If you spent the last few months of 2025 screaming at your TV because of a missed tackle or a stagnant third-quarter drive, you're not alone. We all saw it. The Philadelphia Eagles depth chart 2025 was supposed to be a "reloading" year after that Super Bowl LIX win, but honestly, the reality on the field at Lincoln Financial Field felt a lot more like a rollercoaster than a victory lap.
People look at the names—Hurts, Barkley, Brown—and assume it's an automatic juggernaut. It’s not. Howie Roseman did his usual salary cap wizardry, yet the 2025 season proved that a depth chart is just a piece of paper until someone actually hits a gap or stays healthy through November. By the time the Eagles hit the Wild Card round against the 49ers in January 2026, that "paper" was looking pretty thin in some very specific spots.
The Quarterback Room: Jalen’s World and the Sam Howell Curveball
Basically, the 11-6 record tells one story, but Jalen Hurts' health tells another. He remains the unquestioned leader. He finished 19th in the NFL Top 100 for a reason. But you’ve probably noticed the backup situation shifted more than we expected.
Tanner McKee actually held onto that QB2 spot for a huge chunk of the season. It’s kinda wild when you think about it—the Eagles traded for Sam Howell (who came over via the Vikings after Kenny Pickett headed to Cleveland), and everyone assumed Howell would just walk into the backup role. Nope. McKee's knowledge of the system kept him ahead on the Philadelphia Eagles depth chart 2025 for the early goings.
- QB1: Jalen Hurts (The engine, period.)
- QB2: Tanner McKee (The reliable "system" guy.)
- QB3: Sam Howell (High-ceiling flyer who we only saw in flashes.)
Why the Saquon Barkley Era is Different Now
We need to talk about Saquon. He's 28. In "running back years," that’s basically middle-aged. Yet, he was the #1 ranked player on the NFL Top 100 in 2025. That’s insane. He carried the rock for 22.3 points per game, but the depth behind him became the real story when he needed a breather.
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Will Shipley is legit. You’ve seen the speed. He spent most of the summer as the RB2, but the team actually leaned on Tank Bigsby for the heavy lifting when they needed a power back to spell Saquon. Then there's A.J. Dillon. Most people forgot he was even on the roster until he started poaching goal-line carries in October. Honestly, the rotation was a bit of a mess early on, but it settled into a "thunder and lightning" vibe with Shipley and Bigsby.
The Offensive Line: Life Without Kelce (Part 2)
Cam Jurgens is the guy now. Let’s stop comparing him to Jason Kelce and just appreciate that he signed a massive 4-year extension. He’s the anchor. Alongside him, Landon Dickerson and Lane Johnson (who is still an All-Pro at 35, which is freakish) kept the pocket mostly clean.
The real "who is that?" moment for fans was Tyler Steen. He finally grabbed the Right Guard spot. For years, we wondered if he was a bust or just a slow burner. In 2025, he was a pillar. When Jordan Mailata went down briefly, Fred Johnson stepped in, but the drop-off was noticeable. That’s the thing about the Philadelphia Eagles depth chart 2025—the starters are elite, but the depth at Tackle is a bit of a "pray for health" situation.
Defense: The Kids are Finally Alright
If you want to know why the Eagles had the 5th best scoring defense in the league, look at the secondary. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are superstars. Both were 1st-team All-Pros. Think about that for a second. Two young corners locking down some of the best receivers in the NFC East.
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- Quinyon Mitchell: Shutdown corner. No other way to put it.
- Cooper DeJean: The Swiss Army knife. He played Nickel, he played Outside, he even returned punts when Britain Covey left for the Rams.
- Adoree' Jackson: The veteran presence who ended up in a dogfight with Kelee Ringo for CB2 reps.
The linebacker group was a different animal. Zack Baun became the heart of the defense. He got a $51 million deal to stay in Philly, and he earned every cent. Behind him, it was the "Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Show." Seeing the Axe Man’s son start games at the Linc was probably the most emotional part of the 2025 season. Nakobe Dean struggled with injuries again—missing the start of the season on IR—which allowed Jihaad Campbell to get some meaningful snaps.
The Pass Rush: Replacing the "Big Sweat"
Losing Josh Sweat to the Cardinals was a gut punch to the fan base. To fill that void, the Eagles went with a "committee of speed." Nolan Smith Jr. and Jalyx Hunt were the primary starters, but Howie brought in Azeez Ojulari and Joshua Uche on one-year "prove it" deals.
It worked... mostly. Jalen Carter is still a monster in the middle, but the edge rush lacked that one 15-sack guy. It was more about constant pressure from different angles. Moro Ojomo really stepped up as the DT3, which was necessary because Milton Williams took a massive paycheck to go to New England.
The Special Teams "Secret"
Jake Elliott is a robot. He doesn't miss. Braden Mann is a top-tier punter. But the long snapper situation was weird. Charley Hughlett came over from the Browns to replace Rick Lovato, and while fans complained (because fans always complain about long snappers), the operation was smooth.
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What Really Happened with the 2025 Season
Looking back, the Philadelphia Eagles depth chart 2025 was a transition. It was the year the defense fully became "the young guys'" unit. While the offense still relies on the 2022-era core, the defense is now built around Mitchell, DeJean, and Carter.
The Wild Card loss to the 49ers (23-19) was frustrating because the talent was there. It came down to a few snaps where the depth was tested and found wanting—specifically at Tight End when Dallas Goedert was banged up and Grant Calcaterra had to play 90% of the snaps.
Actionable Insights for Eagles Fans Heading into 2026
If you're tracking this team for your dynasty league or just want to be the smartest person at the bar, keep these three things in mind:
- Watch the Safety Battle: With Marcus Epps on IR and Andrew Mukuba (the rookie standout) pushing for more reps, the safety rotation alongside Reed Blankenship is going to be the most volatile part of the 2026 offseason.
- The Tight End Vacuum: Dallas Goedert restructured his deal, but the Eagles clearly need a "TE1B." Neither Calcaterra nor Kylen Granson proved they can be a primary target. Expect a high draft pick here.
- The "Future" Deals: The team just signed players like Carson Steele and E.J. Jenkins to reserve/future contracts. Steele, in particular, has that "Howie Roseman special" vibe—an undrafted guy who might end up being a short-yardage specialist by next September.
The 2025 roster was talented enough to win a division but too top-heavy to survive the playoff gauntlet. Now, we see if Howie can fix the floor.