​As we continue our journey through all 32 NFL teams in the “3 unanswered questions” series, we turn our focus to the Philadelphia Eagles. Rumors swirl around how Jalen Hurts has been received within the organization and locker room, whether morale dipped after star wide receiver A.J. Brown departed for the New England Patriots, and how high expectations remain for a potential top finish in the NFC East. Each team arrives at camp with its own questions, and the Eagles are no exception as they prepare for the next chapter of a franchise that has built a decade of sustained success.
The Eagles have been one of the NFL’s most consistently competitive programs in the past ten years. They’ve earned the postseason berth in eight of the last nine seasons, reached the Super Bowl on three occasions, and captured two championships. Yet last season brought some headwinds: they dropped four of their final seven regular-season games and exited the playoffs after a single defeat. Even off the field, there were hints of disruption, with Saquon Barkley’s production dipping compared to the team’s championship run in the 2024 Super Bowl year. The broader offense also didn’t perform at the level fans had grown accustomed to. Was this a temporary Super Bowl hangover, or are there more persistent issues brewing beneath the surface?
With a new offensive coordinator in Sean Mannion, a coaching veteran connected to the Shanahan/McVay coaching tree, questions loom about how the Eagles’ play sheet will evolve. Will Philadelphia lean more on motion and misdirection, creating confusion for defenses, or will their identity lean toward a more traditional, up-tempo attack? It seems likely that more of Jalen Hurts will be spent under center, but the emphasis may shift toward him operating as a pocket passer more often than in recent seasons. The early returns in 2026 will be telling as to how quickly and effectively Mannion’s influence translates into production and rhythm for the offense.
A central theme of the coming season is how Hurts handles a greater emphasis on throwing between the hashes. With Mannion calling plays that encourage more middle-of-the-field throwing, turnovers become a topical concern. Hurts has prided himself on careful ball security, yet history shows he has not always favored the area between the numbers. A shift in target distribution and decision-making could lead to more interceptions if defenses start to anticipate tendencies, or it could unlock a new ceiling if Hurts harnesses precision and timing in those windows. The Eagles will also need to mitigate negative plays, as sacks and losses on first downs can derail drives and erode confidence.
As the calendar flips to camp and then to the regular season, early indicators will reveal how seamless the transition to Mannion’s system will be for Hurts and the rest of the offense. How quickly the line and receivers gel with a scheme that may include more motion, play-action, and mid-field targets will shape the team’s trajectory. Additionally, the defense will bear its own scrutiny, as the team looks to maintain the inconsistency that sometimes accompanies growing pains within an attacking philosophy rooted in pace and deception.
Ultimately, the Eagles enter the season with a mix of high expectations and legitimate questions. Can Hurts adapt to a more diversified, mid-range passing approach without sacrificing his decision-making or rushing threat? Will Mannion’s system deliver the necessary balance between protection, play-action, and accuracy to sustain a potent offense? And will the team’s overall structure—coaching, lineup stability, and depth—hold up under the strain of a demanding schedule and a fierce division? The answers will begin to crystallize early in 2026 as Philadelphia seeks to recapture its form and reclaim its place among the league’s elite.