Eagles earn a top 10 finish in a ranking of NFL skill positions

The Philadelphia Eagles have lost stars before. They lost franchise legends. They’ve lost coordinators. They’ve lost Pro Bowl talent. Somehow, they always seem to find a way to remain in the conversation.

That trend continued recently when ESPN’s Bill Barnwell ranked the NFL’s running back, wide receiver, and tight end groups entering the 2026 season. Despite the departure of A.J. Brown, Philadelphia still landed ninth overall.

strong vote of confidence entering 2026

For most organizations, losing a player of Brown’s caliber would create a dramatic drop in the rankings. Barnwell acknowledged that reality. He also noted that replacing Brown’s production won’t be easy, even after general manager Howie Roseman added Makai Lemon, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, and Dontayvion Wicks to bolster the receiver room.

The good news is Philadelphia still has DeVonta Smith. Barnwell pointed out that Smith has looked every bit like a No. 1 receiver whenever Brown has been unavailable. Now, he’ll have an opportunity to prove he can carry that responsibility over an entire season.

If he does, the Eagles may once again field one of the NFC’s most dangerous passing attacks, but questions also surround Saquon Barkley. After his explosive 2024 campaign, Barkley’s big-play production declined somewhat last season.

Barnwell notes the drop in runs of 20 yards or more, but he also acknowledged that Barkley remains one of football’s premier offensive weapons. The Eagles also received praise for Dallas Goedert, although Barnwell suggested matching last season’s touchdown production could prove difficult.

Philadelphia’s increased reliance on Goedert near the goal line helped produce a career-best scoring season. Ultimately, this ranking feels more complimentary than critical.

Yes, the Eagles fell from first (where they placed last offseason on this same list) to ninth. They also lost one of the NFL’s premier wide receivers. Even so, ESPN still believes Philadelphia possesses enough offensive firepower to remain among football’s elite. For a team attempting to navigate life after A.J. Brown, that’s a strong vote of confidence.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles land at No. 9 in an ESPN ranking of NFL skill positions