The Philadelphia Eagles have seen some major change this offseason, and hopefully it's all for the better. Sometimes, change can bring regression, but with how talented this team is and how well-built they are, Philly should, if nothing else, have a high floor in 2026.
That could change, though, if certain players break out and enjoy career-best seasons, which happens constantly across the NFL. In fact, we've decided to do this exact exercise for a few Eagles players.
Let's dive into it here and talk about three players primed for career-best seasons in 2026.
3 Philadelphia Eagles players primed for career-best years in 2026
DeVonta Smith, WR
In my opinion, the reasoning for DeVonta Smith had the best season of his career is rather simple: A.J. Brown is no longer in the picture, so a ton of those targets should then go to Smith, who is now the most talented wide receiver the team has. Sure, General Manager Howie Roseman tweaked the room this offseason, but Smith sticks out like a sore thumb (in a good way).
The most productive season of his career was in 2022, Brown's first year with the team. Smith finished with 95 receptions, 1,196 yards, and seven touchdowns.
He's never had more receptions or yards than in 2022, but he did have eight touchdowns in 2024. Smith is a high-volume player and did still eclipse 1,000 yards in each year he was running with Brown.
With that said, the Eagles are going to surely make Smith a central part of the passing attack, and with the added pressure that Jalen Hurts has with Brown no longer in the picture, he'll likely view Smith as not only a security blanket, but the go-to player on offense.
Andrew Mukuba, SAF
Andrew Mukuba played in 11 games in 2025, but he still managed to finish with two interceptions, three defended passes, and 46 total tackles. With the runway largely clear for Mukuba to settle into his starting role in 2026, a huge jump could be on the way.
Mukuba does have all the traits you want in a starting safety - he plays wise beyond his years and does do a lot of the tougher things well. It feels natural to put the ascending defensive back on this list, especially if he remains on the field the entire season, or most of it.
Riq Woolen, CB
I was a huge fan of Riq Woolen signing with the Eagles, as he, to me, at least, is an ideal Vic Fangio defensive back. He's big, tough, and sticky in coverage. Sure, the penalties need to be a thing no more, but that could lessen with him being on a new team.
In his first four seasons, Woolen already has 12 interceptions and 53 defended passes. According to Pro Football Reference, he's allowed a 70.6 passer rating in coverage, and PFR also notes that the 2023 season was the worst coverage season of his career, but he allowed a passer rating of 79.8, which is excellent.
Read more: 5 Eagles players must use Patriots joint practice as personal launchpad
The Eagles were searching for a consistent presence opposite Quinyon Mitchell, and while Woolen may have a boneheaded mistake from time to time, he has all the tools and traits to thrive in this defense and perhaps earn a long-term extension from the team if he's playing well as 2026 progresses.
Add us as a preferred source on Google