Elite quarterback play often grabs the headlines. It always has. It always will. There's an old saying, though. A quarterback's best friend is a strong running game or a reliable tight end. If that's all still true, the Philadelphia Eagles may have taught us that the signal-caller's offensive line is like family. They're like a band of brothers. A great quarterback's brilliance rarely shines consistently without quality protection up front.
Few divisions understand those bonds better than the NFC East. The Eagles, the Dallas Cowboys, the New York Giants, and the Washington Commanders all enter the 2026 season with proven starters or intriguing young talent at offensive tackle.
Philadelphia features arguably the league's best duo in Lane Johnson
and Jordan Mailata. The Giants counter with one of football's premier blindside protectors when healthy, while Washington added another established veteran to its offensive line. Dallas continues banking on experience and upside as it looks to solidify both edges.
Projecting these eight starters wasn't always easy, but let's do so anyway. Some players have lengthy resumes filled with Pro Bowls and All-Pro honors. Others are still attempting to establish themselves. Here's how the NFC East's projected starting offensive tackles stack up entering the season.
Lane Johnson | Philadelphia Eagles
Lane Johnson continues to set the standard for right tackles across the NFL. Even as injuries have limited his availability at times, few players combine his athleticism, technique and consistency in pass protection.
His absence has repeatedly highlighted just how valuable he remains to Philadelphia's offense, and opposing pass rushers still struggle to win consistently against him. Until someone in the division proves otherwise,Johnson remains the benchmark.
Jordan Mailata | Philadelphia Eagles
Jordan Mailata's remarkable development has transformed him from an intriguing project into one of the league's premier left tackles. He's become a dominant run blocker while continuing to improve as a pass protector, giving Philadelphia arguably the NFL's best tackle tandem.
Few offensive linemen possess his combination of size, power and movement skills. He's firmly established himself among the game's elite.
Andrew Thomas | New York Giants
When Thomas is healthy, there's little debate about his talent. He's one of the NFL's best left tackles. He gives the Giants confidence against the league's top edge rushers every week.
The only reason he doesn't rank higher is durability. Injuries have prevented him from putting together multiple full seasons, but his play when available remains worthy of elite recognition.
Laremy Tunsil | Washington Commanders
Laremy Tunsil has quietly built one of the NFL's most consistent careers at left tackle. He's long been known for his pass protection, but he's also developed into a more complete player capable of making an impact in the run game.
He enters year two and year 11 in the NFL. He's a five-time Pro Bowler, counting on his experience and steady play to anchor an offensive line looking to rebound this season.
Jermaine Eluemunor | New York Giants
Eluemunor rarely receives national attention, but he's become a dependable starter who brings stability to New York's offensive line. He has shown the versatility to play multiple positions during his career and has settled in nicely at tackle.
He may not possess the upside of some younger players on this list. His reliability has value, especially in a division loaded with elite pass rushers.
Terence Steele | Dallas Cowboys
Steele has overcome adversity to become a fixture along Dallas' offensive line. His physicality makes him an asset in the running game, and his experience gives the Cowboys a steady veteran presence on the right side.
Consistency in pass protection has occasionally been an issue. However, he's still a proven starter with far more established production than the younger tackles ranked behind him.
Josh Conerly Jr. | Washington Commanders
Josh Conerly enters his second season with plenty of optimism surrounding his future. His athleticism and movement skills suggest he has the tools to become Washington's long-term answer at tackle.
Continued development will determine how quickly he reaches that ceiling. The flashes have been encouraging. Now comes the challenge of delivering that level of play every week.
Tyler Guyton | Dallas Cowboys
Guyton's upside remains intriguing, but potential alone isn't enough to move him higher in this ranking. The former first-round pick has yet to translate his athletic gifts into dependable production consistently.
This season feels pivotal for his development. Dallas still believes he can become a cornerstone of its offensive line, but he'll need to show far more consistency before climbing this list.
The NFC East features one of football's deepest collections of offensive tackle talent. Philadelphia sets the pace with two elite players, while the Giants and Commanders each boast standout left tackles capable of changing games.
The remaining four still have plenty to prove. If even one of the division's younger tackles takes a significant step forward, this position group could become even stronger by season's end.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Ranking all 8 projected starting offensive tackles in the NFC East
