Welcome to the lull of the offseason. While we eagerly await the thudding of pads down at the NovaCare Complex, it’s a great time to reflect on the offseason so far and look forward to the year ahead. Here are 15 thoughts I have about the Eagles in what is now the calm before the storm.
It’s absolutely plausible that Jalen Hurts emerges as the top quarterback in the NFC East this year given the weapons he’s now surrounded by and the fact he’ll be orchestrating an offense that doesn’t resemble a pile of mud.
If that’s going to happen, he absolutely has to tidy up his fumbling. 9 fumbles in one year (only 4 starts) simply isn’t good enough. This should dip thanks to the offensive line getting a lot of its components back this year, but it’s something to watch.
A lot of people are overly bullish on Miles Sanders despite a clear regression last year. The o-line and bad coaching didn’t help at all, but he still lacks vision and ball-security is still an issue.
I really like Sanders, but he’s very much boom-or-bust right now. It’s 8 rushes that go nowhere and a fumble, or an 80-yard touchdown run. I’d really like to see some consistency in his game and a return to his rookie form in 2021.
If I had to put money on an in-house candidate to win the CB2 role, it would be Kevon Seymour. I love what he brings to the table in terms of length and speed and he actually showed promise in limited action last year.
It wouldn’t surprise me if the Eagles do move on from Andre Dillard, but in the same breath, I wouldn’t be shocked if he starts over Mailata based on nothing but the fact he was a first-round pick and Howie won’t want to look like he’s missed on another player.
The Eagles should absolutely avoid signing Steven Nelson unless they move on from Zach Ertz. He clearly is focused on nothing but dollar signs, which is why no team has signed him yet despite his status as arguably free agency’s top corner at the beginning of the offseason.
If Derek Barnett remains on the roster, I think he’ll be severely outperformed by Ryan Kerrigan by season’s end. This may actually play into the hands of the Eagles if they want to re-sign him on a cheap deal.
Trevon Grimes has a real shot to make the roster over both Travis Fulgham (inconsistent) and J.J Arcega-Whiteside. The battle to be the teams’ premier big-body will be an exciting one.
I’m really intrigued to see how Nick Sirianni uses his tight ends. Historically, his Indy offenses have focused on versatile running backs and wide receivers. This doesn’t bode well for Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert who are both in contract years and may not receive the target-share they’re used to.
Davion Taylor could be a name worth watching this Summer. The Eagles aren’t inundated with linebacker depth, but he struggled to see the field last season when the picture was arguably bleaker. He’s got a very fun skillset but is extremely raw. How will he stack up against players like Alex Singleton and T.J Edwards is the next big question.
Talking of Eric Wilson, I think he might be the most important signing of the offseason. A true MIKE linebacker who thrives in coverage and perfectly complements Alex Singleton’s skillset, he should thrive under Gannon after a huge year.
The Eagles actually had a really strong offseason all things considered. With next to no cap space to work with, they did a really good job at finding value in the free agent market and balancing aggression with a realisation that Rome wasn’t built in a day. They’re in a good spot to at least compete for the NFC East this season.
The health of the offensive line is something that isn’t getting enough chatter. Lane Johnson and Brandon Brooks returning to the fray will be huge for Jalen Hurts and a revitalized rushing attack.
Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire
