Each NFC Team’s Largest 2026 Cap Hit
With training camp a few weeks away and the NFL in the midst of a rare quiet period, this is a good time to examine each team’s largest 2026 cap hit. This exercise will take a look at players who are still on their teams’ rosters. That disqualifies massive dead money hits for the likes of Kyler Murray (Cardinals) and Derek Carr (Saints) from this edition, which will focus on the NFC.
Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams ($48.27MM)
One of the league’s most productive quarterbacks throughout his 17-year career, Stafford finally won his first MVP last season. During his first 17-start season since 2021, Stafford guided the Rams to a 12-5 record while leading the league in yards (4,707) and touchdowns (46, against eight interceptions). He was also among the elite in passer rating (second; 109.2) and QBR (fourth; 71.2).
In the playoffs, despite Stafford’s 374-yard, three-TD effort in the conference title game, the Rams dropped a 31-27 nail-biter to the division rival Seahawks. Stafford briefly contemplated retirement afterward, but the 38-year-old is now under contract through 2027 after inking an extension in May.
Looking to take advantage of Stafford’s remaining years as a top-level QB, the Rams added reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and ex-Chiefs starting cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to an already loaded roster over the past few months. They also turned heads in using the 13th overall pick in the draft on a quarterback, Ty Simpson, but he is obviously not a threat to Stafford in the near term.
Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys ($43.51MM)
Prescott was not at his best in 2024, an eight-start season that ended in November with a major hamstring injury, but he returned to Pro Bowl form last year. Thanks in part to the acquisition of wide receiver George Pickens, Prescott led the league with 404 completions, threw for 4,552 yards and tossed 30 touchdowns (against 10 interceptions). Prescott put up a 99.5 passer rating, the 10th-best mark in the league, and ranked an even better fifth in QBR (70.2).
The Cowboys went a lackluster 7-9-1 and missed the playoffs for the second straight year, but Prescott and the offense did their part. A bottom-dwelling defense torpedoed the Cowboys’ chances of contending. Their prolific offense remains intact. If Dallas’ defensive additions pay dividends, Prescott & Co. could return to the playoffs in his age-32 season.
Baker Mayfield, QB, Buccaneers ($39.98MM)
Mayfield remained an above-average starter in 2025, his third year with the Buccaneers, but most of his numbers declined compared to the previous season. Neither the 31-year-old nor the offense as a whole functioned as well under coordinator Josh Grizzard as they did in 2024 under Liam Coen. In fairness to Mayfield and Grizzard, a rash of injuries along the offensive line and at the skill positions didn’t help matters. Those issues contributed to an 8-9 finish for Tampa Bay, which missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
The Buccaneers reacted by firing Grizzard and hiring Zac Robinson, who will be Mayfield’s fourth different OC in as many seasons with the club. Franchise institution/potential Hall of Fame receiver Mike Evans is also gone (to the 49ers).
Mayfield could follow Evans out the door in a year if he and the Bucs don’t hammer out a contract extension by next March. It has been a month since Mayfield told the media the sides had not made progress toward an agreement. However, there is mutual interest in getting something done before the Bucs open camp in late July, Mayfield’s self-imposed deadline. Unless he adjusts the deadline, the team has a little over three weeks to lock up its two-time Pro Bowl passer.
Sam Darnold, QB, Seahawks ($37.9MM)
The Vikings erred in allowing Darnold to leave for Seattle in 2025, when he scored a three-year, $100MM contract in free agency. All Darnold did in the first season of the contract was help the Seahawks to a Super Bowl championship. Darnold posted a 14-3 record for the second straight regular season, in which he completed a career-high 67.7% of attempts, went over the 4,000-yard mark and fired 25 touchdown passes. While he threw 14 INTs in the regular season, he didn’t add to the total in three playoff games, including a Super Bowl LX win over the Patriots.
Darnold was at his best in the aforementioned NFC title game win over the Rams, whom he torched for 346 yards and three TDs. While the Rams are now the betting favorites to win it all this season, Darnold and the reigning champion Seahawks shouldn’t be discounted.
Jared Goff, QB, Lions ($37.6MM)
The Lions’ win total plummeted from 15 in 2024 to nine last year. The six-victory decline led to the Lions missing the playoffs for the first time since 2022, but Goff remained among the game’s most prolific signal-callers. He threw for 4,564 yards and 34 touchdowns, trailing only Stafford (whom he was traded for in 2021) in those categories. Goff also tossed just eight interceptions on 578 attempts and ranked near the top of the league in passer rating (second; 105.5), completion percentage (fifth; 68%), and yards per attempt (sixth; 7.9).
