It's game week for the Philadelphia Eagles as they face the Washington Commanders on the opening weekend.
During the offseason, the Eagles made plenty of moves, but most were one-year contracts with free agents. From signing cornerback Riq Woolen to trading for edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, Philly made the moves needed to improve the roster and compete for a Super Bowl.
One move, though, that's underrated and Eagles fans don't talk about as much. This is one thing Eagles fans complained about last year and will see fixed from Week 1.
Eagles tight end Johnny Mundt has a strong chance in making an impact in Week 1
Mundt isn't a modern tight end who is a stellar receiver, but the Eagles didn't need him to be. He's exactly the type of tight end that new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion needs for the scheme he has brought to Philly.
During his NFL career, Mundt has played for three teams: the Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, and Jacksonville Jaguars. He was primarily used as a blocking tight end during those years. That was evident last year, when he had only 111 receiving yards.
Philly signed him to address a massive loss from last year. In 2025, the Eagles' tight ends struggled to block in pass protection and run the ball. Grant Calcaterra was one of the lowest-graded blocking tight ends in the NFL, with the team leaning on Cameron Latu to help with that.
This year's tight end room blends blocking tight ends and receivers. Dallas Goedert and E.J. Jenkins will be able to pick up the slack in catching, but rookie second-round pick Eli Stowers will slowly be used in the offense as he develops.
The Eagles will lean on Mundt to help with blocking in the passing and running games. He will be used more on the right side of the line to help future Hall of Famer Lane Johnson. Philly would prefer to run to the right side of the line, as it should produce better numbers than the offense did in 2025, when it finished in the bottom 15 in rushing.
Read more: What does a successful Jalen Hurts season look like for Eagles in 2026?
With the Commanders in town, Mundt can immediately show the kind of impact the Eagles hope for with blocking and helping the offense move the ball. It was a subtle offseason move, but one that could bring big rewards for the unit.
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