First in Line

Posted:June 29th, 2025 |Author:Tommy Lawlor

The big difference in Super Bowl LIX is that Jalen Hurts had time to throw and Patrick Mahmoes didn’t. The Chiefs offensive line was a mess. The Eagles OL played well. That’s how a game that was expected to be tight was 40-6 in the fourth quarter. Line play matters.

The Eagles return four of five starters on the OL and should once again be really good.

The line starts with Lane Johnson, who is the best offensive linemen in the NFL. He will be a first ballot Hall of Famer. Johnson has been in the league since 2013, but somehow remains an elite player. Most of the league would kill to build their OL around a player like Johnson.

LT Jordan Mailata is an above-average player. PFF loves him and gives him really high grades. Mailata is a good pass blocker and can be a great run blocker, with his combination of power and athleticism. LG Landon Dickerson has been elected to three straight Pro Bowls. Dickerson is a tough, physical inside presence. Cam Jurgens moved from RG to C in 2024 and made his first Pro Bowl. Jurgens is a terrific athlete who excels at blocking on the move. He’s not Kelce, but is the next best thing in terms of movement ability.

As of now Tyler Steen is projected as the RG. Steen only has three career starts so lack of experience is his biggest issue. He has NFL size and athleticism. Steen has looked good at times when he has played.

Steen will have to earn the RG position. He’s in the lead for now, but Matt Pryor and several other players will push for the job. Steen has the potential to be a good starting OL in the NFL. I think some people forget he went to Alabama and was a Top 75 pick. He’s not some pet project of the coaching staff. Steen is a legit player. We just don’t know if he can be a consistently good starter. He has to win the job and show that over the course of the season.

OL play isn’t about five individuals playing on their own. The players have to work together and function as one O-line. If you watch the Eagles on double-teams and combo blocks, you can see the good chemistry they have and how well-coached they are. That’s a tribute to Jeff Stoutland, the best OL coach in the league.

The Eagles line has great chemistry on and off the field. Mailata has developed into a vocal leader, filling the void left by Kelce’s retirement. Johnson and Dickerson are fiery guys. The players get along off the field and that helps them to be a tight, cohesive line on the field.

Depth is a bit of a mystery. Pryor started 15 games for the Bears last year. He’s got 39 career starts. Pryor has excellent size and strength. He will push for the RG job, but could be a good backup OG if he doesn’t win that. Kendall Lamm was signed in free agency to add depth at LT. He’s got 44 career starts.

The Eagles drafted Myles Hinton and Cameron Williams to add depth at OT. Stoutland seemed especially excited about adding Hinton. Drew Kendall was taken in the fifth round, with the hope that he can develop into the backup center and also offer depth at OG. Trevor Keegan is in his second season. He only played in one game last year.

Darrian Kinnard is back at RT. He started the regular season finale and I thought he was solid. I don’t know that he’ll ever develop into a starter, but he could be a reliable backup. Brett Toth is still on the roster. Hopefully Kendall will beat him out as C/G.

If the Eagles are going to repeat as Super Bowl champs, they will need the OL to have another strong season. With so much talent back and Stoutland still running the show, the line should once again be at the top of the league.

http://igglesblitz.com/2025/06/first-in-line/

LT Jordan Mailata is an above-average player. PFF loves him and gives him really high grades. Mailata is a good pass blocker and can be a great run blocker, with his combination of power and athleticism.

I’m sorry what now? Look I get PFF isn’t the most reliable and I get that he might be overrated in the ratings but an above average player? He might not be the best LT in the league. He might not be a top 10 OL (I’m not saying he isn’t but I’m just making an argument here) but he’s absolutely better than just above average!

No other offensive line has a trilogy of Christmas albums.