Philadelphia Eagles (Last Year: 13-4)
2023 NFL Season Preview:
Veteran Additions:
QB Marcus Mariota, RB D’Andre Swift, RB Rashaad Penny, WR Olamide Zaccheaus, TE Dan Arnold, DT Kentavius Street, LB Nicholas Morrow, CB Greedy Williams, S Terrell Edmunds, S Justin Evans.
Early Draft Picks:
DT Jalen Carter, DE Nolan Smith, OT/G Tyler Steen, S Sydney Brown, CB Kelee Ringo. Eagles Rookie Forecast
Offseason Losses:
QB Gardner Minshew, RB Miles Sanders, OT Andre Dillard, G Isaac Seumalo, DE Robert Quinn, DT Javon Hargrave, DT Ndamukong Suh, DT Linval Joseph, LB T.J. Edwards, LB Kyzir White, S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S Marcus Epps.
2023 Philadelphia Eagles Offense:
It’s astonishing to think that some football analysts deemed the Jalen Hurts selection to be one of the worst draft picks of all time. Hurts, who was once benched in favor of Tua Tagovailoa at Alabama, became the MVP frontrunner for the 2022 season until he missed a couple of games late in the year with a shoulder injury. Patrick Mahomes ended up winning the award, but Hurts still had an incredible year with 3,701 passing yards, 22 passing touchdowns, 760 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns, and a 66.5 completion percentage.
Of course, it must be noted that Hurts has an incredible supporting cast around him. This includes the offensive line, which was arguably the best blocking unit in the NFL last year. There were three elite players on the front: tackles Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson, and center Jason Kelce. Mailata was once a raw, seventh-round pick, but the Eagles molded him into a terrific blind-side protector. Johnson is possibly the best right tackle in the NFL. Kelce is also atop his position in the entire league.
The other two blockers from last year also performed well. Left guard Landon Dickerson will reprise his role, while right guard Isaac Seumalo signed with the Steelers. However, the Eagles have two players capable of stepping in for him: Cam Jurgens and Tyler Steen, two recent second-day selections. Given the Eagles’ success with offensive linemen, it’s likely that one of them will be a viable replacement for Seumalo.
Hurts also enjoyed throwing to a trio of talented receivers. A.J. Brown joined the team via a draft-day trade last April and did not disappoint, catching 88 passes for 1,496 yards and a 11 touchdowns in his first year with the Eagles. DeVonta Smith was also a dynamic threat on the outside with 1,196 yards and seven touchdowns. He also had a crucial, fourth-down reception in the NFC Championship. Philadelphia is thin at wide receiver beyond Brown and Smith, but Dallas Goedert is a great tertiary target at tight end.
Excluding the Seumalo departure, the lone change on this side of the ball is at running back. Miles Sanders departed for Carolina, so the Eagles signed Rashaad Penny to pair with solid pass-catcher Kenneth Gainwell. Penny is a very talented runner as a former first-round pick, but his durability has been horrible. He has played more than 10 games just once in his career. The Eagles also traded for D’Andre Swift, who has the same sort of checkered injury history. Perhaps one of Penny or Swift will be able to remain healthy, but Philadelphia fans shouldn’t hold their breath.
2023 Philadelphia Eagles Defense:
The Eagles were considered the best team in the NFL last year because they had a defense that matched their electric offense. They were at their best generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks. They led in the NFL in sacks and nearly set the league record for most sacks in a regular season plus playoff run.
Despite all the success placing heat on opposing passers last year, the Eagles could have an even better pass rush this year, given that they spent both of their first-round picks addressing this area. Their initial selection was used on Jalen Carter, who will replace the San Francisco-bound Javon Hargrave. Carter was arguably the best prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft class, but fell a bit because of some off-the-field and weight issues. Carter will be the heir apparent to Fletcher Cox, who could be entering his final season in Philadelphia. Cox isn’t the same, elite player he once was, but he was still able to generate seven sacks last year. Hargrave’s 11 sacks will be missed, so that’s where Carter is expected to shine. There’s also Jordan Davis, last year’s first-round pick. Davis will play more snaps in his second year, and he’s expected to be a better pass rusher to complement his run-stuffing ability.
Last year’s top pass rusher came from the edge, and that was Haason Reddick, who shined with 16 sacks in his first season in Philadelphia. Reddick, Brandon Graham (11 sacks) and Josh Sweat (11 sacks) all did a great job of putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Still, that did not deter the Eagles from using their second opening-round choice on Nolan Smith, an extremely athletic edge rusher. Smith won’t see major snaps as a rookie, but he’ll be a valuable piece of the pass-rushing rotation.
