The Philadelphia Eagles head into the 2026 season with legitimate questions that could define whether this roster takes the next step or falls short of its championship ceiling. NBC Philly’s Dave Zangaro laid out his top three concerns, and I want to break them down, add my own spin, and tell you where I think the real worry should be.

Replacing Nakobe Dean and Reed Blankenship

Zangaro listed this one, and I agree with him. But I’m looking more specifically at the safety position. We’ve gone through the draft, gone through free agency, and Philadelphia still hasn’t filled the void left by Blankenship’s departure. Maybe somebody will pop up once training camp starts or in the preseason, but I still feel like this roster needs another starter at safety.

Reed Blankenship did not get that much money on his new deal. He’s a guy the Eagles should have prioritized. I’m not saying Reed is a top-three or top-five safety in the league, but his veteran leadership, his understanding of the Vic Fangio defense, and just being an overall solid player is something this team is going to miss if they can’t find a replacement. Andrew Mukuba is coming off a season-ending injury, and who knows how he’s going to look. Then you have Marcus Epps. I still feel like there’s unfinished business at this position, and Howie Roseman needs to go out and get another body. This is a very fair concern for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

What if Sean Mannion doesn’t work out?

The Eagles took a big swing when they hired Mannion as offensive coordinator. He was 33 at the time, had been coaching for only two years in the NFL, and while he played for nine seasons and clearly has a great understanding of the game, there is risk here. We saw what happened with Kevin Patullo. Now, I don’t think it’ll be that extreme. I don’t think Mannion is a guy who won’t know how to adjust week to week. Patullo just stunk as a coordinator. Some guys don’t have it. He did not have it. Simple as that.

Mannion is expected to run a version of the Kyle Shanahan offense, which will be a significant departure from what the Eagles have done the first five years under Nick Sirianni. And while Jalen Hurts has had to play under a bunch of different coordinators, there are going to be more differences in this scheme than he has seen before.

But I’m not really worried about that. People are making it bigger than it has to be. Jalen Hurts has played in every type of offense. He’s adapted every single year. I think this is a chance to build stability, and that’s exactly why they made this hire. I don’t think Mannion is going to end up being a head coach somewhere else after one season because of his lack of experience, which means Jalen can finally build a real relationship with his coordinator.

I think Mannion is going to get creative, get inventive, and recreate the identity of this offense. Even if that means a run-first approach, I’m cool with it. I just want to see them win football games. I don’t care what it looks like. But the concern is real: what happens if the brand-new project doesn’t click? It’s a fair worry, just not as pressing as the safety position.

The health of the offensive line

This one is right up there at the top for me. From a talent perspective, the Eagles’ offensive line should be fine. But if we get to Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, and two guys are dealing with ankle injuries and another one is fighting through a strain week to week, this team is going to be in trouble.

Based on how Philadelphia’s offense has been built and based on what we expect Mannion’s scheme to demand, they need consistency up front. The big dogs need to stay on the field and stay healthy for the entire season. And hopefully their own interests align with that, too. We heard about Landon Dickerson mulling retirement. Cam Jurgens has been beat up every which way. Lane Johnson is a monster and a legend, but he’s getting up there in age. This could realistically be the final go for Johnson.

When the Eagles’ offensive line is healthy, it’s one of the best in the NFL. That’s the baseline. But there’s a part two to this concern that doesn’t get enough attention: how are these guys going to look under Chris Kuper? Philadelphia had Jeff Stoutland coaching that unit for 13 seasons, and now you have to figure out what the next iteration looks like. I do like the fact that Jordan Mailata has said all of them are embracing the new coaching, getting out of their comfort zones, and learning a new scheme. But it’s going to be a challenge.

If you ask me, I’d put offensive line health and the safety situation at 1A and 1B, with the Mannion question a close third. The talent is there, the front office has done its work. Now Philly just needs the health and the continuity to match.