The Philadelphia Eagles have finalized their roster for the 2023 season, but how does it compare to the team they fielded in 2022? Here’s a position-by-position comparison breaking down where the team has progressed and regressed.
Quarterback
2022: Jalen Hurts, Gardner Minshew
2023: Jalen Hurts, Marcus Mariota, Tanner McKee
On the surface, 2022 is the more talented QB room, especially if preseason is anything to go off. But I’m giving the edge to 2023 here because there is a developmental arm in Tanner McKee. It might not count for much now, but having a young quarterback to build up in the background is crucial for the Philadelphia Eagles. Whether McKee ends up being QB2 down the road or shipped off for assets, it’s imperative from Lurie’s standpoint to get back to building up quarterbacks. There is a real sense of clarity and direction here.
Winner: 2023
Running back
2022: Miles Sanders, Kenny Gainwell, Boston Scott, Trey Sermon
2023: Rashaad Penny, Kenny Gainwell, D’Andre Swift, Boston Scott
2023. No question.
For the price of what Miles Sanders is now being paid in Carolina, the Eagles have a three-headed monster that could rival the best backfields in the league if they all stay healthy. Penny is a dominant back between the tackles and Swift used the preseason to send a reminder to the league as to just how lethal he can be in the open field.
Having Boston Scott around to nuke the Giants for good measure is the cherry on the cake.
Winner: 2023
Offensive line
2022: Landon Dickerson, Jack Driscoll, Lane Johnson, Cam Jurgens, Jason Kelce, Sua Opeta, Jordan Mailata, Andre Dillard, Josh Sills, Isaac Seumalo
2023: Landon Dickerson, Jack Driscoll, Fred Johnson, Lane Johnson, Cam Jurgens, Jason Kelce, Jordan Mailata, Sua Opeta, Tyler Steen
The offensive line room remains one of the most impressive in the league, but 2023 has more futuristic upside. Tyler Steen’s arrival is an important one and you can see the foundations of the next five years of the OL being laid. 2022 may be more top-heavy with the likes of Isaac Seumalo still on the roster, but I prefer the longevity that this year’s room provides.
Winner: 2023
Tight end
2022: Grant Calcaterra, Dallas Goedert, Jack Stoll, Tyree Jackson, Noah Togiai
2023: Grant Calcaterra, Dallas Goedert, Albert Okwuegbunam, Jack Stoll
The trade for Albert Okwuegbunam automatically gives this to 2023’s room. He’s actually produced offensively in each of his three years in the league, unlike Noah Togiai or Tyree Jackson. No knock on either player, but to have a player as excellent as Dallas Goedert and then such a deep drop-off in talent is asking for trouble should injuries strike. It took a little while, but the Eagles finding a viable TE2 while Calcaterra and Stoll can continue learning from Goedert is something that will pay huge dividends down the line.
Winner: 2023
Wide receiver
2022: A.J Brown, DeVonta Smith, Quez Watkins, Zach Pascal, Britain Covey
2023: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Quez Watkins, Olamide Zaccheaus
The Eagles are a little light on depth at wideout this year. Sure, OZ can play on the boundary and in the slot which opens up some versatility options, and Greg Ward did return to the practice squad, but it’s still a position lacking some real sustenance.
Winner: 2022
Defensive end
2022: Derek Barnett, Brandon Graham, Tarron Jackson, Haason Reddick, Josh Sweat, Patrick Johnson
2023: Derek Barnett, Brandon Graham, Patrick Johnson, Haason Reddick, Nolan Smith, Josh Sweat
Admittedly, this position comes down to how you classify both Reddick and Smith. For the sake of simplicity, we’ll call them edge-rushers for this article. For that reason and that reason alone, the addition of Nolan Smith is absolutely game-changing and the rest of the position has remained almost identical.
Winner: 2023
Defensive tackle
2022: Javon Hargrave, Fletcher Cox, Jordan Davis, Marlon Tuipulotu, Milton Williams, Marvin Wilson
2023: Jalen Carter, Fletcher Cox, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Kentavius Street, Marlon Tuipulotu, Milton Williams
The second-deepest positional group on the roster is also one of the most terrifying. Jalen Carter replaces Javon Hargrave and gives the Eagles life after both the Grave Digger and Fletcher Cox. Milton Williams and Moro Ojomo are also in the picture as developmental names who are bound to play key roles. It’s a scary, scary group.
Winner: 2023
Linebacker
2022: Kyzir White, Nakobe Dean, T.J Edwards, Christian Elliss
2023: Zach Cunningham, Nakobe Dean, Christian Elliss
Again, this isn’t as light as it looks due to the fact that Patrick Johnson, Haason Reddick, and Nolan Smith will all take on OLB roles on a rotational basis. With that said, 2022 still has the better positional group here. Nakobe Dean might take a big step forward, but T.J Edwards was a key cog last year and Kyzir White was fairly solid too. This group is light and all it takes is one injury like we saw in preseason for alarm bells to sound.
Winner: 2022
Cornerback
2022: Darius Slay, James Bradberry, Avonte Maddox, Josh Jobe, Josiah Scott, Zech McPhearson
2023: James Bradberry, Mario Goodrich, Josh Jobe, Avonte Maddox, Eli Ricks, Kelee Ringo, Darius Slay
Even with the injury to Zech McPhearson, I think the 2023 room is absolutely loaded with young talent Eli Ricks, Josh Jobe and Mario Goodrich all pushing onto the roster as UDFA’s. Rookie CB Kelee Ringo seems destined to play a key role and last year’s starting trio also returns.
Winner: 2023
Safety
2022: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Marcus Epps, Reed Blankenship, K’Von Wallace, Andre Chachere
2023: Reed Blankenship, Sydney Brown, Terrell Edmunds, Justin Evans
I love Sydney Brown and I love Reed Blankenship. But that 2022 group was so solid. Marcus Epps blossomed as a starter and before it all spiraled into money-based drama, having CJGJ roam the secondary was a real blessing to watch. The upside is greater for this new-look safety group, but the caliber of talent on the roster in 2022 just outweighs that.
Winner: 2022
Which Eagles roster is better?
2023: 7
2022: 3
AP Photo/Matt Rourke
