Top star hasn’t spent much time with the Eagles’ newest rookie class, but the veteran left tackle is already impressed by the team’s two sixth-round offensive tackles: Myles Hinton from Michigan and Cameron Williams from Texas.
Speaking during OTAs this spring, Mailata praised their early effort and work ethic.
“What’s stood out the most is their effort and grind,” Mailata said. “There were a couple of days where we had to push them a bit, and I got on them myself. But now that we’re into our second week together, the way they attack the drills and correct their mistakes the next day—it’s impressive.”
He emphasized how coachable both Hinton and Williams have been. “It’s not just about physical tools,” Mailata explained. “It’s about learning from mistakes and applying that knowledge the next day. Myles and Cam are doing a great job of that.”
The Eagles also added Drew Kendall, a fifth-round interior lineman from Boston College, giving renowned offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland three Day 3 picks to develop. And if anyone understands what it takes to thrive under Stoutland’s guidance, it’s Mailata, who’s become a standout after starting his NFL journey with no prior football experience.
Jordan Mailata’s journey from rugby player with no football background to one of the NFL’s premier offensive linemen continues to be one of the most remarkable stories in the league. Now entering his eighth season with the Philadelphia Eagles—and his fifth as the team’s full-time starting left tackle—Mailata is embracing a new chapter in his career: veteran leadership.
His growth as a player can’t be discussed without crediting offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland, whose legendary ability to develop talent has become a cornerstone of the Eagles’ success in the trenches. Mailata is a shining example of what’s possible under Stoutland’s tutelage, provided a player is willing to buy in.
“You have to meet Coach Stout halfway,” Mailata said. “That’s how you become successful. When someone is extending a hand or giving you an olive branch, you have to be able and willing to meet him halfway. That’s like half the job. As cliché as it is, if you just do what coach is telling you to do, you’ll be great. It took me a long time to realize that.”
Though a Pro Bowl nod eluded him in 2024—largely due to missing five games—Mailata’s dominant play didn’t go unnoticed. He earned second-team All-Pro honors and was named Pro Football Focus’s highest-graded offensive lineman across all positions. Recognition aside, Mailata’s greatest value might now lie in what he gives to others.
Last season, he was named a team captain for the first time. And he’s using that status to mentor the newest members of the Eagles’ offensive line: sixth-round tackles Myles Hinton and Cameron Williams, and fifth-round interior lineman Drew Kendall.
“I love our rookies,” Mailata said. “This is a great rookie class, especially in that O-line room. They work hard. I told Myles, Cameron, and Drew, ‘I don’t care if you come for my job. If you’re going to be better than me, you’re going to be better than me. But I’m going to make it damn hard for you to reach that. I’m going to bring you along. I’m not going to kick you down.’”
He added that all three are already pushing him in practice, which he welcomes.
“I don’t want to be complacent,” Mailata said. “If I feel like someone’s chomping at my heels, it’s going to make me run fast.”
It’s a mindset forged by the guidance he received from Eagles linemen past—legends like Jason Peters, Lane Johnson, and Jason Kelce. Mailata feels a responsibility to pass that tradition on.
And based on how quickly the rookies are adjusting, they’re already benefiting from the same blueprint that helped turn a rugby player into one of the NFL’s best.