Predicting Eagles' starting lineups for Week 1 after the first wave of free agency

The Eagles offense will look the same with Mekhi Becton as the only starter who departed and Kenneth Gainwell, a key contributor during the first wave of NFL free agency. Dallas Goedert could depart via trade, but Philadelphia will still be explosive and among the league's most efficient and dominant offensive units.

The defense is undergoing an overhaul after defensive tackle Milton Williams (New England), Josh Sweat (Arizona), cornerback Darius Slay (Pittsburgh), cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (Minnesota), and linebacker Oren Burks (Cincinnati) all departed via free agency.

The Eagles are also trading away safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who was third in the NFL with six interceptions last season, and backup quarterback Kenny Pickett.

With the second wave of free agency set to begin, we're predicting the Philadelphia Eagles starting lineup.

QB

Jalen Hurts

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.

RB

Saquon Barkley

In his debut season with Philadelphia, Saquon Barkley earned NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors from the Associated Press and finished as a finalist for Most Valuable Player. In addition, he ea

WR

A.J. Brown

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).

WR

DeVonta Smith

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)

WR

Jahan Dotson

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.

TE

Grant Calcaterra

We're predicting the Eagles land a fourth-round pick for the 30-year-old Goedert, who's counting $11 million against the cap with no guaranteed money remaining. Philadelphia could target a talented tight end in the second or third round of April's draft. It'll be a tough decision after Goedert (team-record 52 career playoff catches) led the Eagles in receptions (17) and receiving yards (215) in the postseason.

LT

Jordan Mailata

According to PFF, Jordan Mailata (96.9) led the entire NFL in offensive and run-blocking grades (94.9). In addition, Mailata ranked 2nd in the NFL with a 91.7 pass-blocking grade, behind Tristan Wirfs (93.7).

LG

Landon Dickerson

C

Cam Jurgens

Dec 29, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles guard Tyler Steen (56) blocks Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa (97) at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

RG

Tyler Steen

The Eagles acquired Kenyon Green from the Texans for C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and while he's a former first-round pick, the former Texas A&M star was the 76th highest-graded guard in the NFL out of 77 candidates, according to PFF.

Former Alabama offensive tackle and third-round pick Tyler Steen was slightly better, landing at 75th with a 40.7 grade from PFF. There will be competition for this spot, and it's an obvious downgrade currently after Mekhi Becton's exit.

LT

Lane Johnson

Lane 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.

Edge Rusher

Nolan Smith

DT

Jalen Carter

During the regular season, Jalen Carter was 4th among interior DL with an 81.5 PFF pass-rush grade, behind Chris Jones (91.0), Cameron Heyward (87.2), and Jeffery Simmons (81.6) in that category.

NT

Jordan Davis

Davis logged 27 tackles (15 solo), one sack, and two passes defended while playing in all 17 regular-season games in 2024. He added six tackles (four solo), including two sacks and one pass defense across four playoff appearances.

Davis started every regular-season game for the second year in a row, but he logged 122 fewer defensive snaps and ceded snaps to second-year defensive lineman Moro Ojomo.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 05: Drew Lock #2 of the New York Giants is pressured by Moro Ojomo #97 of the Philadelphia Eagles in the second quarter of the game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 05, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

DT

Moro Ojomo

Ojomo finished the 2024 season with 20 tackles (six solo) in 17 regular-season games. Ojomo saw a significant increase in workload in his second season with the Eagles, playing 370 defensive snaps and 70 snaps on special teams while appearing in all 17 of the team's regular-season games. Ojomo will be a starter, with Milton Williams departing.

Edge Rusher

Jalyx Hunt

We're predicting Hunt will get the first shot at replacing Josh Sweat despite Josh Uche getting signed. Hunt finished the 2024 season with 21 total tackles (12 solo), including 1.5 sacks, while adding one pass defended and two forced fumbles over 16 regular-season games.

LB

Zack Baun

A finalist for AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Zack Baun was the highest-graded LB (90.1) by PFF in the regular season, producing 150 tackles and 5 FFs (2nd in the NFL, behind T.J. Watt – 6). In the playoffs, Baun became the second NFL LB since 1991 to generate takeaways in each of their first four career postseason starts (Devin White in 2020), which included an INT of Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LIX.

LB

Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

With Nakobe Dean likely to miss the bulk of the 2025 season, we're rolling with Jeremiah Trotter in this spot.

CB

Kelee Ringo

Ringo gets the first shot at replacing Darius Slay, but he'll battle Adoree' Jackson and others for that cornerback spot. Ringo has allowed just a 46.3 passer rating as the primary defender in coverage over the last two seasons (170 snaps).

CB

Quinyon Mitchell

Slot CB

Cooper DeJean

Cooper DeJean, who did not allow a TD in coverage in 2024, became the youngest player (22) to record an INT-TD in a Super Bowl when he had a 38-yard INT-TD against Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LIX.

S

Sydney Brown

With Gardner-Johnson traded, the former third-round pick gets the first crack at the starting spot. Brown is now a full year removed from tearing his ACL near the end of the 2023 season. He'll battle Tristin McCollum, Andre Sam, and likely a draft pick.

S

Reed Blankenship

Blankenship logged 78 tackles (52 solo), six passes defended (including four interceptions), and one fumble recovery across 15 regular-season games in 2024. He added 27 tackles (18 solo), one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery across the Eagles' four playoff games.

Blankenship earned a one-year, $3.58 million contract extension with the Eagles last April after leading the team in tackles and interceptions. Blankenship finished as the Eagles' second-leading tackler during the postseason behind Dean (33). Blankenship is in line for another, more sizable contract extension heading into the 2025 campaign.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Predicting Eagles' starting lineups for Week 1 after the first wave of free agency

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