When taking a look at the Philadelphia Eagles roster, there is a lot to like. They are loaded on both sides of the ball, possessing numerous stars. But, arguably the biggest strength of the team is in the trenches.
Philadelphia is very strong at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. There may not be a team that can match their strength there, especially along the offensive line. That is arguably the strongest unit on the team.
The Eagles’ offense clicks as much as it does because of the dirty work that the offensive lineman do. Jalen Hurts wouldn’t have time to shine if it were not for the blocking in front of him as he has as much time in the pocket to make plays as anyone.
A big reason for that is the duo the Eagles have at the tackle spots. According to the tackle power rankings that Jeremy Fowler of ESPN put together, there isn’t a team that comes close to competing with the Eagles. Fowler polled numerous executives, coaches and scouts around the league and no other team had two players among the top 10.
At left tackle, Jordan Mailata is one of the best in the business. He came in at No. 5 in the rankings and there were some votes for him to be No. 1. Mailata was an honorable mention last season, so this was a jump many people did see coming.
He was a seventh-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and has come a long way with his development. An NFC exec added: “He’s kind of figured out the game of football, and if you’re a pass-rusher it’s like, ‘How do I get around or through this guy?'”
On the opposite end of the draft spectrum is his bookend, right tackle Lane Johnson. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft finished No. 4 on the list and was the highest-ranked player that doesn’t play left tackle. He also made a jump up the list, moving up from No. 7 last year.
“Premier player,” an AFC scout said. “Incredibly gifted athlete with force.” When healthy, Johnson is a force at right tackle. He had an incredibly long streak without surrendering a sack, as he gets the job done whether it is in pass protection or as a run blocker.
The Eagles are very fortunate to have these two players as anchors on the outside of their offensive line. Teams would kill to have one player of their caliber, but to have two is a luxury virtually no other team is afforded.