Notably, this will be the third year in a row in which Goff will pair with a different play caller. After Ben Johnson left to become the Bears’ head coach in 2025, the Lions hired John Morton. The decision didn’t go according to plan, as head coach Dan Campbell took Morton’s play-calling duties away during the season and then fired him when it ended. Campbell replaced Morton with Drew Petzing, previously the Cardinals’ OC. Petzing walked into an enviable situation with Goff, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, and tight end Sam LaPorta as weapons.
Jalen Hurts, QB, Eagles ($31.97MM)
Hurts took home Super Bowl LIX honors after the Eagles thrashed the Chiefs in February 2025, but the honeymoon didn’t last long. While the Eagles won 11 games and a second consecutive NFC East title, their offense markedly declined under new coordinator Kevin Patullo. With 33 total touchdowns, six interceptions and a 98.5 passer rating, Hurts put up nice numbers en route to a third Pro Bowl nod. But as the leader of the league’s 23rd-ranked passing offense, he was a source of frustration both in the building and among the team’s fans.
Worsening matters, the Eagles’ offense showed little life in a 23-19 loss to the 49ers in the wild-card round. That proved to be the last game as an Eagle for star receiver A.J. Brown, who voiced his dissatisfaction with the offense multiple times throughout the year. After a long-awaited trade with the Patriots came together on June 1, Brown revealed that he and Hurts drifted apart during the season.
Patullo and Brown are out of the organization, meaning Hurts will go into 2026 with another new OC in Sean Mannion and a few new pass catchers (first-rounder Makai Lemon, second-rounder Eli Stowers, Dontayvion Wicks and Marquise Brown) to complement holdovers DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert. This will be a crucial season for Hurts, whose five-year, $255MM contract is due to expire after 2027. The Eagles could open talks on an extension next offseason if Hurts performs to their liking in his age-28 campaign.
Jordan Love, QB, Packers ($31.6MM)
It became more obvious last season that the Packers found their third straight franchise QB in Love, who has been up to the mountainous task of following Brett Favre (1992-2007) and Aaron Rodgers (2008-22). Over 15 regular-season starts, Love threw 23 touchdowns against a meager six interceptions. He was also comfortably in the league’s top 10 in QBR (third; 72.7) passer rating (sixth; 101.2) and yards per attempt (eighth; 7.7).
Despite the positives Love showed in his third year as a starter, Green Bay’s season ended in bitter fashion. Not only did the Packers drop their last four regular-season games to finish 9-7-1, but they blew a 21-3 halftime lead in a 31-27 wild-card round loss to the archrival Bears. The defeat came in spite of Love’s 323-yard, four-TD showing.
Daron Payne, DT, Commanders ($27.95MM)
The 6-foot-3, 320-pound Payne has been a full-time starter in seven of eight seasons since the Commanders drafted him 13th overall in 2018. Payne racked up a career-high 11.5 sacks in 2022, his lone Pro Bowl season, and the Commanders kept him around with a four-year, $90MM offer a few months later. Payne is now entering the last year of the pact, but the Commanders do not plan to pursue a new deal until 2027 (if at all). Over 15 starts in 2025, Payne notched 46 tackles, eight QB hits, seven TFL, five pass deflections and three sacks. The 29-year-old came in fifth in run stop win rate, but the defense still surrendered the third-most rushing yards in the league.
Chris Lindstrom, RG, Falcons ($26.25MM)
The durable and dependable Lindstrom has started in all 105 appearances since the Falcons made him the 14th pick in the 2019 draft. In 2023, with Lindstrom then coming off his first Pro Bowl/second-team All-Pro season, former Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot gave him a five-year, $105MM extension. Money well spent, as Lindstrom has since put up three more Pro Bowl/second-team All-Pro campaigns. The 6-4, 310-pounder made his second straight 17-start season in 2025 and finished as Pro Football Focus’ second-ranked guard.
Montez Sweat, DE, Bears ($25.09MM)
The Bears won the NFC North last season despite a below-average pass rush that finished 26th in sacks and 31st in win rate. You can’t blame the Bears’ ineffective rush on Sweat, who easily led the team in pressures (54), QB hits (18) and sacks (10) over a full 17-game schedule. The Bears, who have not made any noteworthy pass-rushing additions since the Rams eliminated them in the divisional round, will count on similar production from Montez in 2026. It will be his age-30 campaign and the second-last season of a four-year, $98MM contract.
Robert Hunt, RG, Panthers ($24.3MM)
Hunt made the Pro Bowl in 2024, the beginning of a five-year, $100MM contract, but an MCL injury wiped out most of his 2025 campaign. He went down in Week 2, landed on IR, and did not return until the postseason. Hunt ended up playing 76% of the Panthers’ offensive snaps in a loss to the Rams in the wild-card round. Now heading into his age-30 season, a healthy Hunt will continue as the Panthers’ No. 1 right guard.
