PHILADELPHIA — The worth of success in 2022 was excessive for the Philadelphia Eagles.
After their dominating 14-3 common season and a visit to Tremendous Bowl LVII, the remainder of the league needed a bit of what they constructed. The Arizona Cardinals plucked defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon to be their head coach. The Indianapolis Colts did the identical with offensive coordinator Shane Steichen. And the personnel was picked aside, significantly on protection, with seven starters — safeties C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Marcus Epps, defensive deal with Javon Hargrave, working again Miles Sanders, guard Isaac Seumalo, and linebackers T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White — all exiting in free company.
Usually, normal supervisor Howie Roseman works to increase key contributors earlier than they hit the market, however the group made the choice to place negotiations on ice throughout the season, not desirous to disrupt crew chemistry by giving new offers to some and never others. The Eagles had 19 unrestricted free brokers consequently.
“We understood that would price us on the finish, however we thought it was worthwhile due to the chance to doubtlessly win a championship,” Roseman stated on the scouting mix final month. “Sadly, we got here up quick [against the Kansas City Chiefs].”
However this offseason hasn’t been all about loss. Philadelphia was capable of re-sign All-Professional cornerback James Bradberry; reworked Darius Slay‘s deal after a departure appeared inevitable; introduced again stalwarts Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox and Jason Kelce; and added gamers together with working again Rashaad Penny, quarterback Marcus Mariota, nook Greedy Williams and linebacker Nicholas Morrow. The Eagles have an ascending quarterback in Jalen Hurts and return a robust supporting solid led by A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith together with one of many high offensive strains in soccer.
However the Dallas Cowboys have gained floor on them within the NFC East when contemplating the plethora of Eagles departures mixed with the additions of Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore.
Whether or not Philly can maintain on to the highest spot within the division and stay a contender for the Lombardi Trophy hinges partially on the next questions:
Will the lack of Gardner-Johnson come again to chew the Eagles?
If their 2023 season goes sideways, there is a good probability fingers will level again to their decision-making round Gardner-Johnson and the dominoes put in movement consequently.
In response to a supply with direct data of negotiations, the Eagles provided him a multiyear deal early in free company, however Gardner-Johnson did not take it, feeling it was nicely beneath his worth. Philly moved on and struck a cope with Bradberry and reworked Slay’s deal. With the cash the Eagles had put aside largely spent, Gardner-Johnson opted for a one-year deal price as much as $8 million with the Detroit Lions.
Gardner-Johnson completed final season tied for the league lead in interceptions (6) regardless of lacking 5 video games with a lacerated kidney and was an impression playmaker within the No. 1 go protection within the league. So why wasn’t there an even bigger push to maintain him? The sense right here is the Eagles have been reluctant to commit massive cash to Gardner-Johnson resulting from uncertainty over how dependable he can be over the long run.
However there’s danger in letting him stroll, too, as Philadelphia is now hitting the reset button on the security place. And as a substitute of re-upping a 25-year-old participant who continues to indicate indicators of enchancment, they retained older vets Bradberry (29) and Slay (32), who joined Kelce (35), Cox (32) and Graham (34) as Eagles who obtained new offers this offseason.
Reed Blankenship did nicely in spot responsibility at security as a rookie, however the Eagles must look to the skin for veteran assist. Adrian Amos, Terrell Edmunds and Taylor Rapp are among the many remaining free brokers. It is price noting Roseman did not purchase Gardner-Johnson from the Saints till August final yr, so there’s loads of time to transform the place, nevertheless it appears unlikely the outcomes might be pretty much as good as they have been with Gardner-Johnson in 2022.
How massive of a drop-off will there be at working again?
Miles Sanders signed a four-year, $24 million contract with the Carolina Panthers, cashing in on a profession yr by which he rushed for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The Eagles went the cheaper route and inked the explosive however oft-injured Penny to a one-year deal price north of $1 million whereas re-signing environment friendly rotational again Boston Scott.
“I really feel like this can be a excellent spot for me to refresh, restart my profession,” stated Penny, the previous first-round decide of the Seattle Seahawks. “Enjoying with a finalist MVP at QB, nice working again room, nice weapons at receiver and arguably the most effective O-line, I am positively excited to get to work.”
There’s an argument to be made that the necessity for a top-end again is lessened because of the components Penny talked about, together with working alongside Hurts, whose working potential forces defenses to play sincere. It is not exhausting to image Penny barreling by way of giant holes and having explosive performs on this offense.
His monitor document, although, suggests accidents might be an element — Penny has missed important time with a torn ACL, a calf harm and a damaged fibula throughout his five-year profession — and it might be a mistake to counsel Sanders’ manufacturing was all concerning the system. There’s expertise within the present working again room led by Penny, Kenneth Gainwell and Scott, nevertheless it may use some beefing up.
Former Dallas Cowboys working again Ezekiel Elliott has additionally expressed interest in joining the Eagles, sources advised ESPN. Elliott had a career-low 876 dashing yards in 2022, however he scored 12 touchdowns and remained a high short-yardage again and go protector.
The Eagles will possible need to see how the draft performs out earlier than including one other veteran to the group. Essentially the most life like manner Elliott leads to Philly is that if the Eagles exit draft weekend with out a again and Elliott may be had at a discount later within the offseason.
Texas standout Bijan Robinson stirred pleasure among the many fan base lately by posting an image from Philadelphia on Instagram, presumably whereas on a pre-draft go to. The Eagles have two first-round picks this April — Nos. 10 and 30 general — and would possible have to make use of the previous to nab Robinson, the unanimous All-American and Doak Walker Award winner. That will be out of character with how the Eagles usually construct their roster. However there is a faculty of thought that Philly ought to go all-in on offense and permit that facet of the ball to hold the load in 2023 whereas the protection retools.
Whether or not it is a massive splash like Robinson or in any other case, it would not be stunning to see Philadelphia deal with the place once more between now and the beginning of the yr.
Can the younger expertise step up?
The protection misplaced each beginning safeties, each beginning linebackers and an impression beginning defensive deal with in Hargrave this offseason. Whereas the second wave of free company and the draft (the Eagles maintain six picks general) might help construct up the roster, Philly should depend on some younger gamers already on the crew to step up.
Two prime candidates are linebacker Nakobe Dean and defensive deal with Jordan Davis, former teammates on Georgia’s powerhouse protection who served as position gamers throughout their first season in Philadelphia. Dean performed totally on particular groups whereas Davis began off sturdy earlier than a excessive ankle sprain slowed him.
Dean is a favourite to take over one of many beginning linebacker spots, and Davis ought to see an elevated position in the midst of the Eagles’ protection with Hargrave now in San Francisco.
In the meantime, 2022 second-round decide Cam Jurgens is the front-runner to switch Seumalo at proper guard.
“These guys are able to play. They’re able to contribute,” Roseman stated. “We knew after we have been drafting them final yr, we have been drafting them as a result of they have been the most effective gamers, not essentially as a result of they have been guys able to fill spots at a place of want. We have a look at our crew this yr understanding these guys can take a step ahead and be a part of it.”
