4 Philadelphia Eagles Offensive Tackle Options After Lane Johnson’s Shocking In-Season Retirement
· Yahoo Sports
There haven’t been many offensive linemen as good as Lane Johnson in his 14-year NFL career. The future Pro Football Hall of Famer has been one of the best right tackles in NFL history, but now that career is done.
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According to the 36-year-old Super Bowl winner, he’s retiring, effective immediately. Johnson said that it is “critical that I focus on my mental health.” With Johnson out of the picture, the Eagles’ next man up is third-round rookie Markel Bell, who started Sunday’s game in the right tackle’s absence. While Bell will presumably get the chance to keep the job, the Eagles will surely want to bring in some competition considering he allowed three sacks, three hurries, and six pressures in last week’s loss. Below is a list of potential offensive tackle solutions for the Eagles.
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Sign Taylor Decker
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) catches the ball in the end zone for a 2-point conversion against Dallas Cowboys during the second half at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023. The play was flagged for illegal touching.Taylor Decker is used to playing left tackle for the Detroit Lions, but after the team asked him to take a pay cut this offseason, he asked to be released instead. The 33-year-old former Pro Bowl tackle hasn’t landed anywhere else since, but the Eagles could be desperate enough to make him an offer too good to refuse. Yet, Decker may not be interested in a comeback for a team that’s just 2-2 thus far.
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Sign Jack Conklin
Oct 12, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt (90) rushes at Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesJack Conklin is a two-time First-Team All-Pro right tackle, but the 32-year-old is a free agent after playing in just 21 games across the past three seasons. The Eagles would be taking a bit of a gamble here, but considering he’s at least shown the ability to be an elite player before, it’s a risk worth taking. If nothing else, the 10-year vet can likely teach Bell a thing or two and accelerate his learning curve.
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Sign D.J. Humphries
Dec 17, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman D.J. Humphries (74) against the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY SportsD.J. Humphries appeared to have found a good landing spot with the Washington Commanders, but was let go before the season kicked off and hasn’t found a new home since. While Humphries has typically played left tackle, he debuted on the right side. The 32-year-old former Pro Bowler has started 101 of his 108 appearances and may be the most ready-made replacement for Johnson in Philadelphia.
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Sign Cam Robinson
Sep 7, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Houston Texans offensive tackle Cam Robinson (74) blocks during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn ImagesEven though it feels like the former second-round pick has been in the NFL forever, the 10-year vet is still just 30 years old. He’s played for four different teams since 2024 and has experience playing left and right tackle. Having started 114 of his 117 appearances, Robinson would bring a lot of much-needed experience to the Eagles’ offensive line, and he’s just sitting in free agency.
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Eagles Trade for Trent Brown
Sep 20, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans offensive tackle Trent Brown (77) runs onto the field before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn ImagesIf Eagles GM Howie Roseman is willing to part with a Day 3 pick to trade for a new right tackle, he might call up the winless Texans about the 33-year-old Trent Brown. The former Pro Bowl Super Bowl winner is in the final year of his contract and has a reasonable cap hit of just $4.91 million. Brown is used to playing right tackle, and he’s started 107 of his 114 appearances in the NFL. The Texans can turn to 2024 second-round pick Blake Fisher for the rest of the season while evaluating other, younger players who may have a chance at being a long-term fixture in Houston.