Who Will Protect Jalen Hurts? Eagles Still Don’t Know

Philadelphia, PA – May 26, 2025

For a team that just hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, the Philadelphia Eagles have surprisingly few question marks. The offense is loaded. The defense is young and fast. The coaching staff is intact. But as training camp looms, there’s one mystery that quietly looms larger than most fans realize — who’s going to play right guard?

On paper, it’s a simple positional battle. But in reality, it’s a decision that could define the Eagles’ ability to defend their crown. Because whoever wins the job won’t just be opening running lanes for Saquon Barkley — they’ll be the man standing between pressure and Jalen Hurts.

The departure of Mekhi Becton in free agency left a gap the team has yet to fill. Several names have surfaced, but none has claimed the spot. Tyler Steen, who filled in admirably last season, brings familiarity but struggled in pass protection (graded 40.7 by PFF). Kenyon Green, a former first-round pick of the Texans, has the pedigree but hasn’t lived up to expectations. And then there’s Matt Pryor, a sleeper candidate with experience in Jeff Stoutland’s system — and the best pass-blocking grade (78.1) of the group.

“The Eagles are built from the trenches, and right guard is the last piece,” wrote PFF analyst Bradley Locker. “They don’t need a superstar there. They need someone who won’t get beat on third-and-eight in January.”

That’s where the tension lies. This isn’t about potential — it’s about trust. In an offense that thrives on timing and protection, the right guard plays a quiet but vital role in holding the architecture together. One blown assignment can derail a drive. One missed stunt pickup could derail a season.

Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland has a proven track record of turning question marks into answers. He made Becton serviceable. He developed late-rounders into starters. And now, he has three options — none of them proven, all of them possible.

For now, the job remains open. The stakes, however, are anything but ordinary. Because when you’re the defending champs, protecting your quarterback isn’t just a priority.

It’s a matter of survival.