Even with doubters out there about the Philadelphia Eagles, they are regarded as having one of the most talented rosters in the NFL.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has done a great job of landing a ton of players for one-year deals, while making some nice trades like bringing in edge rusher Jonathan Greenard and moving on from wide receiver A.J. Brown. There will be questions about the Eagles, but this team is looking poised to have a great season.
There are a few players who are getting a ton of buzz around them for the 2026 season, but could be getting more buzz than they should be. Here's a list of four players that Eagles fans need to tame expectations for.
Eagles players that fans and media need to calm expectations about in 2026
Nolan Smith Jr., EDGE
Lately, a lot of writers have included Smith on their lists for potential breakout candidates for the 2026 season. Last season showed no signs that he would improve after missing time with a triceps injury and recording only three sacks, down from 6.5 sacks during the Super Bowl run in 2024. The hope is that the fifth-year option being picked up will motivate him, but Smith may not be one of the top edge rushers on the team with Jonathan Greenard and Jalyx Hunt.
Tyler Steen, OG
Another breakout candidate has been named from the Eagles on some lists, Steen, after a decent first year starting at right guard. While he was at least able to stay healthy throughout the season, he still was not as good as the other starters on the offensive line. More patience is needed for Steen to develop, but he still has a chance to improve upon his 2025 performance.
Riq Woolen, CB
OTAs were incredible to watch Woolen dominate in the secondary, which created all kinds of buzz around him. Eagles fans need to remember, though, that he's got some limitations to his game, as he tends to get burned deep by receivers and is known for not being able to control his emotions. While he should be an improvement from Adoree' Jackson, he still has some work to do with his play.
Read more: Why Eagles training camp is first stop on revenge tour for Jalen Hurts
Makai Lemon, WR
This is not intended to be a knock on Lemon or his ability to play the wide receiver position, but he is a rookie. Many people predict he will surpass 800 yards in his first year since he is considered WR2 on the team behind DeVonta Smith. Don't forget that Dontayvion Wicks, Marquise "Hollywood" Brown, and Dallas Goedert are there as well, so the stats may not be as good as some expect, but still expect good things from Lemon.
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