The Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams are considered the two best teams in the NFC. But the Eagles could benefit from upgrading their roster with one final deal, according to Zach Berman of The Athletic.
Berman detailed how a trade for Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas could be the deal that makes the Eagles offense Super Bowl caliber.
The Eagles defense is dominant, and they have All-Pros on the offensive line and with running back Saquon Barkley.
But after trading A.J. Brown, and replacing him with rookie Makai Lemon and speedy Hollywood Brown, Philadelphia could use another top-flight wideout to complement incumbent DeVonta Smith.
Reporter: Eagles Should Target Jaguars WR for 'Dimension They Don't Have'
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Thomas is a modern version of Brown. He has a 6-2, 209-pound frame, is coming off a disappointing season and even comes from an AFC South team.
So Thomas, who had 48 catches for 707 yards last season and has been the subject of trade rumors, could cure the Eagles' passing game.
"I’m not sure there’s that one move available that pushes them over the edge, [but] if Brian Thomas were available, I still think he could give the Eagles a dimension that they don’t have in the passing game," Berman wrote.
Jalen Hurts Needs to Improve in 2026 Too
The Eagles ranked 23rd in the NFL in passing-yards per game in 2025, even with Brown, and quarterback Jalen Hurts and Co. flamed out in their 23-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the wild-card round.
So Hurts needs to improve too. He ranked 24th in passing-yards per game (201.5), and he put up only 421 rushing yards after rushing for 630 in 2024 and helping the Eagles win the Super Bowl.
So Berman thinks Hurts' play will also determine how the Eagles finish.
"If their offense improves and Jalen Hurts plays at a high level, they should be a Super Bowl-level player," Berman wrote. "This comes down to Hurts and the offense pushing their way into the NFL’s top 10."
The Eagles offense was eighth in the league in 2024 when they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, and it was third-best in 2022 when Philadelphia lost to the Chiefs.
The Eagles could be playing for the championship again if their offense is elite again.
"If the Eagles have a top-10 offense, they’ll compete for the Super Bowl," Berman wrote.