All of this pressure aided an already-talented secondary. The Eagles have one of the best cornerback tandems in the NFL in Darius Slay and James Bradberry. There’s some concern with their age – Slay and Bradberry will be 33 and 30, respectively, by season’s end – but they should still be able to perform on a high level for another year. Philadelphia also has solid play in the slot, though Avonte Maddox missed eight games last year with a toe injury.
While the cornerbacks have all returned, the Eagles will have a pair of new safeties. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Marcus Epps are both gone, though only the former will be missed. Philadelphia signed some new players to fill their shoes, including Terrell Edmunds. The former first-round pick got off to a rough start in his career in Pittsburgh, but played well last year. There’s also in-house replacement Reed Blankenship, who was a pleasant surprise when he filled in for an injured player last year. Blankenship saw extensive action in only five games, but he did very well in the small sample size.
The Eagles will have a new starting linebacker as well, with T.J. Edwards signing with the Bears during the offseason. That would be Nakobe Dean, who was chosen in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Dean was deemed a steal at that pick, but it remains to be seen if he’ll be a good player in the NFL because he barely saw the field last year. The Eagles also brought in Nicholas Morrow from Chicago, but he is not a very good defender.
2023 Philadelphia Eagles Schedule and Intangibles:
Jake Elliott made a name for himself when he drilled a 61-yard, game-winning kick against the Giants in 2017. He was 20-of-23 in 2021, including a near-perfect 5-of-6 from 50-plus.
Arryn Siposs is not a very good punter. He had one of the worst net averages last year, and he did not do well to pin the opposition inside the 20.
The Eagles lost both of their coordinators from a year ago, as Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon were hired as head coaches this offseason.
Despite the first-place schedule, the Eagles have some easy opponents like the Buccaneers, Cardinals, Rams, and Patriots. There are also some tough foes, including the Chiefs, Bills, Jets, Dolphins, and 49ers.
2023 Philadelphia Eagles Rookies:
Go here for the Eagles Rookie Forecast, a page with predictions like which rookie will bust and which rookie will become a solid starter.
2023 Philadelphia Eagles Positional Rankings (1-5 stars):
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2023 Philadelphia Eagles Analysis: The Eagles lost some players and both coordinators, so there will be some challenges in repeating what they accomplished last year. However, Philadelphia still arguably has the best roster in the NFL, so it’s completely possible that the team will make a return trip to the Super Bowl.
Projection: 13-4 (1st in NFC East)
2022 Projection: 12-5. 2022 Actual Result: 13-4.
2021 Projection: 4-13. 2021 Actual Result: 9-8.
2020 Projection: 9-7. 2020 Actual Result: 4-11-1.
2019 Projection: 12-4. 2019 Actual Result: 9-7.
2018 Projection: 13-3. 2018 Actual Result: 9-7.
2017 Projection: 12-4. 2017 Actual Result: 13-3.
2016 Projection: 5-11. 2016 Actual Result: 7-9.
NFL Draft Team Grade: A+ Grade
Goals Entering the 2023 NFL Draft: The Eagles’ Super Bowl window is wide open right now, so acquiring players who can help them win now is essential. Some positions they’ll be targeting are running back, defensive line, guard, and linebacker.
2023 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Wow. I don’t understand how Howie Roseman accomplished what he did. Had the Eagles drafted Nolan Smith at No. 10, no one would have batted an eye. Yet, Roseman was somehow able to obtain both Jalen Carter and Smith, two of the best defensive players in this class, with his first two selections. Adding Carter and Smith to the best pass rush in the NFL will be devastating for any passing attack that crosses paths with Philadelphia.
If the Eagles’ draft class concluded with the Carter and Smith picks, they would have earned high marks, but Roseman continued his great drafting beyond the first night. Tyler Steen was an outstanding value to begin the third round. He’s a rock-steady offensive lineman who can play both guard and tackle. He’ll project as a great replacement for Isaac Seumalo. Kelee Ringo was a steal to begin Day 3. I wasn’t as crazy about Sydney Brown, but he was still a solid choice.
Philadelphia made seven picks, and all but one scored A- or better. The lone exception was the Brown selection, which earned a “B” grade. The Eagles emerged with the best class in the 2023 NFL Draft, drastically improving their roster despite already being a top-tier Super Bowl contender.
