It’s often informative to open the mailbag. When covering the team, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the daily minutiae and lose sight of the big picture questions. So with extra time between games this week, it’s a good chance to see what you’re thinking. Here’s the first round, with more to come this season. (Note: Questions were lightly edited for spelling and syntax.)

How aggressive will Howie Roseman be at the trade deadline and what positions would he target? — Jam B.

It is Roseman’s nature to be aggressive at all times, but that’s especially pronounced when the team has needs before the trade deadline. With that said, the Eagles have made six trades since the start of training camp. That shows his aggressive nature. It also shows that the Eagles have used resources for reinforcements. They still have 10 projected draft picks in 2026, but I’m guessing Roseman will be careful trading picks from the first two days. It would need to be a player with term on his deal (or likely to be part of their plans beyond this season). If it’s a rental, my guess is it’s a Day 3 pick.

The two positions  I’d watch closely are edge rusher and cornerback. I’d lean more toward edge rusher because Jakorian Bennett will soon return to give the Eagles another option on the back end. They need an edge rusher even with Nolan Smith returning — I’d argue the need existed going back to April — and Za’Darius Smith’s retirement only amplified the vulnerability on the roster.

It’s also worth noting that in-season trades have yielded mixed results for Roseman. Kevin Byard didn’t do the trick in 2023. Robert Quinn didn’t give the Eagles an edge on the edge in 2022. It needs to be the right player and situation.

Three realistic DE candidates? — Duncan M.

Here are four edge rushers to watch:

1. Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips, Dolphins: I’m lumping these two together because the 1-5 Dolphins seem primed to be sellers, and these are scheme fits with experience under Vic Fangio. Chubb, 29, played for Fangio in Denver and Miami. He recovered from a torn ACL in 2024 and has four sacks in six games this season. A Pro Bowler with Fangio in 2020, Chubb has no guaranteed money on his contract beyond this season. With a $19.45 million base salary in 2026, he’d likely require a renegotiated deal if he were more than a rental. Phillips, 26, has been slowed by injuries during the past two seasons. He had 6.5 sacks in eight games under Fangio in 2023 in Miami. Health is a question here, but the talent is not a question when he’s healthy. He has one sack this season. Phillips is playing on his fifth-year option and is a pending free agent.
2. Jermaine Johnson II, Jets: The price might be steep for Johnson, but Johnson is under contract next season on a fifth-year option and would be a key part of the team’s rotation in 2026. He was a Pro Bowler in 2023 with 7.5 sacks before missing most of last season with a torn Achilles tendon. Johnson finished his college career at Florida State, but he transferred from Georgia, where he played with key players on the Eagles defense. Given his age and contract status, the Jets could keep him as part of their core. With a new general manager, though, you never know if picks are desired.
3. Dre’Mont Jones, Titans: A versatile pass rusher who played on the defensive line with the Broncos under Fangio, Jones has since developed into an edge rusher. He was a prized free agent signee by the Seahawks in 2023 and joined the Titans on a one-year, $8.5-million contract this offseason. Jones has not been a prolific sack producer in the NFL, but he’s had at least four sacks in each of the past five seasons and could be a chess piece for Fangio on the defensive front.

Looking at the full 2025 schedule, is it possible the Eagles miss the playoffs? What would be the effect of missing the playoffs on the team composition and organizational future, given the broader expectations for this roster? — Dave R.

Possible? Yes. But I wouldn’t bet on it. In fact, if you think they won’t make the playoffs, you’d find good odds right now. The Eagles are -170 to win the NFC East, according to BetMGM. They have the third-best odds to win the NFC.

For as ugly as the past two weeks have been, the Eagles are still a legitimate Super Bowl contender. We’re hyper-focused on Philadelphia, but the Bills have lost two in a row. The Bucs are No. 1 in The Athletic’s power rankings. Who beat them? The Eagles — in Tampa. Who’s No. 2? The Rams, who also lost to the Eagles. No. 5 is Kansas City, which also lost ot the Eagles at home. That’s three of the top five teams in the NFL. It shows the Eagles can beat anyone. You pointed out the 2025 schedule in your question, which is why the strength of their victories is worth noting.

