Eagles: 3 2023 roster holes that could cost Jalen Hurts a Super Bowl

No. 2 most concerning Eagles roster hole: No elite option at left tackle

Left tackle is less important than most teams because of the fact that Hurts is a left-handed quarterback. That means right tackle is the position charged with protecting his blindside.

That takes some pressure off Jordan Mailata to be the best offensive lineman on the team. To his credit, the former seventh-round pick was a quality starter for the Eagles last year. He allowed six sacks but still graded out with a PFF grade of 76.5 on the campaign.

He’s a massive player checking in at 6-foot-8, 365 pounds but that size stops him from having the quick feet required to be an elite pass blocker on the outside. The Eagles didn’t have a credible path toward securing a tackle with a higher upside without spending one of the first-rounders they used to add to their defensive versatility.

Modest improvement from Mailata would be a big boost for Philadelphia’s offense. He should improve mentally as he enters his prime, but it’s difficult to envision a scenario where he gets appreciably better as a pass blocker. That could lead to too much pressure in Hurts’ face when high-stakes games are on the line.