National Football League

Jason Kelce expected the Eagles to draft an offensive lineman

Published Jun. 2, 2015 1:11 p.m. ET

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Over the last four seasons, there have been no issues on the field for the Philadelphia Eagles at left guard. Evan Mathis has manned the position and according to Pro Football Focus, he has been one of the best offensive lineman overall in that time frame. Now, with Mathis holding out from team activities and no return date in sight, the Eagles are forced to turn to other options at left guard.

Allen Barbre was expected to start at right guard in 2015, and he still may, but for now he will be tasked with learning the left guard position.

“Nobody really knows what’s going to happen,” center Jason Kelce said after practice during OTAs last week. “So I think that having Al work at left [guard], where he hasn’t had that many snaps – primarily, the last few years he’s been working more the right side -- he can get more comfortable out of a left hand stance if he has to play left guard.”

Barbre's potentially temporary shift to the left side has left Matt Tobin and Andrew Gardner to battle it out at right guard. Although the Eagles still have several standout players in left tackle Jason Peterson, center Kelce and right tackle Lane Johnson, they are seriously lacking depth after failing to address the offensive line in free agency or the draft. Kelce was surprised by the team's lack of activity in this area.

“I’m never surprised at the draft, however it shakes out,” Kelce said. “But I did think that we were going to draft an offensive lineman.”

If Mathis is eventually traded, the Eagles could be a liability through the interior with both starting guards lacking very much NFL experience.

(h/t Philadelphia Daily Inquirer)

Photo Credit: John Geliebter/USA TODAY Sports

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