Paulson Adebo, CB, Giants ($24.2MM)
Adebo missed 10 games with a broken femur in 2024, his fourth and final season with the Saints, but that didn’t stop the Giants from giving him a three-year, $54MM deal in free agency. The first season of the contract didn’t go great for Adebo, who sat out five games with a knee injury. Across 12 starts, Adebo tallied 73 tackles, eight passes defensed and an interception. On 80 targets, he yielded a 98.2 passer rating (up from 70.8 the previous year). PFF ranked Adebo a below-average 72nd among 108 qualifiers at his position, though he remains atop the Giants’ depth chart going into Year 2 of his contract. Either Greg Newsome, Deonte Banks or Colton Hood will start on the other side.
Brock Purdy, QB, 49ers ($23.71MM)
This is an eminently reasonable cap hit for a healthy Purdy, who has defied the odds and excelled since he entered the NFL as Mr. Irrelevant (the last pick in the draft) in 2022. San Francisco committed to Purdy on a five-year, $265MM extension in May 2025, but turf toe limited him to nine starts last season.
Despite a rash of injuries to Purdy and other key players, the 49ers still went 12-5 and clinched a playoff berth. Purdy & Co. got a wild-card road win over Philly, but the Seahawks knocked the 49ers out a week later with a 41-6 rout in the divisional round. If Purdy and the 49ers stay relatively healthy this season, they should be legitimate championship contenders.
Brian O’Neill, RT, Vikings ($23.16MM)
The reliable O’Neill has been a full-time starter and a career-long Viking since they took him in the second round of the 2018 draft. Now a two-time Pro Bowler and the longest-tenured Viking, O’Neill is on track to play the final season of his five-year, $92MM contract in 2026. However, the soon-to-be 31-year-old has made it clear he wants to sign a second extension in Minnesota. Given the Vikings’ mutual interest, there is a good chance the sides will work something out this summer. The bigger question may be whether O’Neill will block for newly acquired quarterback Kyler Murray or holdover J.J. McCarthy. Murray and McCarthy will continue to compete for the starting job in the next couple of months.
Budda Baker, S, Cardinals ($19.22MM)
A Cardinal since he came into the league as a second-rounder in 2017, Baker is under contract through 2028 on a three-year, $54MM extension. While his team is expected to contend for the league’s worst record and the No. 1 overall pick, Baker will vie for his eighth straight Pro Bowl and ninth overall. Last season was a mixed bag despite the Pro Bowl selection. The versatile Baker made 16 starts and recorded decent counting starts (120 tackles, five passes defensed and an interception), but PFF rated him a lowly 79th among 84 safeties.
Chris Olave, WR, Saints ($15.49MM)
Olave bounced back from a concussion-marred 2024 to catch 100 passes for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns over 16 games in 2025. All of those numbers represent career highs for the four-year veteran, who earned a second-team All-Pro nod. Although Olave has been recovering from a blood clot, he is optimistic the Saints will extend him this summer. If not, Olave will play the season on his fifth-year option. The Saints drafted a new No. 2 receiver, first-rounder Jordyn Tyson, to team with Olave and second-year quarterback Tyler Shough.
Information from Over the Cap was used in the creation of this post.
Rams Offered First-Round Pick For A.J. Brown; Latest On WR’s Issues With Jalen Hurts
The Patriots’ trade for A.J. Brown was more than a year in the making.
New England checked in on the star wide receiver multiple times in 2025, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, including during the offseason and around the trade deadline. The Eagles initially lacked interest in a deal, but by the end of the season, Brown wanted out of Philadelphia.
His frustrations with the offense had mounted over the past two years. In that span, the unit averaged just 206.3 passing yards per game, the third-fewest in the NFL. Of particular concern was Jalen Hurts‘ “perceived reluctance to target Brown on tight-window throws against zone coverage,” according to ESPN.
Former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin once said that he wants “volunteers, not hostages,” in response to a question about All-Pro running Le’Veon Bell‘s holdout. The phrase tends to hold true around the NFL, especially for players like Brown who are unafraid to cryptically or explicitly express their feelings about their situations. After he decided he no longer wanted to be an Eagle, the team was more open to a trade when the Patriots re-engaged at the Combine.
Philadelphia still demanded a hefty asking price – “a first-rounder plus another high-end pick,” per Breer – though the team did not seek a second first-round selection in the deal. A soft trade market drove down the price. Brown listed New England among his four preferred landing spots in the AFC. Neither the Chiefs nor the Chargers made headway towards a deal, and the Bills filled their wide receiver need by acquiring D.J. Moore from the Bears.
