Lane Johnson thinks he can still be better than he's been to any point in his career so far

Typically football players that are 35 years old are towards the twilight of their careers. Injuries arise, mental fatigue and overall poor play can leave them contemplating retirement. Don't tell that to Lane Johnson. 

At this point in Johnson's tenure in Philadelphia, it would be understandable if he only had one or two seasons left. However the right tackle isn't downplaying his skill level and role with the Eagles going forward. In Johnson's mind, there's still room for improvement. 

"Now, I feel like even though I'm 35, I feel better than I was when I started (or when I was 29 or 30)," Johnson told NBC Sports Philadelphia's Rueben Frank and local media members last week. "I had the surgeries and so for me, the toughest year was '21 and you can go back and watch it, you can clearly see on film I was very hindered with my left foot."

"And now I feel like I'm getting close to maybe my peak. As weird as it is to say, but that's how I truly feel."

Johnson's statement is rather shocking considering how high of a level he's played at since getting drafted by the Eagles in 2013. 

There were some bumps in the road, with Johnson getting suspended on two separate occasions for using Performance Enhancing Drugs. After his second suspension in 2016, Johnson became a First Team All-Pro selection for the first time in his career and helped lead the Eagles to their first Super Bowl in franchise history. 

Johnson was etched into Philadelphia folklore after wearing an underdog mask following the Eagles Divisional Round win over the Atlanta Falcons, a game in which the Eagles weren't favored. 

Johnson's popularity grew because of that moment. It's also expanded because of how good he's played. In total, the right tackle has been named a First Team All-Pro twice, Second Team twice and made six Pro Bowls. He's been a consistent fixture on the right side of the Eagles offensive line, providing steady protection for a handful of quarterbacks over the years. 

He'll likely go down as one of the Eagles best offensive linemen ever, but it doesn't sound like he's leaving anytime soon.

"I think when you get to this stage of your career, you take it year by year. Physically I feel really good," Johnson said. "I was thinking a few years ago when I was coming back from all these surgeries, I thought my body was gonna start going downhill, but I think with the strength and conditioning program we have here, the stuff we do in the offseason, I feel really good."

Because of Johnson's longevity, the Eagles haven't really looked into finding a replacement for him. Since taking Johnson in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Eagles have only drafted one other tackle inside the first three rounds. 

Nobody has really come close to potentially being looked at to replace Johnson. Mekhi Becton had experience playing right tackle for the New York Jets, but excelled next to Johnson at right guard for the Eagles. Becton got paid by the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency, so the opportunity for him to slide over to tackle with the Eagles is gone. 

In March, three days after Becton signed with the Chargers, the Eagles handed Johnson an extension which keeps him under contract through 2027.

According to OverTheCap, Johnson will make $18 million in 2025, which rises to $20 million the following year and $21 million in 2027. That's a lot of money to commit to someone in their mid-to-late 30's. Though the Eagles wouldn't stick with Johnson if they felt the need to move on. As of now, he's done nothing to show that they need to replace him.

According to Johnson, the best may be yet to come.