The Philadelphia Eagles have been a
prominent team in the NFL and have been around for almost a century. Ever since their arrival to the NFL in 1933
when the Eagles were founded by a group of men who had bought the Frankford
Yellow Jackets franchise and turned them into the eventual Philadelphia
Eagles. Before the first Super Bowl,
the NFL’s top game was called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game (1966-1969)
& the NFL Championship Game (1933-1965) before that. Philadelphia has had some great coaches
in the franchise’s history. In the 1940s under head coach Earl “Greasy” Neale (1941-1950), the Eagles found themselves as
a top team in the league, they had won two NFL Championships (1948-1949) as well
as six division titles.
From
their previous success in the 40’s it wasn’t until four decades later that they would reclaim their elite status again.
Dick Vermeil coached the Philadelphia Eagles (1976-1982) and brought
them to a super bowl in 1980 when they lost to the AFC’s Oakland Raiders 27-10
in Super Bowl XV. 2004 was the next time
Philly got to the pinnacle of the sport by winning the NFC Championship Game en route to their second Super Bowl appearance.
As I highlighted coach Andy Reid's career success in my article about
the Kansas City Chiefs, Andy did a lot for this organization as the Eagles head
coach, (1999-2012) although winning a Super Bowl wasn’t in the
cards. Doug Pederson was the next head coach
that accomplished winning an NFC Championship to bring these Eagles back to another
Super Bowl. This time the results would
be different as the Eagles ran into the likes of head coach Bill Belichick and
his New England Patriots for the second time in Belichick’s tenure for a
championship title. The Eagles upset future
Hall of Famer Tom Brady and the Pats while successfully converting on a
specially designed play “The Philly Special” in which backup quarterback Nick
Foles was on the receiving end of a fourth-and-goal touchdown. This touchdown was crucial for the Eagles as
they wound up winning Super Bowl LII in 2017.
As the 2024 season approaches, the Eagles
have made significant moves in both the NFL Draft and free agency to bolster
their roster. This article will shed some light on the current state of the Eagles, while also focusing on key offseason additions and their potential impact on the upcoming season. The Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman made several strategic picks in
the 2024 NFL Draft, aiming to address both immediate needs and future potential
on both sides of the ball. Some notable draft picks include:
PFF GRADES:
CB- Quinyon Mitchell — Philadelphia fortifies its 28th-ranked coverage unit with
arguably the most talented cornerback in this class. Mitchell led all FBS
cornerbacks in PFF overall grade in the past two seasons. His
outstanding athleticism and ability to make plays off-coverage make him a
perfect fit in Vic Fangio’s defense.
CB- Cooper DeJean — The Eagles add two top-10 players from the PFF board in the first two rounds of this draft, both
at the cornerback position. DeJean projects as a movable piece in Vic Fangio’s
defense who could theoretically end up outside, in the slot, or at safety. He’s
been extremely productive in the Iowa secondary, allowing just a 45.0 passer
rating into his coverage over the past two seasons.
EDGE- Jalyx Hunt — A small-school player, Hunt dominated the lower levels,
racking up 78 pressures, 14 hits, and 14 sacks since 2022. He has athleticism,
explosiveness, and power that many edge rushers in this class don’t possess. He
needs development to win at the next level, but his traits give him a great
chance at reaching his potential.
ILB- Jeremiah Trotter Jr. — Sure to be one of the biggest stories of the day, due to him
heading to the same place where his father enjoyed an outstanding career,
Trotter ranked fourth among all linebackers the past two seasons with a 91.3
overall grade. He also ranked fourth nationally in that time with a 92.1
coverage grade.
RB- Will Shipley — Shipley is one of the better athletes among running backs in
this draft class, with a 99th-percentile PFF Game Athleticism Score. He was also solid with the ball in his hands and earned a PFF grade above 70.0 in all the past three seasons. Shipley
is very talented and can account for a bunch of catches out of the backfield in addition to spelling Barkley as a true runner.