The Eagles considered sending Brown to an NFC team – and not just any NFC team, but one already seen as an early Super Bowl favorite. The Rams offered a 2028 first-rounder, but the deal failed to materialize due to medical concerns about Brown’s degenerative knee condition. Los Angeles also intended to move Davante Adams to open up more targets in their offense, but that trade was scuttled, too.
Philadelphia’s willingness to take a 2028 first opened a door with the Patriots, who wanted to hang onto their first-round pick in what is expected to be a strong 2027 draft. Both sides were confident enough in a deal by the 2026 draft in April that they acted as though the trade was already done. The Eagles added a trio of veteran receivers (Elijah Moore, Marquise Brown, and Dontayvion Wicks) and traded up for USC’s Makai Lemon in the first round. The Patriots declined to select a wideout at all.
Completing the trade after June 1 had long been a financial requirement for the Eagles. Once that date came, the two sides got together to hammer out the final terms of the deal, which included a 2027 fifth-rounder heading from New England to Philly.
The Patriots will be hoping that Brown can quickly build (and maintain) a rapport with quarterback Drake Maye to avoid similar issues to those he had with Hurts. The Eagles, meanwhile, seem to intend to replace Brown in the aggregate, at least right away. No single one of the receivers they added this offseason can replace his production and impact right away – though they likely expect Lemon to get there eventually – but combined, they offer significantly more depth than Philadelphia previously had at the position.
A.J. Brown Fallout: Roseman, Rams, Hurts
The long-awaited A.J. Brown trade between the Eagles and Patriots finally came together on Monday. Before agreeing to ship out a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder for Brown, the Patriots held out hope the Eagles would accept a package headlined by a second-rounder, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The sides began discussing the 2028 first-rounder about a month ago, Rapoport adds.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman was not going to move Brown unless he got a Round 1 selection back, Zach Berman of The Athletic reports.
Speaking with the media on Monday, Roseman said: “I think that when we looked at the totality of the circumstances and having the conversations we had with him, felt like where we were, where we were going, where he was, that if we could find something that kind of achieved our goals of getting a first-round pick going forward here in the near future, getting the money back to spend on other players on our team and other teams, and it was a win-win situation based on where he was and how he felt, we were open to that.”
The first-rounder Roseman received is still two years down the line, but having to wait isn’t a big deal to him.
“We’ve always been in the mindset a pick is a pick — a first-round pick is a first-round pick,” he said. “Doesn’t matter. Teams are still going to be playing football in 2028.”
The Eagles now have two firsts in 2028, which Roseman regards as “a huge, huge part of this move.” Meanwhile, the Patriots have a new No. 1 receiver in Brown, a three-time Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro who is entering his age-29 campaign. Brown will reunite with head coach Mike Vrabel, a key figure earlier in his career in Tennessee. Brown played for Vrabel over his first three seasons.
In a post-trade interview with Maria Taylor on “7PM in Brooklyn,” Brown revealed he thought his “time was up” in Philadelphia after the season. While Brown went over 1,000 yards for the sixth time in his seven-year career, he voiced frustration with the Eagles’ sputtering offense on multiple occasions. Brown admitted he should have gone about things differently in public and on social media, but he noted: “Nothing I said was ever for personal gain. it was to help the team win.”
Philadelphia ran roughshod over the NFL during a 14-win regular season in 2024 and capped off the campaign with a blowout victory over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. The team took home its second straight NFC East title last year, but it hardly resembled the juggernaut from the previous season. The Eagles went 11-6 and quickly bowed out of the playoffs in a wild-card round loss to the 49ers. Brown believes the defending champion Eagles pressed as a result of the high expectations they placed on themselves. He also revealed he and quarterback Jalen Hurts drifted apart during the season.
“Not as close as we once were,” Brown said. “And I believe that’s fine. There’s no bad blood. There’s actually still a lot of love.”
Brown will now work with a new quarterback in the Patriots’ Drake Maye, though there was a possibility of him joining Matthew Stafford in Los Angeles. The Rams ultimately bowed out of trade talks, leaving New England as the only real suitor for Brown. It turns out the Rams backed out because they “weren’t satisfied by what they saw” in Brown’s medicals, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer said on the “unCovering the Birds” podcast.
Brown has a history of knee issues, but Roseman downplayed that when McLane asked and lauded the receiver’s durability. He missed six of a possible 68 regular-season games with the Eagles, though a few of those absences came as a result of hamstring problems.
When asked about his knee after the trade, Brown responded (via Karen Guregian of MassLive.com): “Maybe in four years I’ve missed one game from a shot to the knee. So, that’s nothing to worry about. I’m ready to go.”
Changes Coming To Eagles’ QB Room?
