "crunch" but not a "crisis." Because of the way Howie structures deals, they have some wiggle room, but big decisions are coming. A.J. Brown and Jalen Hurts have massive cap hits.
This means the 2026 roster will likely rely even more on rookies. Expect the Eagles to be aggressive in the draft, especially at linebacker and perhaps a developmental offensive tackle to eventually replace Lane.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're trying to track this roster over the next few months, here is what you actually need to do:
- Watch the OC Hire: This is the domino that falls first. If they hire a "pass-heavy" guy, expect Jahan Dotson or a new WR3 to get more looks. If they go "heavy," Carson Steele might actually make the 53-man roster.
- Monitor Lane Johnson’s Health: If he’s not 100% by May, the Eagles might be forced to use a first-round pick on a tackle.
- The Second-Year Jump: Look for Jalyx Hunt and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. to take massive leaps in snaps. The team is clearly moving away from expensive veteran rentals on defense.
- The Return of Brandon Graham: He’s 37 and still on the roster. He’s the heart of the team, but don’t expect him to play more than 15-20 snaps a game.
The Philadelphia Eagles roster is a work in progress, but the foundation—Hurts, Saquon, the All-Pro corners, and the Georgia defensive line—is as strong as any in the NFL. The 2026 season will be defined by whether the new coaching staff can actually use these pieces correctly.