The Philadelphia Eagles had an incredible offseason, there is no other way to spin that. Howie Roseman and his team nailed free agency and the NFL Draft with unbelievable moves. Several of those moves could lead to continuity for the future but a good handful of them can impact the outcome of the 2024 season.
From departures to additions, the 2024 Eagles were not scared of making bold moves that would leave people scratching their heads. Now that the dust has settled and the offseason has officially gone radio silent. It is time to look at who are the Eagles’ most important players for the 2024 season.
Jalen Hurts
No one player is more important than the team’s franchise QB. If Jalen Hurts had avoided the 15 interceptions and 9 fumbles last season then you could very well be looking at your 2023 MVP. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to avoid the turnovers as the bland offense had continued to make this life difficult for the Eagles QB. That can’t and won’t be an excuse in 2024.
Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni have paired Hurts with a new offensive coordinator in Kellen Moore and a more lethal playmaker at running back in the newly signed Saquon Barkley. The idea is to make Hurts’ life easier this season as opposed to allowing what happened last season to repeat. The Eagles will go as far as their quarterback can take them this season and the hope is for a return to the Super Bowl.
Saquon Barkley
Philadelphia has had back-to-back seasons with a thousand-yard running back behind their stout offensive lines which means expectations are high for Saquon Barkley. Saquon was the face of the Giants for nearly six seasons before signing with their NFC East rivals via free agency. The last time this happened, things didn’t bode too well for the Eagles but then again, Chip Kelly was up to no good during that time.
Saquon will naturally change how defenses view the Eagles’ offense. Before, defenses had to be concerned about the running ability of Hurts and the receiving threats of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. With the addition of Saquon Barkley, the Eagles’ backfield has become much more dangerous but this all depends on Sauqon’s ability to stay healthy for a full season.
Brandon Graham
It’s the farewell tour that no one is ready for. While Jason Kelce is the most beloved Eagles player of all time, Brandon Graham holds a big chunk of Eagles fan’s hearts across the globe. What he does this year will be huge for his legacy. I’m not talking about his numbers but instead his impact on the younger players that will be taking over for him after this year.
After losing Haason Reddick, it’s clear that no one knows what to expect from this group of edge rushers. Will Josh Sweat be invested from beginning to end this season? Can Nolan Smith make an impact? Is Bryce Huff worth the money? There are so many questions and Brandon Graham alone holds the answers.
Jordan Davis
The Eagles passed on Kyle Hamilton for Jordan Davis and the safety position is still a bit of an issue. With that being said, it’s time to shine for the big guy in the middle. The Eagles brought in four of his Georgia teammates to help replicate that National championship defense. While Davis has shown flashes of great potential at times, due to the inability of last season’s debacle at the defensive coordinator, he looked extremely fatigued towards the end of last season.
It looks like he’s worked heavily on his conditioning this offseason and is entering camp in the best shape of his professional career. This needs to be a big season for the Eagles defensive anchor as Jalen Carter is coming off of a big rookie year and Fletcher Cox will no longer be lining up on that line. If the Eagles can get Davis to be as disruptive as expected then this defensive line may be better than last season.
Darius Slay
No one has as many new faces around him as Darius Slay does. That cornerback group is much deeper talent-wise and body-wise than they were last season. He has a lot on his plate as the cornerback group leader and long-time veteran. The responsibility of bringing Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean along while helping the growing development of players like Eli Ricks and Kelee Ringo and possibly lining up alongside Isaiah Rodgers as opposed to Bradberry this season is a lot.
Luckily for the Eagles, Slay has the personality and experience to be able to manage the personalities and emotions of that group. He’s going to have to be the filter of Vic Fangio and the glue that leads to a bounce-back season from the secondary.
Who do you believe are the Eagles most important players for the upcoming season?
AP Photo/Matt Slocum
