The Philadelphia Eagles have been the big dog in the NFC East in recent years. Will that still be the case in 2026? Jeff Warren of The Philadelphia Sports Table joined the ‘Valentine’s Views’ podcast to discuss the Eagles’ offseason.
The full episode is in the player above. Some of the highlights of our discussion are below.
A real challenger
(2:40)
Warren said the Giants are “getting closer” to becoming a real challenger to the Eagles.
“At the end of the day, we want our teams to be relevant year after year. The relevancy
of your team, what they do during free agency and then inevitably what they do on the field, we want them to be relevant. Postseason success. That’s what we want,” Warren said. “I’m grateful that the Philadelphia Eagles and their front office have gotten to the point where that relevancy continues to be year after year and that expectation is there.
“The Giants have not had that relevancy for some time as you mentioned, but I think with their offseason, some of their acquisitions, whether it’s in free agency or even in the draft, I think they’re putting themselves in a good position to be more relevant in the future within the NFC East division.”
Warren credited John Harbaugh for that.
“You want a relevant coach. You want a relevant leader,” Warren said. “You want relevancy within the division, and that’s what he has brought in terms of the head coaching position. So the New York Giants are absolutely on their way to that relevancy.”
Addition by subtraction?
(7:01)
Did the recent trade of star wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots make the Eagles worse, or was it addition by subtraction?
Warren said removing the unhappy Brown will be addition by subtraction.
“Thank goodness the situation is just done,” Warren said. “It’s over with. It was exhausting. Probably like certain offseason situations in Giants Nation, too. You’re glad that certain things are over, not talked about really anymore. We’re like that with A.J. Brown.
“The AJ Brown saga now that it’s over, you have a certain level of discord that’s not going to be there anymore. So, at the end of the day, I think it is addition by subtraction.”
Another new offensive coordinator
(12:13)
Philadelphia replaced Kevin Patullo as offensive coordinator with Sean Mannion, another first-time play-caller in the NFL. Will Mannion succeed where Patullo failed?
“I think the biggest question mark is the fact that he’s never called plays in an NFL game before this job. So what are we actually going to see? We don’t know,” Warren said. “But look, he’s a quarterback-centric coach and has clarity in that regard. Just modern offensive concepts as well, creativity, keeping that energy within the scheme and design. And he’s a strong communicator who is relatable to his players. So, I’m really looking forward to seeing what is going to manifest with this new Eagles offense, or I should not necessarily even say new, but just divergent into certain areas where you’re playing to the players’ strengths and coaching to the players’ strengths. I think that’s what Sean Mannion is going to end up bringing, inevitably.“
Coming back to the pack?
(24:00)
The Eagles were the 2024 Super Bowl champs, and have won back-to-back NFC East titles. Could there be regression in 2026?
“I think the trepidation is there (in the fan base) again because certain things are so new,” Warren said. “A lot of question marks for sure, but like you said, the expectation definitely is high. Eagles Nation expects them to win every single game of the season in an unrealistic fashion, but yes, there is some slight trepidation there.
“So, it was a good question because I think we’re all feeling it in Eagles Nation. Not necessarily talking about it all the time, but there’s a little bit of trepidation that the Giants this offseason had a really good offseason. We know what the Commanders were just a couple seasons ago. Can they get back to that? And of course, the Dallas Cowboys have a really good quarterback in Dak Prescott. They do. They just do, at least during the regular season. And what are they going to be able to do in terms of pushing forward this coming season? So, yeah, maybe things are closing in a little bit here with all four teams. It’s going to be interesting to watch.”