As a rookie second-round pick out of Oklahoma, the school to which he transferred after losing his starting job at Alabama to Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts was tasked with starting the final four games of the Eagles 2020 regular season after former No. 2 overall pick Carson Wentz was benched as the starter. Hurts debut as a starting passer in the NFL provided a mixed bag in those final four contests of the year, but Hurts has not relinquished the starting job from that point on.
This offseason, though things haven’t progressed far enough to threaten Hurts’ role as a starter in 2026, questions and concerns have been raised that could result in a number of changes to Philadelphia’s handling of the quarterback position. A joint report from ESPN’s Tim McManus and Jeremy Fowler in early April revealed that some blame for the team’s offensive struggles, though spread to several factors, is being placed on Hurts’ shoulders.
Specifically, sources with the team seem to indicate that Hurts’ unwillingness to diversify the offensive scheme has hamstrung the offense from progressing into something more. Pushing back on ideas as simple as going under center more, Hurts has been reluctant to rely on his arm in some zone-coverage situations and will “(divert) from the game plan and (change) playcalls to what some feel is an excessive degree.” It’s limited the team’s offense from progressing into a more complete passing attack and forced the unit to rely on the legs of star running back Saquon Barkley.
In the face of some recent struggles and losses, Hurts has been able to maintain a cool head, a useful attribute when one is in the heat of battle but one that can come off another way when the season is over. Sources in the building claim that some teammates read Hurts’ demeanor as “poor body language” or a sign that he’s “not always bought in” and “not the most coachable.” It’s something players are reportedly noticing, and now that it’s been made public, it’s become something he will need to actively work on.
Some of the blame that gets shifted off of Hurts goes to the lack of consistent coaching around him throughout his tenure in Philadelphia. Since taking over the starting job, Hurts has had five offensive coordinators in six seasons. The only season in which Hurts saw any consistency was when Shane Steichen got to be his play-caller for a second year in 2022. That season saw Hurts win 14 of his 15 starts and finish second in MVP voting, losing the award to the quarterback of the team that would defeat them in the Super Bowl that year.
Steichen left the team for a head coaching opportunity, and his successor, Brian Johnson, was fired when the team lost five of their last six games following a 10-1 start then made a first-round playoff exit. Kellen Moore found more success in Philadelphia the next year, leading the team to its second Super Bowl victory, but it required him to implement some new offensive concepts. Per McManus and Fowler, sources with the team “described the relationship between Moore and Hurts…as ‘tense’ at times,” but the two were able to find compromise as Hurts agreed to run some plays with more pre-snap motions and shifts.
Moore’s successor, Kevin Patullo, was fired after his only year as the team’s coordinator saw the offense take a major step backwards last year. While Patullo was “well-liked and respected in the building,” players reportedly “lost faith” in the play-caller. New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion has been tasked with un-sticking his unit. According to Zach Berman of The Athletic, Hurts will be expected to make quite a few more compromises in Mannion’s attempts to ‘blend’ the offense, and that will likely mean more work under center for the six-year veteran.
Another change in the QB room could concern the number of players in the room. Per Geoff Mosher of the PhillyVoice, “the Eagles are keeping four quarterbacks no matter what” in 2026. Already returning backup Tanner McKee alongside Hurts, the team traded for veteran backup Andy Dalton and drafted North Dakota State’s Cole Payton in the fifth-round. Initially, it was thought that Dalton was being brought in as overqualified QB3, but Berman noted that Dalton has been taking some QB2 reps over McKee in Organized Team Activities.
2026 will be a big season for Hurts as it appears more scrutinous eyes will be on him moving forward. Per McManus and Fowler, “there are no signs” that Hurts and the Eagles have begun working towards a new contract extension. Though there’s still plenty of time before that becomes a priority, there’s not much guaranteed money left on Hurts’ contract past this year. The combination of an uncertain financial future and increased bodies in the position room behind him may just be enough to push Hurts to make the necessary changes to jump start the Eagles offense moving forward.
Jalen Hurts’ Inconsistency Impacted Eagles’ OC Search?
Nick Sirianni‘s second in-house offensive coordinator promotion brought another Eagles regression. As a result, the Eagles HC fired Kevin Patullo two years after canning Brian Johnson. Sirianni’s search to replace Patullo was more difficult than his post-Johnson process.
The Eagles fired Patullo on Jan. 13 but took 18 days to name Sean Mannion his replacement. A host of higher-profile candidates were in the mix for the job, but the Eagles ended up with a former backup quarterback who has been in coaching for two years. This was the OC carousel of the former backup, as both David Blough (Commanders) and Davis Webb (Broncos) will be calling plays as first-year OCs. But the Washington and Denver coordinator searches went far more smoothly than Philadelphia’s.
Philly had Brian Daboll squarely on its radar, but the former Giants HC preferred the Tennessee job and working with Cam Ward. Mike McDaniel also interviewed for the gig, amid a busy offseason for the four-year Dolphins HC, but chose the Chargers and Justin Herbert.