NFL Draft Individual Grades:
9. Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia – A Grade
Charlie Campbell reported that the Eagles would trade up into the 6-9 range for Jalen Carter if he got past Seattle. Once the Seahawks made their strange Devon Witherspoon pick, the opportunity was there because the teams drafting 6-9 didn’t like Carter very much because of his off-the-field concerns. Those are definite worries, but Carter’s upside is enormous. Carter is arguably the best prospect in this class, and outside of Bijan Robinson, no player who was going to be available for the Eagles was going to help them win a Super Bowl this year more than Carter.
30. Nolan Smith, DE/OLB, Georgia – A+ Grade
LOL wow. How did the Eagles land Nolan Smith when they easily could have selected him at No. 10? This is ridiculous, but as the adage goes, dumb teams make dumb picks, and the smart teams benefit. The Eagles are going to have an absurd defensive front that will demolish every quarterback in their path.
65. Tyler Steen, OT/G, Alabama – A+ Grade
Not a Georgia player, but a great selection nonetheless. Tyler Steen is a talented, versatile blocker who can play tackle and guard. I had him in the early second round, so I love this value. Steen will be able to replace Isaac Seumalo right away.
66. Sydney Brown, S, Illinois – B Grade
I finally don’t love a pick for the Eagles. This isn’t a bad selection though. The Eagles needed a safety, and Sydney Brown is a play-maker. I had him slotted a bit later than this, but Brown has nice upside, so he could definitely live up to his third-round billing.
105. Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia – A+ Grade
Surprise, surprise, the Eagles drafted a Georgia player. Kelee Ringo is a big cornerback with tons of upside, and he easily could have been chosen in the second round. This is tremendous value, and it fills a long-term need.
188. Tanner McKee, QB, Stanford – A Grade
Tanner McKee should have been drafted a couple of rounds earlier than this, as he has a strong arm and some upside. The Eagles wanted to find a quarterback to develop as a No. 2. This is another great pick from Howie Roseman.
249. Moro Ojomo, DT, Texas – A- Grade
Moro Ojomo is a good prospect, but happens to be a tweener. I thought he would go earlier than this, as I had him in the fifth round, so this is solid value in the seventh round.
Season Summary:
The Eagles possessed the best roster in the NFL entering 2022. The only question was Jalen Hurts, who only needed to be average for Philadelphia to make a Super Bowl run. Instead, Hurts enjoyed an MVP-caliber season, allowing the Eagles to crush their competition leading up to the big game.
Offseason Moves:
Team Needs:
- Two Defensive Ends: Philadelphia has tons of talented players set to hit free agency, with many on the defense, so its team needs will be revolved around re-signing its talent. Two defensive ends are going into free agency: Brandon Graham and Robert Quinn. Signed Brandon Graham
- Two Defensive Tackles: Four defensive tackles will have their contracts expire: Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, Ndamukong Suh and Linval Joseph. Re-signed Fletcher Cox; signed Kentavius Street
- Two Linebackers: Add two linebackers set to enter free agency: T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White. Signed Nicholas Morrow
- Cornerback: The Eagles have just one cornerback hitting the road, but it’s an extremely talented one in James Bradberry. Re-signed James Bradberry; signed Greedy Williams
- Safety: Marcus Epps and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson are two more impending free agents. Signed Terrell Edmunds and Justin Evans
- Wide Receiver: The Eagles could be interested in finding a better third receiver than Quez Watkins, who made too many mistakes last year. Signed Olamide Zaccheaus
- Running Back: Miles Sanders’ contract is set to expire, so the Eagles will have to find a new running back if he leaves. Signed Rashaad Penny
- Guard: Isaac Seumalo is an impending free agent who will need to be re-signed or replaced.
- Backup Quarterback: Gardner Minshew is set to hit free agency, so the Eagles will need a new backup if he leaves. Signed Marcus Mariota
Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
2023 NFL Free Agent Signings:
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Rashaad Penny, RB, Seahawks. Age: 27. 
Signed with Eagles (1 year)
It’s a shame that Rashaad Penny broke his fibula after five games last year because he was off to a great start, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.
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Terrell Edmunds, S, Steelers. Age: 26.
Signed with Eagles
Terrell Edmunds had a rocky start to his career, but played well last year. He’s excellent in coverage, though he tends to miss some tackles.
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Marcus Mariota, QB, Falcons. Age: 29.
