Eagles roster outlook: Offensive tackle
The Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl season is over and the 2025 NFL offseason is officially here. We’re continuing our Eagles roster outlook series by examining the offensive tackle position. PREVIOUSLY: Quarterback | Running back | Tight end | Wide receiver.
THE PLAYERS
JORDAN MAILATA
STATS: 802 snaps, 12 starts, 1st out of 85 tackles graded by PFF, 2 sacks allowed, 0 hits allowed, 18 hurries allowed, 7 penalties
PLAYOFF STATS: 268 snaps, 4 starts, 4th out of 22 tackles graded by PFF, 1 sack allowed, 0 hits allowed, 5 hurries allowed, 2 penalties
REVIEW: In a sign that he’s become highly regarded by his teammates, Mailata was voted as a captain for the first time in his career. Aside from missing a four-week stretch due to a hamstring injury, Mailata was excellent in 2024. Pro Football Focus REALLY loved his performance this past season, writing the following: “Not only did his 95.1 overall grade lead all offensive players this season, but it has only been bested once by an offensive lineman in PFF history dating back to 2006 – Trent Williams in 2021 (96.6). Mailata was dominant in the run game, earning a 94.5 grade in that department, while placing second among left tackles in pass-blocking grade and allowing just two sacks all season.” Despite this high praise, Mailata somehow did not make the Pro Bowl. Lol. He did earn second-team All-Pro honors. And he’s now a Super Bowl champion.
OUTLOOK: It’s pretty crazy how far Mailata has come since being a 2018 seventh-round pick who had never played football. He’s an elite player at his position and he’s a great leader. The Eagles are very happy to have the 27-year-old, who is signed through 2028.
MY TAKE: Stay.
LANE JOHNSON
STATS: 937 snaps, 15 starts, 5th out of 85 tackles graded by PFF, 1 sack allowed, 1 hit allowed, 12 hurries allowed, 8 penalties
PLAYOFF STATS: 253 snaps, 4 starts, 2nd out of 22 tackles graded by PFF, 1 sack allowed, 0 hits allowed, 3 hurries allowed, 2 penalties
REVIEW: Johnson was his excellent self yet again in 2024. He missed just two games: 1) one when he was dealing with a concussion in Week 4 and 2) one when the Eagles were resting starters in Week 18. Despite Johnson playing at an elite level, he was snubbed from first-team All-Pro honors, instead being a second-team selection. Somehow the Eagles’ offensive line paved the way for the best running back season in NFL history and majorly contributed to a Super Bowl win … and yet they had no first-team All-Pro players on the line. Sure, that makes sense. In any case, Johnson finished the 2024 on top as a two-time Super Bowl champion. History should remember him as the best starter on both of those offensive lines. And also as a Hall of Famer.
OUTLOOK: Johnson, who turns 35 in May, recently said he is looking forward to “many more years to come” with the Eagles. He’s currently signed through 2026. There are currently no signs of him slowing; he might be able to play into his late 30s or even early 40s if he really wants to do that. At the very least, he doesn’t seem to be planning on retiring after 2025.
MY TAKE:
FRED JOHNSON
STATS: 481 snaps, 6 starts, 76 out of 85 tackles graded by PFF, 8 sacks allowed, 5 hits allowed, 25 hurries allowed, 4 penalties
PLAYOFF STATS: 17 snaps
REVIEW: Fred was first forced into action when Lane suffered a concussion in Week 3 and also had to miss Week 4. He then played at left tackle when Mailata spent four weeks on injured reserve. Fred didn’t exactly dominate when he was out there but he did manage to avoid being a total liability that wrecked the Eagles’ offense. The Birds went 5-1 in his six starts.
OUTLOOK: Fred, who turns 28 in June, will be a free agent in March. He might be interested in signing with a team that’ll give him a more realistic path to playing time than he’ll find in Philly. If Johnson remains unsigned on the open market for a bit because no one wants him, the Eagles could bring him back on a one-year deal as their swing tackle. I tend to think some team will take a chance on him since there isn’t exactly an abundance of quality offensive linemen entering free agency.
MY TAKE: Go.
DARIAN KINNARD
STATS: 71 snaps, 1 start, 74th out of 141 tackles graded by PFF, 1 sack allowed, 0 hits allowed, 2 hurries allowed, 0 penalties
REVIEW: Kinnard seemed to be on the roster bubble ahead of cuts from 90 to 53 players and the Eagles decided to keep him. He was a healthy scratch for most of the season with the two exceptions being when 1) he played three garbage time snaps at left guard in Week 8 and 2) he made a Week 18 start at right tackle when the Eagles were resting their key players against the New York Giants.
OUTLOOK: Kinnard is signed through 2025. If Fred Johnson isn’t back, there’s an opportunity for him to step up as the top swing tackle behind Mailata and Lane. At the very least, he has a solid chance to make next season’s roster as a depth offensive lineman if he doesn’t majorly struggle this summer.
MY TAKE: Stay.
LAEKIN VAKALAHI
REVIEW: The Eagles signed Vakalahi, who had never played football at the time, as an undrafted rookie free agent last year. Due to his considerable inexperience, the coaches trusted him to play just eight snaps in the entire preseason. Vakalahi then spent the 2024 season on the practice squad as an international exemption.
OUTLOOK: This offseason will mark Vakalahi’s first full one in the Eagles’ offseason training program. Perhaps the 22-year-old will be develop enough to be trusted to play significant snaps in the preseason. He’ll likely spend the 2025 season on the practice squad again before maybe being able to compete for a roster spot on the 2026 team. He’s very much a long-term project.
MY TAKE: Stay.
LE’RAVEN CLARK
REVIEW: The Eagles placed Clark on injured reserve in early May, which ruled him out for the entire 2024 season.
OUTLOOK: Clark will be a free agent in March. He turns 32 in April. They can let him walk.
MY TAKE: Go.
NFL FREE AGENCY OR TRADES
The Eagles could sign someone to the veteran minimum to get a look at them in offseason practices and preseason games.
NFL DRAFT APPROACH
If the Eagles don’t re-sign Mekhi Becton, it’s not hard to envision them drafting an offensive lineman who might start his career at right guard before eventually shifting over to right tackle after Lane retires. Even if Becton is back, they still might want to invest in an offensive lineman early in the 2025 NFL Draft anyway. Howie Roseman’s history tells us the Eagles are not going to be shy about pouring premium resources into the trenches. Hard to argue with that strategy when it’s contributed to multiple Super Bowl wins. If the Eagles don’t take a blocker at No. 32, there’s a good chance they’ll draft at least one on Day 2.
