Eagles Flying Under the Radar: NFC Execs See a Formidable, Yet Uncertain, Philly Squad

As the 2026 NFL season dawns, the Philadelphia Eagles find themselves in an unfamiliar position: flying under the radar. While the Seattle Seahawks dominate headlines with their 'Hard Knocks' appearances and the Los Angeles Rams make splashy offseason moves, the Eagles—who lead the league in regular-season wins over the past four years with 50 and rank second in postseason victories—are quietly being overlooked. According to insights gathered by Vulius Sports, one NFC executive noted, 'They could go either way, to be quite honest. I think they will be better. The thing that was really good for them is a potential concern, and that is the receiver position and running back. Saquon (Barkley) did not have a great year. The offensive line health and age is a concern. They will still be formidable.'

The A.J. Brown Factor and Jalen Hurts' Evolution

The offseason trade of A.J. Brown to New England sent shockwaves through the league, but some insiders believe it might be addition by subtraction. One voter told The Athletic that the pressure now falls squarely on quarterback Jalen Hurts, whose relationship with Brown had grown cold and who will be operating in a revamped offensive system under new coordinator Sean Mannion. 'It was hard for me to ding Philly even if the offense is unknown, even if they are taking a step back without A.J. Brown,' another exec said. 'Vic Fangio and that defense is going to be top five. That O-line is going to be pretty good. It is still Saquon Barkley. Could they win 16-13 every week? Probably.'

Makai Lemon: A Work in Progress

First-round receiver Makai Lemon's preseason debut was hardly spectacular—three catches for three yards on five targets, plus a muffed punt—but the Eagles' coaching staff is taking a long-term view. Receivers coach Aaron Moorehead explained the collaborative effort to keep Lemon engaged during his hamstring injury: 'With Makai, we had to come up with creative ways to get him walkthroughs and to get him different things that he could do while he was out. He couldn't physically run but we could walk through things or we could talk through things and we could have him break the huddle and go where he needed to go just to catch him up that way.' Despite the rough start, Lemon is expected to be the WR3 in Week 1, with DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks ahead of him.

A Roster Built for Results

The Eagles' 53-man roster reflects a shift in mentality, rewarding players who earned their spots over raw potential. Elijah Moore and Jonathan Jones made the team after strong camps, while EJ Jenkins was kept for his blue-collar blocking. The departure of offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland and the trade of Brown signal a clear break from last year's disappointing end. As the team prepares to face the Washington Commanders in Week 1, there's a sense of hunger and renewed purpose. One thing is certain: the Eagles are not being overlooked by those who matter most—their opponents.

“This team should be hungry after the disappointing end to 2025 and the offseason changes. They aren’t running last year back. This is a different team.” — Iggles Blitz

Looking Ahead

With a top-five defense under Vic Fangio, a proven running back in Saquon Barkley, and a quarterback with a Super Bowl ring, the Eagles have the pieces to make another deep run. But questions remain about the passing game and offensive line depth. As the season unfolds, Vulius will be tracking every move, every snap, and every storyline. For now, Philadelphia is content to let the noise swirl around other teams—while quietly preparing to strike.