The Philadelphia Eagles enter the 2026 season in the second tier of NFC contenders, but they still possess enough talent to reach another Super Bowl.
The Los Angeles Rams may have the conference’s most imposing roster after adding Myles Garrett and welcoming Aaron Donald out of retirement. Seattle must also remain near the top until proven otherwise. The defending Super Bowl champions opened the season with a 13-10 win over New England despite losing quarterback Sam Darnold to a hip injury early in the game. Drew Lock stepped in and helped the Seahawks complete the comeback, demonstrating the resilience expected from a defending champion.
Philadelphia belongs directly behind those NFC West powers, alongside Detroit and San Francisco.
The Eagles’
strongest argument begins with their established core. Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith, Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata give Sean Mannion championship-level talent on offense. Vic Fangio’s defense features Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Zack Baun, Cooper DeJean, Quinyon Mitchell and Riq Woolen.
The concern is how quickly everything comes together.
Mannion is a first-time NFL play caller, while Hurts is learning another offensive system. Philadelphia must also replace A.J. Brown’s production and establish dependable roles for Makai Lemon, Hollywood Brown and Dontayvion Wicks.
The Eagles should remain the NFC East favorite, but they have not earned the designation as the conference’s unquestioned team to beat. Seattle owns that title after winning the Super Bowl and opening its defense with another victory. Los Angeles may have the highest ceiling on paper.
Philadelphia enters the season around third in the NFC hierarchy. If Hurts thrives in Mannion’s system and Fangio’s defense remains elite, the Eagles can quickly move back to the top.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Where the Eagles rank among the top NFC contenders entering 2026