G- Trevor Keegan — Supplementing the interior is a sound approach for the
Eagles, who needed to fill some voids. Keegan didn’t allow a sack in 2023 and
earned a career-high pass-blocking grade (80.7). He played eight games without
allowing a single quarterback pressure. It’s both added depth for their
interior plus a sneaky good pick as Trevor had taken snaps at center in the Senior
Bowl, his versatility could prove as a highly valuable pick down the stretch without
Jason Kelce around. Has great size at
6-6, 320lbs
WR- Johnny Wilson — The massive receiver out of Florida State finally comes off the board in the sixth
round. At 6-foot-6 and 231 pounds, Wilson ran an impressive 4.52-second 40-yard
dash. While not a super-developed route runner, there is certainly a role at
the next level for a vertical threat who converted 21 contested catches over
the past two seasons. His size
alone will probably have him involved at times as a red zone threat or to
divert defense attention from number one wideout A.J. Brown.
Mastermind GM Howie
Roseman also had his Philadelphia Eagles plenty active in the free agency
market, making several high-profile signings to address some key areas:
RB- Saquon Barkley – Barkley
has been the cornerstone and best player on the New York Giants offense since being drafted back in the 2018 NFL Draft and will now be showing off his
incredible skills, as both a runner and pass catcher on another NFC East
team. This was a no-brainer by both parties as Philly now replaces last year's running back D’Andre Swift, while Barkley, who was raised in the Lehigh Valley, comes home to play in front of his family and friends.
LILBs- Zack Baun &
Oren Burks- Zack Baun has been brought
in to become one of their starting Inside Linebackers after Nakobe Dean, had somewhat struggled
last season. Oren Burks was brought in for
added depth and is penciled in behind rookie Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
RILB- Devin White- White
has always been productive as a sure-fire tackler with over 560 total tackles
in his first 5 years in the NFL. His presence
is always felt by quarterbacks across the league with 64 QB hits and 23 sacks in
his career thus far.
WLB- Bryce Huff- Bryce
Huff spent his first four years on the New York Jets where he was more of a
rotational piece only starting 7 games total and all 7 came in 2021. Still, Huff managed 10 sacks last season,17.5
total, 43 QB hits, and 65 total tackles.
SS- C.J. Gardner-Johnson-
C.J. is happy to be back in an Eagles jersey as he was signed
last year to a one-year deal in Detroit, but the Lions ended up starting rookie
sensation Brian Branch. Gardner-Johnson returns
for a second stint in Philly where he excelled in their defense while having his
best and most productive season back in 2022, when in 12 games he had 6 INTs,
67 total tackles, 61 solo, & 1 sack.
While the Eagles made
several key additions, they also saw some notable departures:
Philadelphia
parted ways with some high-profile names like Safety Kevin Byard and electric
running back D’Andre Swift. Ironically
enough they reunited as teammates, signing with the up-and-coming
Chicago Bears in a tough NFC North division.
The
Philadelphia Eagles enter the 2024 season with a revamped roster and high
expectations. The combination of strategic draft picks and impactful free
agency signings positions the team as a strong contender in the NFC East after
last year’s spiral down the stretch. With
division rival Dallas Cowboys not making much noise in the offseason the Eagles
seem primed to take the front seat in the East. Key factors to watch this season include:
Offensive
Synergy: Saquon Barkley's integration into the offense
alongside Jalen Hurts will be crucial. Barkley’s ability to
create both on the ground and as a pass catcher out of the backfield adds a new dimension to the
Eagles’ attack.
Defensive
Cohesion: The additions of Devin White and
C.J. Gardner-Johnson are expected to elevate the Eagles’ defense. Their
leadership and playmaking abilities will be vital in creating a cohesive and
formidable defensive unit.
Depth
and Versatility: The Eagles have focused on building
depth across all positions, ensuring that injuries or underperformance can be
mitigated. This depth will be tested throughout the grueling NFL season.
The
Philadelphia Eagles have made significant strides in the offseason to enhance
their roster and address key areas of need. With a blend of experienced
veterans and promising young talent, the team is well-positioned to compete at
a high level in the 2024 season. The success of their offseason moves will
ultimately be measured by their performance on the field, but the current state
of this team does suggest a promising future for the Eagles and their fans. Head coach Nick Sirianni led the Philadelphia
Eagles to Super Bowl LVII only to lose to the Kansas City Chiefs 38-35. However, if the reports in
the offseason are close to how Philadelphia’s Owner Jeffrey Lurie feels, then
head coach Nick Sirianni could be on the hot seat this season if the Eagles find
themselves off to a less-than-great start.
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