If there's one certainty about Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman, it is that he's always looking to bolster the trenches. Of course, the team is more than set at OT with Jordan Mailata on the left and Lane Johnson on the right, but that may not deter him from looking.
According to The Athletic's Eagles reporter Zach Berman, Nick Sirianni's team could be in the market for a young left tackle. They'll be on the clock at No. 23, and could take Utah's Caleb Lomu at that spot. While that doesn't mean he'll start over Mailata, it might signal the beginning of the end for the veteran in Philadelphia.
The Eagles Might be Laying the Groundwork to Replace Jordan Mailata
In a January conversation with NJ Advance Media's Cayden Steele, the veteran left tackle admitted he may not play for as long as other tackles, admitting that he'd like to help develop and mentor his replacement:
“I’m already in the phase of bringing the next guy along with me. Who’s it gonna be? I can’t tell you, but it’s a high standard playing in this city, so just gotta keep that going,” Johnson told Steele. “You just want to leave it in a good place. Leave it as you found it.”
In that sense, perhaps he may not feel that bad about his team finding his potential successor. Nevertheless, it's one thing to talk about that and an entirely different feeling to have the organization take your word for it. The dream might become a reality, and Mailata could have second thoughts and regret what he once wished for.
Mailata is still at the peak of his powers, and he was one of the best blindside protectors in the game last season. Pro Football Focus gave him an 83.4 grade, which ranked 10th among 89 eligible offensive tackles, and his pass-blocking grade (80.4) and run-blocking grade (79.9) ranked 9th and 15th, respectively. He allowed 27 total pressures, including four QB hits and 2.0 sacks in 972 snaps.
That said, Lomu is a promising prospect who's still pretty raw on the edges, and the Eagles would be doing the right thing by having him "redshirt" his rookie season and gradually increasing his workload. He has all the physical tools to be a shutdown left tackle in the pros, and learning from a former Second-Team All-Pro selection would work wonders for him.
Mailata's contract expires in 2028, so the Eagles don't necessarily have to move on from him after this season. Johnson's deal expires one year earlier, and he's already 35, so he might retire first, forcing the Eagles to move Mailata to the right side for a year. Either way, getting Lomu would require him to make concessions, whether this season or next.
This organization is known for taking a pragmatic approach, and as much as Mailata deserves the right to walk away on his own terms and should continue to start at left tackle, the draft could be the team's first step toward moving on from him.
Philadelphia's front office has already heard him talk about an early retirement, and they may not want to take any chances or be caught blindsided once he decides to ride into the sunset, whenever that may be. Taking a promising but raw prospect like Lomu is premium insurance and a smart move for the future.