The Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive line has been recognized as the best in the NFL, as the team clinched the prestigious title of “Best Offensive Line” in the 2024 PFF Awards. However, the road to success was not without its hurdles, as the unit overcame a series of challenges, including injuries and positional changes, to ultimately establish dominance, especially in run blocking.
The Eagles’ offensive line, widely considered one of the league’s strongest, faced a difficult start to the season. The departure of center Jason Kelce, who retired ahead of the 2024 season, left a significant void. Fortunately, the team had already groomed his successor, Cam Jurgens, although the Nebraska product had only logged 45 snaps at center prior to this season. Additionally, Philadelphia needed to fill Jurgens’ former role at right guard, a challenge met by former first-round pick Mekhi Becton, who was shifting to guard for the first time in his career.
Injuries to both starting tackles, Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson, further compounded the team’s early struggles. Mailata and Johnson, two of the league’s top tackles, were sidelined for portions of the season, and left guard Landon Dickerson initially faced difficulties. Dickerson allowed 19 pressures in the first seven weeks, ranking among the highest in the league, and his pressure rate of 9.0% was the second-worst among guards. However, the Alabama product showed considerable improvement, surrendering only eight pressures over the final 10 regular-season games.
The offensive line hit a low point when Mailata missed extended time, with Fred Johnson stepping in as his replacement. Johnson struggled mightily, posting a dismal 37.3 pass-blocking grade from PFF, the worst among all NFL offensive tackles. As a result, by Week 10, the Eagles’ offensive line was ranked 29th in pass-blocking efficiency, tied with the Tennessee Titans. The unit trailed only the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks in this category.
Despite these early setbacks, the Eagles’ offensive line found its rhythm, with many of the key pieces from 2023 returning to form. Jordan Mailata, who was named PFF’s “Best Offensive Lineman” and “Best Run Blocker,” helped stabilize the unit, which ultimately rebounded to become the NFL’s most dominant offensive line.
While the challenges were significant, the Eagles’ offensive line proved resilient, adapting to the changes and emerging as a force in both pass protection and run blocking by season’s end.
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