NFL: Eagles struggles with offensive line

Seven weeks into the NFL season, last year's Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, are once again facing controversy. Despite Jalen Hurts’s perfect passer rating, 326 passing yards and 3 pass touchdowns last week against the Vikings, the team is still facing criticism.

Saquon Barkley hasn’t recorded more than 88 rush yards in a game this year and only has 3 rushing touchdowns. Jalen Hurts has been sacked 21 times already and will most likely eclipse last year’s mark of 38 before the season is over.

The common theme: the offensive line. Lane Johnson is showing signs of aging, Cam Jurgens and Landon Dickerson have been battling injuries, and Mekhi Becton left in the offseason, replaced by the inexperienced Tyler Steen.

They rank last in adjusted line yards according to FTN fantasy, a stat that measures a line’s impact on rushing yards.

Philadelphia is a city that values toughness, grit and power, so controlling the trenches has always been important to its fans. For years, the Eagles have boasted top-of-the-league talent on the o-line, leading fans to demand improvement from this year’s lackluster group.

While linemen rarely get traded mid-season, bringing in a new face could be the answer for Philadelphia. The Eagles are a “win now” team, and would likely be able to cough up a few draft picks or prospects for another elite lineman, but who should they trade for?

Cam Jurgens proved last year that he could replace Jason Kelce at center. Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury last week against the Vikings, and backup Brett Toth struggled. With no updates from the team on his return, the Eagles may need a new center.

Saints center Erik McCoy is a good candidate, allowing just three pressures and no sacks this season, but the Eagles could also move guard Landon Dickerson to center, where he’s been serviceable.

The Eagles' other guard, Tyler Steen, is struggling in his first season as a starter, so that position takes priority.

Joel Bitonio of the Browns is ranked third among guards according to PFF. He hasn’t allowed a sack or committed a penalty all season.

The Browns are rebuilding, and the 34-year-old Bitonio may not have many seasons left. He’s been with the Browns since 2014 and could appreciate a chance to chase a ring with the Eagles.

Another veteran guard on a rebuilding team is Alex Cappa of the Raiders. His stats are just slightly worse than Bitonio’s, giving up one sack and committing one penalty this season.

The Raiders signed him to a two-year, 11.2 million-per-year contract this offseason, but if anyone can orchestrate this trade, it’s Eagles general manager Howie Roseman.

Laken Tomlinson of the Texans also fits this mold. He’s 33 years old on a one-year, 4.25 million contract. He’s given up two sacks this season, but could improve under Jeff Stoutland, the Eagles’ o-line coach whose resume includes turning Mekhi Becton from a bust to a champion and sculpting Australian rugby player Jordan Mailata into an NFL star.

If the Eagles want to repeat as champions in 2025, they should make a trade to improve their o-line, which is the key to improving their lacking run game and preserving the success they’ve had through the air.

Gabe Eisenberg is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email gfe5080@psu.edu