Philadelphia’s season has taken a dramatic turn after Lane Johnson’s sudden retirement and the trade of Pro Bowl center Cam Jurgens to Baltimore. Only two years after capturing their second Super Bowl, the Eagles suddenly appear less like a championship contender and more like a franchise bracing for a new chapter.
The choice to send Jurgens away for future draft assets is especially notable. Teams in championship contention seldom deal Pro Bowl-caliber players midseason, and Philadelphia’s latest actions imply general manager Howie Roseman is already setting his sights past the current year.
Eagles rebuild begins with draft capital
The Eagles have assembled an impressive stockpile of future draft picks. By 2028, Philadelphia is now positioned to own two first-round selections and two second-round choices, with the extra second-rounder resulting from the Jurgens trade.
That approach could ultimately lay the groundwork for another successful rebuild. Still, it also raises clear questions about what Roseman’s plans mean for the rest of the 2026 season.
For a club that was pursuing another title only two years after hoisting the Super Bowl trophy, the present direction marks a major shift. Philadelphia seems to be putting its future first rather than making win-now moves to stay among the NFL’s elite.
The offensive line reveals the Eagles’ issues
The changes are especially evident on offense, where Philadelphia no longer looks like the team that overpowered the two-time defending champion Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley have taken steps back, while the offensive line has been left in flux after Johnson’s retirement and Jurgens’ exit.
The overhauled receiving group has also been unable to offset the loss of A.J. Brown. Combined, those problems have left the Eagles resembling a faded version of their former selves and reinforced the sense that a major reset may be in progress.
The difficulties go beyond the roster. Philadelphia’s edge and intensity, traits that helped the team win it all in 2024, seem to have vanished. That has prompted questions about the team’s culture and internal leadership, with head coach Nick Sirianni inevitably drawn into the conversation.
Eagles culture raises questions about Sirianni
One of the most telling examples came in Philadelphia’s Week 3 matchup with Chicago. The Eagles were favored to beat a Bears team starting 38-year-old Case Keenum, who was making his first start in three years.
In the second quarter, D’Marco Jackson delivered a hit on Hurts that drew an unnecessary roughness penalty. Although Jackson was flagged, the Eagles’ response afterward was perhaps more revealing. DeVonta Smith was the only teammate who seemed especially upset by the play.
Instead of answering with greater urgency, Philadelphia kept struggling on both sides of the ball and let Chicago control the physical battle. The absence of a strong response naturally raised doubts about the team’s current mindset and whether Sirianni’s message is still getting through to his players.
Sirianni has already guided the Eagles to the top, just as Doug Pederson did before him. But Pederson’s message eventually stopped resonating in Philadelphia, and he was dismissed three years after the Super Bowl win. With fans now questioning Sirianni’s job status, history offers an uneasy parallel.
Philadelphia has rebuilt before
Pederson’s final season ended with Philadelphia going 4-11-1 and facing tanking accusations. At that time, another championship looked far away, yet the Eagles were able to rebuild and climb back to the top only four years after that disastrous 2020 campaign.
That history gives some cause for optimism as Philadelphia enters another uncertain stretch. Roseman’s previous rebuild eventually delivered another championship, proving that accumulating draft picks and reshaping a roster can pay off in time.
For now, though, Eagles fans are left watching a team that appears increasingly focused on what lies ahead. The Jurgens trade, Johnson’s retirement, and the team’s offensive struggles all suggest a potentially major rebuild, even if Philadelphia has not officially declared itself out of the current fight.
