The Philadelphia Eagles have always valued the idea of building through the trenches. They will never be the team to undervalue an offensive lineman or defensive lineman. Instead, they overvalue them because they trust in their beliefs. Football games are won in the trenches.
The Rams and Bengals Super Bowl Bowl match is a perfect example of why you build through the trenches. Without the stout defensive line that the Rams had, there’s no way that they win a Super Bowl. With a better offensive line, Joe Burrow could’ve won his first Super Bowl. They go hand in hand no matter the situation and the Eagles understands that.
This is why it should come as no surprise that the Eagles are always ranked at the top when discussing the top offensive lines in the NFL. Jeff Stoutland has done a tremendous job at picking the right players and developing them into standout linemen.
After a couple of years of uncertainty due to Jason Peters never retiring and the injuries to several of their stars such as Lane Johnson, Isaac Seumalo, and the now-retired Brandon Brooks, it seems like the Eagles have found themselves with the top offensive line in the league. At least in PFF’s eyes.
Pro Football Focus has ranked the Eagles’ offensive line as number one in the league. They even have them in their first tier which they define as the group with “minor or no weaknesses”. That could very well be the case. The offensive line is one of the deeper groups on the roster with players like Jack Driscoll, Andre Dillard, Le’Raven Clark, and rookie Cam Jurgens waiting for their numbers to be called.
While the starters are mostly built with veterans like Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, and Isaac Seumalo; it’s the young guys that are making a name for themselves at a very quick rate for the Eagles. Landon Dickerson was drafted out of Alabama last season and while many expected him to miss a bit of time, he settled in fairly quickly with the team and found his place at left guard once Seumalo went down.
As for his counterpart at Left Tackle, Jordan Mailata, he has now found his place among the elite left tackles in the league. After spending his first two seasons on the bench, due to him being such a raw prospect, Mailata was the third-highest graded LT according to PFF.
Mailata has been more than just the team’s cornerstone left tackle but has also found a way to be his QB’s bodyguard. Taking the assignment of protecting Jalen Hurts and doing it at all costs. This mixed bag of youth and veterans is a true testimony of how great Jeff Stoutland is at his job.
There hasn’t been an offensive lineman that Stout can’t develop. He has maximized the potential of players like Kelce and Johnson and has turned them into future Hall of Famers. Mailata and Dickerson could be next on that list along with Cam Jurgens but for now, they’ll settle as the best offensive line in the league, and rightfully so.
Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire
