If you’ve spent any time watching the NFC over the last few years, you know the vibe. It’s physical. It’s loud. And frankly, it’s a bit chaotic. But as we crawl through January 2026, the conversation around Eagles and Seahawks players has shifted from "who's talented?" to "who's actually left?"
The rosters we’re looking at today in Philadelphia and Seattle look almost nothing like the depth charts from two seasons ago. Between Howie Roseman’s addiction to mid-season trades and the Seahawks’ radical offensive facelift, the personnel matchups have become a chess match that most fans are still trying to decode. Honestly, if you haven't checked the transactions wire in the last 48 hours, you're probably already behind.
The Philadelphia Aggression: Howie’s Defensive Overhaul
The Philadelphia Eagles have always been aggressive, but the 2025-2026 cycle was something else entirely. Most people look at Jalen Hurts—who just finished a 2025 regular season with 3,224 passing yards and a sparkling 25:6 TD-to-INT ratio—and think the offense is the story. It’s not.
The real story is the defense.
Philly’s secondary is now a "who’s who" of hired guns. By November 2025, Roseman had traded for Jaire Alexander and Michael Carter II. Then, in a move that caught everyone off guard, he snagged Jaelan Phillips from the Dolphins for a 2026 third-round pick. Phillips joined a rotation featuring Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, creating a front that is basically a nightmare for any offensive coordinator.
But there’s a catch.
Injuries have been a massive asterisk for these Eagles and Seahawks players. Phillips came over with a history of knee and Achilles issues. While he’s flashed that elite upside, the Eagles have struggled to maintain consistent pressure when Jalen Carter isn't on the field to draw double teams. It’s a top-heavy strategy. If the stars are healthy, they’re unbeatable. If not? The depth gets thin fast.
Seattle’s Identity Crisis and the Sam Darnold Factor
Meanwhile, up in the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle Seahawks are living in a completely different reality. The Geno Smith era in Seattle officially ended when he moved to the Raiders for the 2025 season.
Who’s under center now? Sam Darnold.
Yeah, that Sam Darnold. He’s the bridge (or perhaps the destination) for a team that is desperate to maximize the prime years of DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Along with the addition of Cooper Kupp—yes, the Seahawks actually landed Kupp to bolster their WR room—this offense has the theoretical firepower to drop 40 points on anyone.
But you’ve seen the games. It’s inconsistent.
Darnold has the arm, but the Seahawks’ offensive line, led by Charles Cross, has been a revolving door of "next man up." They’ve been elevating guys like Amari Kight from the practice squad just to keep the pocket from collapsing. When you look at the Eagles and Seahawks players on the defensive side for Seattle, like Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen, you see a secondary that can survive a shootout, but they’re being asked to do way too much.
The Head-to-Head Reality Check
When these two teams meet, the history is weirdly one-sided. Before the 2025 season, the Seahawks had a dominant run against Philly. We’re talking about a decade of Seattle just having the Eagles' number, regardless of who was playing quarterback.
But the 2025 matchups showed a shift.
- Jalen Hurts' Evolution: In their most recent encounters, Hurts has stopped trying to out-hero the Seattle secondary. He’s become a check-down king when needed, utilizing Saquon Barkley (who has been a godsend for Philly’s blitz pickup) and Dallas Goedert.
- The Rashid Shaheed Wildcard: Seattle’s acquisition of Rashid Shaheed changed their special teams and vertical threat profile. He’s the type of player that makes Philly’s veteran corners like Adoree' Jackson look their age.
- Defensive Pressure: While Philly has the names, Seattle has the scheme. Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II have been absolute rocks in the middle, making life miserable for interior linemen like Cam Jurgens.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Rosters
There’s this common misconception that the Eagles are just "the same old team" but older. That's lazy analysis. The 2026 Eagles have integrated a massive amount of youth in the linebacker corps, with Nakobe Dean and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. finally taking the reigns.
💡 You might also like: Fantasy WR Rankings Week 2: Why You’re Probably Overthinking Your Lineup
On the flip side, people think the Seahawks are in a "rebuild."
They aren't. You don't trade for Cooper Kupp if you're rebuilding. They are in a "re-tooling" phase that relies heavily on veteran stop-gaps. It’s a high-stakes gamble. If Darnold plays like a top-15 QB, they’re a playoff lock. If he reverts to his old turnover-prone self, that expensive receiving corps is just window dressing.
Key Players to Watch Moving Into the 2026 Offseason
The movement hasn't stopped. As of mid-January 2026, both teams are already signing "reserve/future" contracts to fill out the bottom of the roster.
- Carson Steele (RB, Eagles): Keep an eye on this name. The former Chief is now in Philly on a future deal. He’s a bowling ball of a runner who could easily become a short-yardage cult favorite in the "Tush Push" era.
- Jalen Milroe (QB, Seahawks): While Darnold is the starter, the rookie Milroe is looming. The dual-threat dynamic he brings is something Seattle hasn't truly had since the peak Russell Wilson years.
- Quinyon Mitchell (CB, Eagles): He’s the future of the Philly secondary. If he continues his trajectory, the Eagles won't need to keep trading away high draft picks for veteran corners.
The Verdict on the 2026 Outlook
Honestly, the gap between these two franchises is closing. Philly has the higher ceiling because of Jalen Hurts and that terrifying defensive line rotation. However, Seattle has the better "skill group" on paper. If you're a betting person, you look at the health of the offensive lines.
Philly’s O-line is aging. Lane Johnson is still elite, but for how much longer? Seattle’s O-line is young and unproven. That’s where the games are won or lost.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
- Monitor the Waiver Wire: Both teams are currently churning the bottom 10% of their rosters. Watch for "future" signings like Danny Gray or Tariq Castro-Fields; these are the guys who end up being training camp stars.
- Ignore the "Big Name" Bias: Don't assume Philly wins just because they have Jaelan Phillips and Jaire Alexander. Look at the snap counts. If those guys are only playing 40% of snaps due to "load management," the impact isn't there.
- Watch the Salary Cap: The Eagles are pushed right up against the limit. Expect some surprise cuts or restructures in March. Seattle has more breathing room, which means they might be the ones making the big free-agent splash this spring.
The 2026 season is going to be defined by which of these teams can keep their stars on the field. The talent is there on both sides, but as we've seen, the NFL is a league of attrition.
Stay updated on the latest practice squad elevations. In this era of Eagles and Seahawks players, the guy you've never heard of today might be the one making the game-winning tackle in September.