Eagles' retirement turmoil all but guarantees Cowboys will take back NFC East

Dak Prescott kept the Dallas Cowboys competitive for as long as he could, but in reality, nothing was standing in the Philadelphia Eagles' way of winning the NFC East this season. They tried their best to keep Dallas' heart pumping, but Matt Eberflus was never going to hold up his end of the bargain.

Things could change massively in 2026, however.

To put it gently, the Eagles are going through it this offseason. An embarrassing home playoff loss to the 49ers has triggered a wave of turmoil. The A.J. Brown trade rumors are just getting started, and in the last 72 hours, Philly's been bombarded with retirement speculation.

It started with longtime offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland, widely regarded as one of the best position coaches in the NFL, announcing he was stepping down after 13 years.

Now, doubt is creeping in about star guard Landon Dickerson's future, with Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reporting that it's no guarantee that Dickerson will play next season. Dickerson is only 27 years old, but his body has been through a lot in his five years in the league.

Eagles' turmoil is clearing a path for the Dallas Cowboys to take back the NFC East

Losing Dickerson to retirement would put the Eagles' offensive line in absolute disarray. He's a three-time Pro Bowler and definitively one of the best left guards in the game.

However, his play took a step back this year after he suffered a meniscus injury in training camp that required a procedure. He played through it and managed to start 15 games, but he never looked healthy.

In addition to Stoutman and Dickerson, McLane understands that all-world right tackle Lane Johnson is also mulling retirement.

“In terms of Lane and his future, here’s what I can say: He’s definitely not sure if he’s coming back or not, is the impression I get. You would think maybe this would make it a little less likely,” McLane said. “When you’re looking at retirement, it’s, ‘Can my body do it again? Do I want to do it again? Lane has a very high standard for himself.”

A five-time All-Pro, Johnson is arguably the best offensive lineman in the NFL, regardless of position. He’s a rare case of a right tackle being his team’s most important offensive player. It's no surprise the Eagles' offense struggled as much as it did this year with Johnson missing seven games due to injury.

Stoutman stepping away is devastating enough, but even Howie Roseman would find it incredibly difficult to overcome losing two All-Pro caliber linemen in Johnson and Dickerson.

Of course, Johnson and Dickerson may decide to return. Nothing is written in stone yet. But the vibes in Philly are downright horrendous right now. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio reportedly pondered retirement after the season, and it's no sure thing that star receiver A.J. Brown is back.

It feels like the Eagles are destined to take a notable step back next season, while the Cowboys are widely expected to have one of their most aggressive offseasons in recent memory.

The balance of power in the NFC East may finally be shifting.