The Eagles with rookie Carson Wentz started off strong last year before falling apart for the last half of the season. The priority of the off season was to get new weapons for Carson Wentz and the front office delivered brining in Alshon Jeffery, Legarrette Blount and Torrey Smith. In a division where the Giants and Cowboys are the favourites, it will be hard for the Eagles to win the division but they might compete for a wild card birth.
Arrivals/Departures:
Arrivals: Legarrette Blount, Nick Foles, Alshon Jeffery, Timmy Jernigan, Chris Long, Matt McGloin, Patrick Robinson, Torrey Smith, Chance Warmack
Departures: Kenjon Barner, Connor Barwin, Bryan Braman, Nolan Carroll, Chase Daniel, Bennie Logan, Leodis McKelvin
Offence:
Last year's number-two overall pick, Carson Wentz, had a successful rookie season meaning he will have greater expectations ahead and will need to deliver. To help Wentz, the Eagles got him a true number-one running back in power runner Legarrette Blount who led all running backs with 18 touchdowns on the ground. The Eagles have good running back depth too as Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles are good too as well as Wendell Smallwood. Wentz also has a new core of receivers to work alongside with Alshon Jeffery being the biggest addition as he tries to get his career back on track after a couple off years with the Bears. Torrey Smith will also look to take his game back to the level it reached during the Ravens' run to the Super Bowl after some down years with the 49ers. Jordan Matthews will be the other starter while disappointment Nelson Agholor may get one more chance in an Eagles uniform. Zach Ertz will be the starter while Brent Celek will back him up at the tight end position. Jason Peters and Lane Johnson may combine to make the best tackle duo in the NFL but if Johnson gets one more suspension it will be over a year before he plays again. The rest of the line consists of Jason Kelce at center with Brandon Brooks and Allen Barbre at guard.
Defence:
Brandon Graham broke out last season leading all players in quarterback pressures as he could not be stropped by any offensive line. Super Bowl champion Chris Long comes over from New England to start opposite of Graham with first-round pick Derek Barnett and Vinny Curry getting regularly into the rotation too. Fletcher Cox is the Eagles' best player coming off another solid season where he clogged running lanes and got to the quarterback. The Eagles traded for Timmy Jernigan from the Ravens to start alongside Cox with Beau Allen backing them up. Jordan Hicks leads the linebackers coming off his best season in the NFL with Nigel Bradham and Mychal Kendricks alongside him. The cornerback situation is bad in Philly as they don't have legitimate starting cornerbacks in Patrick Robinson, Jalen Mills and Dwayne Gratz. If Sidney Jones recovers from his injury, he could explode onto the scene as a rookie falling in the draft because of the leg injury. Malcolm Jenkins is the star of the secondary delivering huge hits and forcing turnovers on a regular basis. Rodney McLeod will be the other starting safety playing with Jenkins.
Special Teams:
Caleb Sturgis and Donnie Jones both return to keep an average special teams unit intact which does not help or hold the Eagles back. Darren Sproles is still there as one of the best punt returners ever while Paul Turner and Nelson Agholor compete to return kickoffs.
Starters:
Offence
|
Defence
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Alshon Jeffery
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Chris Long
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Torrey Smith
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Fletcher Cox
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Jordan Matthews
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Timmy Jernigan
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Jason Peters
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Brandon Graham
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Allen Barbre
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Nigel Bradham
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Jason Kelce
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Jordan Hicks
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Brandon Books
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Mychal Kendricks
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Lane Johnson
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Jalen Mills
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Zach Ertz
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Rodney McLeod
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Carson Wentz
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Malcolm Jenkins
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Legarrette Blount
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Patrick Robinson
|
14. Derek Barnett
43. Sidney Jones
99. Rasul Douglas
118. Mack Hollins
132. Donnel Pumphrey
166. Shelton Gibson
184. Nate Gerry
214. Elijah Qualls
Top 10 Players:
10. Jordan Hicks
9. Zach Ertz
8. Legarrette Blount
7. Carson Wentz
6. Alshon Jeffery
5. Lane Johnson
4. Malcolm Jenkins
3. Jason Peters
2. Brandon Graham
1. Fletcher Cox
Season Prediction: 6-10 (3rd in NFC East)
Last Year: 7-9
Photo credit for Alshon Jeffery goes to http://www.chicagobears.com/. Carson Wentz goes to https://www.si.com/. Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox goes to http://philadelphiaeagles.com/.
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