Further, look at the NFC East. The loss to the Giants was ugly, but it would be a surprise if the Eagles don’t win the division and clinch a postseason spot. They’re the only team in the top half of the league in those power rankings.

To entertain your question, what would happen if they miss the playoffs? There would be major changes given the expectations. That wouldn’t mean changing the head coach, but I can see a 2024 offseason in which the Eagles have a staff shakeup and major changes to the roster. It all depends on what contributing factors led to missing the postseason.

Time will tell, although I still have my January weekends scheduled to cover the playoffs.

Do you think Howie would take a mulligan on the offseason? Looking at each move individually, I don’t think anyone had much issue with paying Baun and drafting (Jihaad) Campbell and (Drew) Mukuba. Those moves have worked out to the extent that they’re all playing well and are worthy of the extension/draft slot. However, if you told Howie two years ago that he would give $34 million guaranteed to an off-ball linebacker, use a first-round pick on another off-ball linebacker, spend a second-round pick on a safety, and have questionable depth in the trenches on both sides of the ball, he would look at you like you were nuts. — Sam T.

This is a good point, Sam, and it’s something I’ve brought up a number of times. The Eagles have spent resources in different ways than in past years, making exceptions for exceptional players (such as Baun and Saquon Barkley). When they drafted Jihaad Campbell, I thought edge rusher would be part of his long-term profile, given the resource allocation. I still think it was good value for the player. Day 2 might be the time Roseman would redo if he knew how it would transpire.. The board didn’t fall the way they wanted. My guess is the Eagles thought they’d land an offensive lineman or defensive lineman/edge rusher on that day. It surprises me that the Eagles have gone two consecutive drafts without a first- or second-round pick on the line of scrimmage.

If Roseman could do anything differently this offseason, my guess is it’s the approach to the second cornerback spot and edge rusher. The Isaiah Rodgers contract seemed to be one the Eagles could have worked without hindering other plans (I’ll have more on this later in the week), and the Eagles went one-year fliers at edge rusher and didn’t address the position in the draft. You can’t hit on all positions and I’ve probably pointed to edge rusher, offensive tackle, and tight end as spots they could have addressed and didn’t. To your question, that’s what happens when you take a linebacker and safety with your first two picks.

Kelee Ringo and CB2 have been a disappointment. How much can be attributed to the corner, and how much can be attributed to the lack of an effective pass rush? — Christopher D.

I’ve been on the pass rush being a question mark going back to the spring, but I’m not using that to rationalize Kelee Ringo’s struggles this season or the problems at the second cornerback spot. An effective pass rush helps, and quarterbacks’ average time to throw against the Eagles this season is 3.14 seconds — third-longest in the NFL — but the quarterback scrambling has affected the run defense more than the pass defense.

It’s problematic that the Eagles have only nine sacks. A better pass rush will help. However, the second cornerbacks have not been sticky enough in coverage this season. Ringo must improve along with the pass rush, not because of the pass rush.

How long of a leash do you think (Kevin) Patullo has? Will they explore bringing in a “senior offensive assistant” à la Matt Patricia? – Jean D.

I don’t believe anything will happen with Patullo’s job during the season, if that’s what you’re asking. I view this differently from Sean Desai getting stripped of his duties in 2023. The terms of engagement are different — Desai had been a fallback option after Jonathan Gannon left following the Super Bowl and Vic Fangio was already in Miami. Desai didn’t have the same connection with Nick Sirianni, the coaching staff, and the organization. Patullo was essentially the offensive coordinator-in-waiting last year, he’s been part of Sirianni’s staff since the inception (Patullo literally flew on the plane with Sirianni from Indianapolis), and my suspicion is the Eagles will try to make this work. Plus, Patricia was with the team from the offseason in 2023. Bringing in a “senior offensive assistant” now wouldn’t be comparable. Parks Frazier’s entry onto the staff is most similar to an outside voice, although Frazier doesn’t have the experience that Patricia had. Unless the Eagles turned to quarterbacks coach Scot Loeffler, who was a play-caller in college, there’s no one on the staff with robust play-calling experience.