Former Falcons OC Zac Robinson interviewed for the job but accepted a Buccaneers OC offer a week before the Mannion hire. Declan Doyle and LSU OC Charlie Weis Jr. withdrew from this search. Bobby Slowik took a Miami promotion, while Webb accepted a Denver OC bump after receiving an interview request late in the running.
This certainly was a difficult job to fill. Several candidates were hesitant about this gig, per Sportsboom.com’s Jason La Canfora. Sirianni firing two coordinators after one season helps explain some of the difficulties, but La Canfora adds Jalen Hurts‘ inconsistency was a “serious” concern for some of the more experienced candidates involved in Philly’s search. Daboll’s decision to work with Ward headlined that issue.
Hurts’ career has been a rollercoaster ride. He went from unpolished passer to 2022 MVP frontrunner (before a late-season injury). After a 2023 extension started the $50MM-per-year QB boom, Hurts struggled and saw reports scrutinize his relationship with Sirianni. Kellen Moore righted the ship but did so after minimizing the QB’s role, building the offense around Saquon Barkley. Hurts still played well in the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX romp before regressing once again. QBR placed Hurts 20th last year, and Patullo’s offense regressed significantly from where Moore’s was. Hurts’ approach, especially against zone coverage, drew internal criticism last season.
Despite finishing with a 25:6 TD-INT ratio, Hurts piloted the NFL’s 19th-ranked scoring offense (down from seventh in 2024). Lane Johnson‘s season-ending injury in Week 11 affected Philly’s attack, but one GM told La Canfora the Eagles realized quickly Patullo might be overmatched at coordinator.
The longtime assistant, who has since joined the Dolphins as pass-game coordinator, saw Sirianni become more involved with the offense compared to his role during Moore’s play-calling year. Calls for Patullo’s job rang out, and an egging incident occurred at the coordinator’s home. A.J. Brown gripes ensued, but those were not exclusive to Patullo’s year in charge.
Sirianni, who faced firing rumors after the 2023 season despite the Eagles reaching Super Bowl LVII, is planning to remain involved in the offense to help the 33-year-old Mannion as he takes a big responsibility leap. Mannion, however, will be the play-caller — just as each Eagles OC has been since midway through the 2021 season. Another GM indicated (via La Canfora) Sirianni’s job will be at risk, despite his 2025 extension, if the Eagles’ offense does not improve. The Eagles firing Doug Pederson three years after a Super Bowl win, with two playoff berths following that showing, occurred on GM Howie Roseman‘s watch.
This is nothing the five-time playoff-qualifying HC has not faced before, but there will be plenty of pressure on him once again. Sirianni made two more staff changes recently. The Eagles are hiring Montgomery VanGorder as assistant QBs coach and Beyah Rasool as a defensive assistant, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz notes. VanGorder was an Eagles quality control assistant last year and previously served as QBs coach at Georgia. Previously a quality control staffer at Florida coaching cornerbacks, Rasool was on the Raiders’ staff last year.
Eagles Expected To Rest Jalen Hurts, Other Starters In Week 18
With the NFC East champion Eagles unable to secure a first-round bye in the playoffs, head coach Nick Sirianni is likely to give most of his starters an opportunity to rest in Week 18, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. That includes quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Third-year backup signal-caller Tanner McKee is expected to start against the Commanders on Sunday, Tim McManus of ESPN reports. It’s familiar territory for McKee, who filled in for a concussed Hurts in the lone start of his career in a Week 18 victory over the Giants last year. The former sixth-round pick from Stanford took advantage of his opportunity in completing 27 of 41 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns.
Assuming Hurts doesn’t play Sunday, he’ll wrap up his sixth regular season with a 64.8% completion rate, a career-low 7.1 yards per attempt, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions in 16 games. The 27-year-old ranks 11th in the league in traditional passer rating (98.5) and 20th in QBR (55.3).
After amassing at least 139 carries, 600-plus yards and double-digit rushing touchdowns in each of the previous four seasons, Hurts has done less running this year. His attempts (105), yards (421) and TDs (eight) are his lowest since he became the Eagles’ full-time starter in 2021.
After Hurts helped lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl championship last winter, McKee drew trade interest in the offseason, per McLane. Philadelphia was “reluctant” to deal him then, but it stands to reason he’ll generate interest again during the upcoming offseason. In the meantime, he and his team have something to play for in the regular-season finale.