Signed with Eagles (1 year, $5 million)
Marcus Mariota did not perform well as Atlanta’s starter last year, but he shouldn’t have been starting in the first place. Mariota figures to be a premium backup in the NFL for the next five or so years.
- Justin Evans, S, Saints. Age: 26. — Signed with Eagles
- Olamide Zaccheaus, WR, Falcons. Age: 26. — Signed with Eagles
- Dan Arnold, TE, Jaguars. Age: 28. — Signed with Eagles
- Nicholas Morrow, LB, Bears. Age: 28. — Signed with Eagles
- Greedy Williams, CB, Browns. Age: 25. — Signed with Eagles
- Kentavius Street, DT, Saints. Age: 26. — Signed with Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles Free Agents:
Salary Cap: TBA.
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Jason Kelce, C, Eagles. Age: 35.
Re-signed with Eagles
Jason Kelce said he would retire after the season, which is a shame because he’s one of the best offensive linemen in the entire NFL.
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T.J. Edwards, LB, Eagles. Age: 27.
Signed with Bears (3 years)
T.J. Edwards’ transformation in recent years has been remarkable. Two seasons ago, he was seen as a big liability. He had a solid 2021 campaign, however, and then was viewed as just a capable starter. However, Edwards became one of the best linebackers in the NFL last year. He was stellar in both run support and coverage. Edwards is still in his mid-20s, so it’ll be interesting to see if he continues to improve his game.
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James Bradberry, CB, Eagles. Age: 30.
Re-signed with Eagles (3 years, $38 million)
James Bradberry had a down year with the Giants, yet he rebounded spectacularly with the Eagles in 2022. He was a true shutdown cornerback across from Darius Slay, another shutdown corner.
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Brandon Graham, DE, Eagles. Age: 35.
Re-signed with Eagles (1 year, $6 million)
Brandon Graham played just two games in 2021. He was sorely missed, yet he was able to return to the field this past year and dominate. The downside is that he’s turning 35 this offseason, so there could be regression coming soon.
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Fletcher Cox, DT, Eagles. Age: 32.
Re-signed with Eagles (1 year, $10 million)
Fletcher Cox has been one of the top defensive tackles in the NFL since he entered the NFL in 2012. However, he’s coming off a down year in which he was beaten up against the run.
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Isaac Seumalo, G, Eagles. Age: 29.
Signed with Steelers (3 years)
The Eagles have done a great job of developing Isaac Seumalo, who can now say that he’s a Pro Bowl-caliber guard.
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Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S/CB, Eagles. Age: 25.
Signed with Lions
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is a talented and very versatile player, fully capable of playing anywhere in the secondary.
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Miles Sanders, RB, Eagles. Age: 26.
Signed with Panthers (4 years, $25 million)
Miles Sanders is capable of going the distance whenever he touches the ball, though he didn’t offer the Eagles much as a receiver this past season.
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Robert Quinn, DE, Eagles. Age: 33.
The Eagles traded for Robert Quinn, but didn’t get much use out of him because of a knee injury. He’s still a very talented edge rusher, though he just turned 33.
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Javon Hargrave, DT, Eagles. Age: 30.
Signed with 49ers (4 years, $80 million)
Javon Hargrave was a dynamic interior pass rusher for the Eagles last year, though he was constantly beat up against the run.
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Andre Dillard, OT, Eagles. Age: 27.
Signed with Titans (3 years, $29 million)
Andre Dillard is a former first-round tackle who has performed well recently when given the chance to play. He didn’t get much of a chance in Philadelphia, however, because he’s been blocked by Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson.
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Kyzir White, LB, Eagles. Age: 27.
Signed with Cardinals (2 years, $11 million)
Kyzir White is a quality, Jack-of-all-trades linebacker with no weaknesses.
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Gardner Minshew, QB, Eagles. Age: 27.
Signed with Colts (1 year, $3.5 million)
Gardner Minshew is a premium backup who has proven that he can hold down the fort as a low-end starter in the NFL.
- Marcus Epps, S, Eagles. Age: 27. — Signed with Raiders
- Ndamukong Suh, DT, Eagles. Age: 36.
- Linval Joseph, DT, Eagles. Age: 34.
- Zach Pascal, WR, Eagles. Age: 28. — Signed with Cardinals
NFL Free Agent Tracker:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K/P | FA Grades | FA Rumors
2024 NFL Mock Draft - April 23
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NFL Picks - Feb. 12
