5 breakout stars to watch for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021
If the Philadelphia Eagles are going to emerge from last season’s dysfunction, these five players having breakout campaigns will go a long way toward making it happen.
The Philadelphia Eagles reached what they hope is bottom in 2020, with a 4-11-1 record. In the fallout head coach Doug Pederson was let go, and quarterback Carson Wentz was traded to the Indianapolis Colts.
In Pederson’s place is Nick Sirianni, who has left a first impression that says he might be in over his head as a first-year head coach. If owner Jeffrey Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman treated Pederson the way they apparently did, Sirianni is starting at a disadvantage.
The NFC East still feels wide open, and the Eagles could easily be a factor again in 2021 with plenty of talent still in place and some good options sure to be available with the No. 12 overall pick. If that rebound season going to happen, breakout campaigns from these five players will be a key factor.
5 breakout stars to watch for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021
5. Jordan Mailata, OT
Andre Dillard missed all of last season due to a torn bicep. That created a void at left tackle for the Eagles, and the 6-foot-8, 350-pound Mailata would up playing 15 games with 10 starts in his first regular-season action. The former rugby player was the team’s final pick of the 2018 draft (seventh round; No. 233 overall), and the definition of a project.
From Week 11 on last year, Pro Football Focus graded Mailata as a top-15 offensive tackle in the league. He committed just four penalties over the entire season.
The question for the Eagles is where Mailata fits heading toward the 2021 season, with Dillard and Lane Johnson back healthy to take the starting tackle spots. But having offensive line depth is never really a problem, and Mailata has done what he can to make the case he’s a starter.