The 11-5 Eagles can’t finish any worse than third in the NFC, but they can climb to the second seed with a win over the 4-12 Commanders and a Bears loss. On paper, the 11-5 Bears have a more difficult matchup against the 8-8 Lions, who won a 52-21 rout over Chicago in Week 2. Plenty has changed for both teams over the past three-plus months, though. The NFC North-winning Bears have gone 11-3 since an 0-2 start, and the Lions are out of the playoffs a year after winning 15 games and earning the conference’s top seed.
Nick Sirianni To Remain More Involved With Eagles Offense
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has become more involved with the team’s struggling offense in recent weeks amid a rash of poor play.
Sirianni’s involvement has included more time at the head of offensive meetings, per ESPN’s Tim McManus, though offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo still runs them and has play-calling responsibilities.
“I’m the head coach, so my attention goes to places that I feel like it needs to go,” Sirianni said after Monday night’s loss to the Chargers (via Pro Football Talk’s Myles Simmons). “This week was with the offense, and I’ll continue to go in there with those guys and grind it out through the weeds with them and continue to move forward with that.”
Given how the Eagles offense performed against the Chargers, it is unclear if the extra attention from Sirianni helped. Despite a defense that forced three turnovers and only allowed 106 net passing yards, Philadelphia could only muster 19 points in the overtime loss. Quarterback Jalen Hurts threw four interceptions, including one that led to the Chargers’ game-winning score. On another play, Hurts was credited with both an interception and a fumble, a first in NFL history.
In general, the sixth-year quarterback has been an inconsistent passer and an ineffective rusher this season. The former has held back the Eagles’ air attack, while the latter has allowed opposing defenses to smother Saquon Barkley.
Despite Hurts’ pedigree – which includes a Super Bowl MVP won this calendar year – there is already chatter around his future in Philadelphia. The Eagles first drafted Hurts on Day 2 to replace Carson Wentz when he was no longer worth his contract. Now, half a decade later, general manager Howie Roseman could be considering a similar decision, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. A new QB would not be a sure thing, but the Eagles’ stacked roster means they could afford to take a Day 2 shot on another cheap, young passer. Once he is ready to take over, the team could trade Hurts for draft capital, and continue to invest heavily in other parts of their roster
Latest On Eagles, A.J. Brown
NOVEMBER 16: Brown met with owner Jeffrey Lurie during practice on Thursday, ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio reports. The conversation – arranged by security chief Dom DiSandro – resulted in Brown promising he will no longer air his grievances on social media. His discontent with the offense was repeated to Lurie, though, so this storyline will remain one to watch
NOVEMBER 15: At 7-2, the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles are once again among the NFL’s premier teams. It hasn’t been a drama-free start, though, as three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Brown has expressed frustration with the Eagles’ offense throughout the campaign. Although Brown has been integral to their success, the Eagles reportedly listened to offers for him ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline. As expected, they ended up keeping him.
While it wasn’t pretty, Philadelphia pulled out a win in its first post-deadline game in Week 10, taking a 10-7 decision against the Packers. Quarterback Jalen Hurts targeted Brown just three times, connecting twice for 13 yards. Brown has caught three or fewer passes in three of his eight games this year and finished with fewer than 30 yards four times. That’s shockingly low for someone who has averaged 83 catches and 1,292 yards per 17 games during his six-plus years in the NFL.
On the heels of his latest quiet performance, Brown made his discontent known on a video game stream earlier this week (via Tim McManus of ESPN).
Asked if things were going well, Brown said: “I mean, no. Where have you been? Family is good. Everything else, no. It’s a s—show.”
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni then addressed Brown’s comments, saying: “I’m close to being done answering these questions with this. He’s working hard and he is a big part of this game plan [for Sunday’s game against the Lions] and he’ll be a big part of the game plan going forward. He’s working like crazy when he’s here, and I’m excited to have him.”
Brown further discussed his irritation on Wednesday and confirmed he made the comments on the video game stream. The 28-year-old made it clear that he’s frustrated with Philadelphia’s offense as a whole, not just his usage, and wants to win (via McManus).
“It’s been week after week sometimes we’re not doing our job on offense,” Brown stated. “You can’t keep slapping a Band-Aid over that and expect to win late in the year and think you’re going to go to that at the end of the year.”
Led by offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and a historically great season from running back Saquon Barkley, the Eagles finished 2024 seventh in yardage and eighth in points. Moore left after the season to become the Saints’ head coach, leading the Eagles to promote pass game coordinator Kevin Patullo as his replacement. The Patullo-led attack has fallen to 12th in points and 23rd in yards. Barkley’s production has plummeted, while Brown is on pace for a career-low 867 yards.
