Eagles Training Camp Preview: The OTs - Two of NFL's Best
PHILADELPHIA - The greatest NFL luxury for an offense might be the ability to have two offensive tackles you can put on an island and forget about them.
That's the upper hand Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni and his staff have when it comes to game-planning each and every week with All-Pro Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata.
Johnson was recently named as the No. 1 player on one of the league’s deepest rosters by SI.com’s Eagles Today while both Johnson and Mailata were tabbed as top-five offensive tackles in ESPN’s recent poll of scouts and executives.
The improvement for the best tandem of tackles in the NFL would have to become in the chasm between Nos. 1 to No. 2.
At 33, Johnson, the right tackle, is on the tail end of his career, and Mailata, 26, is an ascending left tackle. The latter is an amazing story who grew from Australian football novice to dominating the best edge defenders in the NFL after three years matriculating at his self-coined “Jeff Stoutalnd University.”
Johnson is on an all-time heater having not allowed a sack since Week 11 of the 2020 season nor a quarterback hit since Week 7 of the 2021 campaign, according to Pro Football Focus.
That means Johnson pitched a shutout for the Eagles last season, playing in 18 games (15 in the regular season and three in the postseason), and participating in 1,176 offensive snaps without anyone sniffing quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Johnson finished the run through Super Bowl LVII while playing through a torn abductor muscle in his core which needed to be repaired surgically days after the Eagles’ 38-35 Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs.
Set to enter his 11th season after being the No. 4 overall pick in the 2013 draft, Johnson was given another year on his contract and $30 million guaranteed for his handiwork. He’s now signed through 2026.
“A lot of my game now is trying to be a smarter player,” Johnson said this offseason. “Whatever you may have in diminished attributes, you can make up with timing and that sort of thing. I’m happy where I’m at — 33 is old but I still feel like I got a few good years left.”
Johnson talked about two more years last season which would take him through 2024. The difference will likely be split by how healthy Johnson is during the upcoming seasons. For now, the goal is to remain what Sirianni calls “the best right tackle in the world.”
For Mailata, there is still plenty of room for improvement and that’s got to be a scary thought for opponents. Per PFF, Mailata was the No. 3 offensive tackle in the NFL in 2021 and finished No. 9 in 2022 when he fought threw a shoulder injury suffered in Week 4 against Jacksonville for much of the season.
Mailata got healthier as the campaign wore on and was really dominating during the stretch run and the postseason.
When Mailata arrived in America, he needed help strapping on his helmet and now he’s a star.
“The room that I was brought into had a high standard,” Mailata said. “…Those guys set the ceiling. Those guys set the standard and it’s pretty easy when you’re chasing greatness, and that’s kind of the mindset I go in with every day, is just chasing greatness.”
The Eagles took a significant hit when it came to depth, losing 2019 first-round pick Andre Dillard to a big-money deal from Tennessee in free agency. Once Mailata usurped Dillard as the left tackle, however, that end game was always obvious and the Eagles understood the clock was ticking.
Dillard was the top backup on the left side last season and Jack Driscoll was the No. 1 on the right side. Now it will be a more traditional swing tackle setup with Driscoll.
From there Philadelphia has a bunch of options including the 6-foot-7, 326-pound Fred Johnson and the 6-7, 301 Roderick Johnson, who have NFL experience, along with undrafted rookies Trevor Reid and Chim Okorafor.
The plan for third-round pick Tyler Steen is right guard but he played right tackle and left tackle exclusively at the college level for Vanderbilt and Alabama. Brett Toth was also a college left tackle at Army and feels most comfortable there, even though the Eagles have turned him into a versatile backup who can play all five positions in a pinch.
Depth Chart:
LT - Jordan Mailata; Jack Driscoll; Fred Johnson; Trevor Reid
RT - Lane Johnson; Jack Driscoll; Roderick Johnson; Chim Okarafor
WHAT’S CHANGED: Dillard leaving was inevitable and the luxury of having a really talented player as a backup is rarely sustainable. Losing Dillard is a hit when it comes to comfort but Driscoll should be competent as a swing tackle. The newcomers are undrafted players and observers should keep an eye on Reid, who is got top-tier athleticism for the position but is raw and needs to add strength. He could be something down the line with Stoutland’s tutelage.
THE CEILING: Johnson and Mailata stay healthy for all 17 games and the projected playoff run, giving Philadelphia an All-Pro-level duo with Driscoll settling in to give the coaching staff all the confidence it could possibly need on game days.
THE LONGSHOT: Knowing the Eagles’ history, Reid is a nice bet entering camp to occupy a back-end roster spot. The organization typically likes to give Stoutland one young piece of clay with upside and see what happens. Reid is the top candidate for that spot this year because he’s got top-tier athleticism but needs some time to add functional football strength.
WHO STAYS/GOES: Johnson, Mailata, and Driscoll are the obvious pieces and Toth’s versatility might give him the edge as a deep reserve. As mentioned, Reid could be a redshirt candidate or if experience is the goal, Fred Johnson could be defaulted to.
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-John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's Eagles Today and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube. John is also the host of his own show "Football 24/7 and a daily contributor to ESPN South Jersey. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen
