The Philadelphia Eagles have spent the past four seasons building an offense around A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Following Brown’s blockbuster trade to the New England Patriots, that equation changes significantly. While the move creates future salary-cap flexibility and adds premium draft capital, it also forces Philadelphia to reshuffle its offensive hierarchy heading into training camp.
The Eagles‘ offense looks dramatically different after trading A.J. Brown to the Patriots for future draft assets, and we’re projecting the depth chart.
Quarterback: 4
Starter: #1 Jalen HurtsBackup: #14 Tanner McKee3rd: #16 Andy Dalton
4th: #10 Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State
At quarterback, nothing changes. Hurts remains the franchise cornerstone, while Tanner McKee and veteran Andy Dalton provide depth behind him. Hurts has begun his work with Sean Mannion, and the quarterback will benefit from having the former quarterback, along with Josh Grizzard (pass game coordinator) and another former quarterback, Jerrod Johnson, on staff as senior assistants. McKee returns, while the Eagles traded a 7th-round pick to Carolina to acquire Dalton. Former North Dakota State signal caller Cole Payton joins the roster, and all four players could make the 53-man cuts.
RB: 5
Starter: #26 Saquon BarkleyBackup: #8 Tank BigsbyThird: #28 Will Shipley4th: #39 Dameon Pierce#34 Carson Steele
#36 Cameron Latu (FB/TE)
The running game should remain the foundation of the offense. Saquon Barkley remains the featured weapon behind one of the league’s most talented offensive lines, while Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley, and Dameon Pierce give the Eagles considerable depth.
WR: 11
#11 A.J. Brown (Expected to be traded)Starter: #6 DeVonta Smith
Co-starters: #9 Makai Lemon, WR, Southern Cal/#0 Hollywood Brown5th: #80 Darius Cooper4th: #89 Johnny Wilson#86 Quez Watkins#82 Danny Gray
#18 Britain Covey
4th: #19 Elijah Moore -signed March 24
Starter: #13 Dontayvion Wicks– Acquired via trade
Samori Toure
The most obvious change comes at wide receiver.
DeVonta Smith now becomes the unquestioned No. 1 target in the passing game. The former Heisman Trophy winner has already posted multiple 1,000-yard seasons and will likely see an increase in both targets and overall responsibility. Behind Smith, the Eagles suddenly have one of the NFL’s most intriguing position battles. Veteran additions Hollywood Brown and Dontayvion Wicks are expected to step into prominent roles, while first-round pick Makai Lemon could see an expanded opportunity much earlier than originally anticipated. Elijah Moore, Johnny Wilson, Samori Toure, and Darius Cooper will also compete for snaps as the Eagles search for the right combination around quarterback Jalen Hurts.
TE: 8
Starter: #88 Dallas Goedert
2nd: #87 Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt3rd: #83 Johnny Mundt3rd: #81 Grant Calcaterra#87 Stone Smartt#84 E.J. Jenkins
#36 Cameron Latu
#45 Dae’Quan Wright — Player to watch
Dallas Goedert could become one of the biggest beneficiaries of Brown’s departure. The veteran tight end is positioned for a larger role, while second-round pick Eli Stowers provides an intriguing developmental option behind him.
Offensive line: 17
Starter: LT: #68 Jordan MailataStarter: LG: #69 Landon DickersonStarter: C: #51 Cam JurgensStarter: RG: #56 Tyler SteenStarter: RT: #65 Lane Johnson
#72 Markel Bell, T, Miami
Backup: #76 Micah Morris, G, Georgia
Swing tackle: #74 Fred Johnson, #78 Myles Hinton, #73 Cameron Williams, #67 John Ojukwu, #66 Drew Kendall, #61 Backup: Willie Lampkin, #75 Jake Majors, #63 Hollin Pierce, #64 Jaeden Roberts, #67 John Ojukwu
The Eagles’ offensive line suffered multiple injuries in 2025 but will look to rebound under the new offensive line coach. The Eagles have hired Chris Kuper as offensive line coach. The Vikings didn’t retain Kuper after four years in the same position. During Kuper’s tenure, Minnesota ranked 32nd in interior pressure rate allowed in three of the last four seasons, including 2025, a ranking that led to his dismissal. Landon Dickerson was excellent in 2024 but finished the 2025 regular season with a 60.3 PFF pass-blocking grade, which ranked only 51st among 81 qualifying guards. Jordan Mailata didn’t replicate his elite 2024 campaign, but he was still Philadelphia’s best offensive lineman. His 83.8 PFF overall grade ranked seventh among all offensive tackles. Lane Johnson, 35, is a future Hall of Famer with a resume that includes six Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pro nods, and a pair of Super Bowl wins. Johnson’s value is clear: the Eagles were 8-2 with him in the lineup this season, versus 3-4 without him. During his tenure in Philadelphia, the team’s record is 94-41-1 when he plays and 15-27 when he doesn’t.
The Eagles may have traded away one of the NFL’s premier receivers, but the roster remains loaded with talent. The biggest question entering 2026 is whether Philadelphia can replace Brown’s production through a deeper, more balanced offensive approach rather than relying on a single dominant playmaker.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: How Eagles’ depth chart changes after trading A.J. Brown