Meanwhile, already with 16 touchdown passes in nine contests, Hurts is on track to breeze past the 18 he put up in 15 games last year. Hurts has also thrown just one interception while posting a better completion percentage, a better passer rating, and a better QBR than 2024. Only two teams have thrown the ball less than the Eagles, though, and “multiple offensive players have grown frustrated” over Hurts’ approach, especially while facing zone coverage, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Those unnamed players (it stands to reason Brown is among them) are of the belief Hurts has become hesitant to go downfield or throw into tight windows, which has made him too reliant on checking down and scrambling.
Hurts and the Eagles will face another NFC Super Bowl hopeful, Detroit, in one of the best matchups of Week 11. Already a must-watch game, the drama surrounding the Eagles’ offense makes it even more intriguing. Regardless of how the rest of the 2025 campaign goes for the Eagles, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see general manager Howie Roseman give further consideration to trading Brown in the offseason.
NFL Injury Notes: Hurts, Rapp, Elliss, Flowers
Jalen Hurts‘ knee has been a talking point during the week after it was injured during the Eagles’ divisional round victory. The team will have its franchise quarterback in place tomorrow, although his mobility will remain something to monitor.
Hurts made progress in practice over the past few days, and he was listed as a full participant. He does not carry a designation heading into Sunday, confirmation that he will be in the lineup for the NFC title game. The two-time Pro Bowler did say, however, that he anticipates he will wear a knee brace tomorrow (h/t Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk).
Philadelphia’s offense has continued to rely heavily on running back Saquon Barkley through the first two rounds of the playoffs. He has racked up 355 scrimmage yards to date in the postseason, and he will no doubt be a focal point against the Commanders tomorrow. Nevertheless, Hurts’ mobility will important to watch given his capabilities as a rusher and his significance to the ‘Philly Shove’ in short yardage and goal line situations.
Here are some other injury notes from around the NFL:
- Regarding tomorrow’s other conference title game, the Bills will be shorthanded in the secondary. Safety Taylor Rapp exited last week’s win over the Ravens with a hip injury, and he has not practiced since. Head coach Sean McDermott ruled Rapp out yesterday. As a result, second-round rookie Cole Bishop – who handled a part-time role on defense during the regular season – is in line to start.
- The Broncos were the first team to be eliminated from the postseason by the Bills, and their defense was dealt an injury blow in the process. Rookie edge rusher Jonah Elliss suffered a fractured scapula bone in his right shoulder during the loss to Buffalo, as detailed by Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette. Elliss, the Broncos’ third-rounder in last year’s draft, had an impressive debut campaign with five sacks despite only logging a 38% defensive snap share. Tomasson writes he is expected to be fully recovered in time for offseason workouts in April, so a clean bill of health for the 2025 campaign should come to pass.
- Zay Flowers suffered a knee sprain in Week 18, and it kept him out of the wild-card and divisional rounds. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said after Baltimore’s season-ending defeat (via The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec) the second-year wideout could have been in play for this week had the team advanced to the AFC title game (subscription required). More notably, Harbaugh added surgery may be required during the offseason on the affected knee. After an encouraging rookie season, Flowers topped 1,000 receiving yards and earned a Pro Bowl nod. His health for 2025 will of course be of great importance to the Ravens.
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts Cleared For Playoffs
The Eagles’ hopes for a No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs seemingly came to a halt, along with their 10-game winning streak, when Jalen Hurts was knocked out of Philadelphia’s Week 16 game against the division-rival Commanders after only one and a half drives. Luckily, Hurts’ injury should not limit them in the postseason as Mark Maske of The Washington Post reports that the quarterback has cleared the league’s concussion protocol. 
When Hurts was injured, the Eagles deployed backup passer Kenny Pickett, who led an admirable attempt to take over the game against Washington but, ultimately, fell. As the playoffs drew nearer, Philadelphia was aware that they were out of reach of the 1-seed in the NFC but also out of reach of the other division-winners behind them. They put no pressure on Hurts to return quickly and announced Pickett as the starter in Week 17, despite some rib injuries Pickett sustained in the loss to the Commanders.
Regardless, Pickett led a strong effort against a depleted Cowboys team before being taken out early in the second half after taking another shot to the ribs. This forced third-string quarterback Tanner McKee to make his NFL debut after getting drafted in the sixth-round last year. McKee finished the job against Dallas and won his first career start against another depleted division-rival, the Giants, as well, in Week 18.
Though this experience was extremely useful, as both backup quarterbacks got real game action against NFL regular season defenses, it was likely never Philadelphia’s plan for either quarterback to see time in the postseason. They have the experience under their belt now, but one imagines the Eagles were just utilizing their depth and their security as the 2-seed in the NFC to give Hurts a rest.
With Hurts clearing concussion protocol, he’s set to start this Sunday against the 7-seed Packers. Luckily, Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love has also been cleared after leaving a Week 18 game against the Bears with an elbow injury on his throwing arm. Both players were full participants over the last two days, leading up to an exciting matchup in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.