Entering the season, I thought there was a reasonable chance that Patullo was a one-year coordinator. My thinking was that if the Eagles were outstanding on offense, Patullo would be a candidate to become a head coach, given his background and personality. A successful year calling plays could put him on the path of the Eagles’ last three offensive coordinators during Super Bowl seasons. But if the Eagles underachieved as an offense, a Brian Johnson-like situation in which the Eagles seek experience in that role (potentially from a dismissed head coach) could be a pathway.

Six games are too soon to say what will happen. Let’s see how Patullo and the Eagles respond. So, to answer your question, I don’t anticipate an in-season change at this point.

Going into the season, the OC role was the big hole. For a club with Super Bowl aspirations, wouldn’t an experienced coordinator have been a better hire (high floor) rather than a first-time OC (high potential/high risk)? — Joseph D.

That ship has sailed, Joseph. The reality is Patullo’s been preparing for this role. He was a legitimate candidate two years ago when Johnson got the job. The Eagles just won the Super Bowl and liked the continuity and the relationship Patullo had with the offense, and they’re bullish on Patullo’s offensive mind. I see your logic, but I don’t think the Eagles were going to bring in an outside voice after winning the Super Bowl last season. There also was not a bevy of high-level candidates waiting for jobs after the Super Bowl.

This offseason could be different, but Patullo still has this season to show why Sirianni had so much confidence in him.

Do the Eagles have a running game that is too predicated on running between the tackles versus some outside runs to loosen up the defense? — Ryan T.

Let’s look at the numbers to answer this question. Here are the Eagles’ running plays by direction:

Left end: 19 plays (No. 14 in the NFL), 6.26 yards per carry (No. 13 in the NFL)

Left tackle: 15 plays (No. 20), 3.27 yards per carry (No. 25)

Left guard: 12 plays (No. 26), 2.67 yards per carry (No. 26)

Up the middle: 44 plays, (No. 11), 2.2 yards per carry (No. 31)

Right guard: 26 plays (No. 6), 3.23 yards per carry (No. 24)

Right tackle: 20 plays (No. 12), 7 yards per carry (No. 4)

Right end: 17 plays (No. 18), 6.88 yards per carry (No. 8)

Keep in mind that the Tush Push skews some of the numbers. Looking at the data, you can see the merit for more outside runs based on their success. They still run on the outside at a rate that’s middle of the pack in the NFL, but the success of those runs (and the chance for explosives) is something to consider.

Zach, over the course of the last decade, the defense has had some all-time great leadership from players like Malcolm Jenkins and Fletcher Cox and (Brandon Graham). Players who were great on the field and deeply respected off of it. Do you see a leadership vacuum on the current defense?

For example, would we be seeing the general lack of discipline/personal fouls if there were more leadership and accountability? Would Jalen Carter be spitting on opposing players if there were a Jenkins-like leader around? I suppose Baun is supposed to be “the leader,” but I don’t see him really stepping up. I was disturbed, especially not only by his thoughtless penalty at the end of the Broncos game (I guess reasonable people can disagree about the call; I thought it was fair) but by his lack of accountability afterward. — Lex S.

I see where you’re coming from, Lex, although I disagree with you on Baun. He’s exhibited qualities that the Eagles would like in a leader, and I didn’t view his response after the Denver game as lacking accountability. He gave an honest answer, suggesting he did as he was taught to do. Reasonable minds can disagree with that play. The penalty question is more valid for Carter and Nolan Smith. The leadership void was a question this offseason, and the Eagles are relying upon players such as Smith, Jordan Davis, Nakobe Dean, and Reed Blankenship (in addition to Baun) to fill those responsibilities.

Carter leads the Eagles with four penalties and he’s effectively missed two games. Smith has two personal fouls in three games. My guess is these penalties would still occur if Graham were on the roster. Sirianni wants his players to play with an edge. Perhaps there’s a connection to the Eagles being “out-physicaled” in a game without Carter and Smith on the field. It’s likely the Georgia players will be part of the defensive core for the foreseeable future, and the Eagles will rely upon them to be tempo-setters in that group. How that develops will determine whether you talk about them in the category of the players you mentioned.