With the NFL Draft being held in under a month and the not regular season set to start until September, here is a far too early look at some big issues that the Eagles face heading into next season.
Can they keep Carson Wentz healthy?
This is clearly the biggest concern for the Eagles heading into the new season. Having let Nick Foles walk, the Eagles have pushed their chips to the middle of the table and are all in on Wentz (and rightfully so in my mind). With 2 significant injuries in as many years, added to a serious wrist injury during his college career, Wentz will surely be keen to shed the ‘injury-prone’ tag that has been given to him.
Compounding this is the somewhat aging and new-look offensive line, which will be tasked with keeping Wentz, clean during game-time. With the re-signing of Jason Peters, the Eagles will be banking on the 37-year-old to not lose a step and stay healthy, something he has struggled to do.
Brandon Brooks is coming off an Achilles tear and the departure of Stefen Wisnewski in free agency means the Eagles are also relying on increased playing time and growth of rotational players such as Isaac Seumalo, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Matt Pryor and maybe even Jordan Mailata
Adding offensive weapons during the offseason like DeSean Jackson should help open the field up for Wentz and speed up his release, removing his vulnerability to take hits as he did far too often last season. The most recent addition of Jordan Howard at running back should also allow Wentz to hand the ball off more consistently and reliably during a game. Whether Doug Pederson and Offensive Coordinator Mike Groh stay consistent with the run game is another question, but Howard is more likely to be trusted by the coaching staff as the bell cow in first down and short yardage situations, rather than smaller backs like Clement, Smallwood
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Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
