Now that one stalwart on the Eagles’ offensive line has retired in Brandon Brooks, the attention will turn to another who is considering retirement for the fourth straight offseason.
To that end, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said last week on SportsRadio WIP that he has put the full-court press on center Jason Kelce.
“I sent him two kegs of beer,” Sirianni told the radio station with a laugh. “He’s awesome, and I’ve told him how much we want him back. He’s an unbelievable leader. If you don’t know Jason Kelce personally, everything you hear about him is as advertised.”
And what Kelce ultimately decides could impact the Eagles’ offensive line for next season and beyond.
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Kelce, who’s 34 years old, is coming off arguably the best of his 11 NFL seasons. He has started 123 consecutive games, the longest streak among active NFL centers. Kelce was named to both the Pro Bowl and first-team All Pro team for the fourth time in his career.
Kelce hasn’t met with the media since the season ended with the playoff loss to Tampa Bay on Jan. 16. In the past, he has announced his decision to return in a social media post in February or March.
The Eagles are well-positioned to replace Brooks, who was selected to the Pro Bowl in three straight seasons from 2017-19. After all, they’re used to it as injuries limited Brooks, 32, to just two games over the last two seasons.
And Brooks cited the potential of the players returning when he announced his retirement Wednesday.
But coincidentally or not, Brooks did not mention Kelce.
“I think the O-line room, with (left tackle) Jordan Mailata really coming into his own, you have Isaac (Seumalo) coming back, you have Landon (Dickerson), Nate Herbig, Jack Driscoll,” Brooks said.
“You have Lane (Johnson) and guys like that. The room is in great hands moving forward, so I just think at this time it’s best to step aside and let them do their thing.”
Brooks suffered a pectoral muscle strain in Week 2, and the Eagles used four other right guards this season. Dickerson, the Eagles’ second-round pick out of Alabama, was the first to replace Brooks.
Dickerson moved to left guard when Seumalo suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury in Week 3.
After that, Driscoll started at right guard until he suffered a season-ending ankle injury, followed by Herbig until his knee injury late in the season, and then Sua Opeta in the playoff game.
Seumalo will be back at left guard in 2022, as will Mailata at left tackle and Johnson at right tackle.
If Kelce returns, then the solution is simple: Dickerson will play right guard as Brooks’ replacement.
But if Kelce does not return, the Eagles can use either Seumalo or Dickerson at center. Both played the position in college, but not in the NFL. Or the Eagles could go after a free agent.
So it could be an adjustment replacing Kelce.
“He’s the engine that always made us go,” Brooks said about Kelce. “I don’t think people really understand how intelligent he is out there, consistently getting calls right. He’s a coach on the field. He’s a tremendous leader.”
If it’s Dickerson at center, then Seumalo stays at left guard and Driscoll or Herbig would start at right guard. If it’s Seumalo at center, then it’s likely that Dickerson stays at left guard, and Driscoll or Herbig play right guard.
Dickerson said he has learned a lot from the veterans, particularly Johnson and Kelce.
“I can’t tell you how thankful I am to be able to play beside them and be in meetings with them and learn from them,” he said. “They’re extremely great football players. It has really meant a lot for me to play beside them and learn from them, and what it takes to be a great player in this league.”
Either way, the Eagles would have to replenish their depth if Kelce joins Brooks in retirement. Behind Mailata at left tackle, the Eagles still have Andre Dillard, the first-round pick in 2019. Mailata beat him out for the job in training camp.
Dillard did start five games this season, and it’s quite possible that the Eagles could look into trading him this offseason. After all, if another team sees Dillard as a starting left tackle, it could net the Eagles an early-round draft pick.
The Eagles also have veteran Le’Raven Clark along with Brett Toth, who was also learning to play guard and center. But Toth announced earlier this week that he’s having knee surgery and won’t be ready for the start of the 2022 season.
At guard, in addition to Seumalo, Dickerson, Driscoll, Herbig and Opeta, the Eagles also have Jack Anderson and practice-squad player Kayode Awoskika.
Earlier in the season, Kelce raved about Opeta, an undrafted free agent in 2019 out of Weber State.
“Sua Opeta has been quietly waiting in the weeds,” Kelce said in December. “We’ve been joking around here that the Sua Opeta stock is hotter than the Tesla stock with the way he’s blocking in one-on-ones.”
And even though Brooks didn’t play after Week 2, he has helped mentor younger players throughout the season.
“To the young guys, especially the last two years, I tried to pass some of the knowledge down, like the older guys did with me,” Brooks said. “If there’s one thing … I’ve always hung my hat on, is persistence and consistency.
“Never get tired of doing the basics, never get tired of doing the small things over and over because it allows the bigger things to become attainable.”
Or Sirianni could justsend Kelce more beer.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
