The Philadelphia Eagles didn't rely on their kicker as much as other teams last season. That might be a good thing on paper, meaning that they finished drives with extra-point attempts more often than with FGAs, but that doesn't mean they don't need a reliable kicker.
According to Team Rankings, the Eagles averaged just 1.6 field goals per game last season, tied for the third-fewest in the league. That's a minor decline from attempting 2.2 in 2024, and it was probably for the best, given Jake Elliott's struggles.
Now that the offseason is fully underway, Elliott might want to start looking over his shoulder if the Eagles have legitimate concerns about his outlook.
2026 Might be Jake Elliott's Last Dance in Philadelphia
Despite attempting just 27 field goal attempts last season (24th among 36 kickers, per Pro Football Focus), Elliott couldn't be trusted nearly one-fourth of the time. He knocked down 20-of-27 attempts, which was "good" for 74.1%, the third-lowest conversion percentage in the league.
He went just 4-for-8 from 50-plus yards, which, notably, was significantly better than the 1-for-7 he registered in 2024. At the same time, it's far away from the 7-of-8 rate (87.5%) he had en route to All-Pro second-team honors in 2023.
The lack of range should be a major concern, especially if the offense doesn't bounce back with new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion at the helm. On a positive note, Elliott did convert all 41 of his PATs.
Still, he has not hit at least 80% of field goal attempts in consecutive years now, and kickers tend to get more erratic, not more accurate, as they age. The Eagles have always vouched for Elliott, but that might finally change after this season.
Cutting ties with him right now makes no sense, as the Eagles would only be opening a roster spot without creating any cap space, according to Spotrac. A split next offseason would make more sense, as any divorce coming after June 1, 2027, would save Philadelphia $2.3 million in cap room.
Elliott still has two more years left in his contract, so the Eagles will probably allow him to silence the critics early in the season before making any decision about his future. If any doubts emerge in training camp, though, perhaps head coach Nick Siranni and general manager Howie Roseman will consider bringing in another veteran leg for some competition.
The Eagles' offense will be in the spotlight from the very beginning this season. There's a lot of buzz surrounding Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown, and having a first-time play-caller running the show might not be ideal.
That could put Sirianni's team in a position to require Elliott's service early and often, and this team can't afford to leave points on the field after how things went down last season. He's loved and respected in the building, but this is a business first and foremost, and they'll have to show him the door if he doesn't deliver.