Ranking the Eagles’ 2024 position groups

Final yr’s collapse uncovered evident holes that the majority of us noticed in coaching camp at sure positional teams on the roster.

The Eagles’ go protection was abysmal, and it was straightforward to see coming with their substandard linebacker and security depth charts. They appeared positive at cornerback till James Bradberry’s manufacturing stage fell off a cliff and Avonte Maddox and Zech McPhearson each received harm, however total, you needed to put on a sweater because of all of the holes of their defensive roster.

This offseason, Howie Roseman addressed a few of these considerations, however departures in some areas that have been strengths final yr have created uncertainty. And with a number of place teams having some good ‘ol common roster battles, issues are a bit in flux.

Because the Eagles get able to have their first padded apply on Tuesday, right here’s my annual rating of their 10 positional teams.

1) RECEIVERS (WRs & TEs)

Final yr I had the receiving room at No. 4, however with a number of the teams that have been forward of them dealing with a bit extra uncertainty proper now, the Eagles’ assortment of vast receivers and tight ends makes this the strongest unit on the group, albeit a bit top-heavy.

There are two famous person vast receivers in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Barring harm, each will high 1,000 yards receiving, and each will doubtless end nicely over that quantity. It’s maybe one of the best wideout duo within the NFL, and definitely top-three. Parris Campbell, Johnny Wilson and Ainias Smith seem like competing for the slot receiver place vacated by Quez Watkins, Olamide Zaccheaus and Julio Jones (keep in mind him?). Roseman will doubtless be maintaining a tally of the waiver wire however, for now, that’s your wideout room.

Tight finish Dallas Goedert was underutilized final yr. He’s one of many 5 greatest receiving tight ends within the sport, however solely hauled in 42.3 yards per sport, his lowest whole since his sophomore season in 2019. Hopefully Kellen Moore will discover a solution to get him extra concerned within the passing assault this season. Once more, the Eagles are a bit top-heavy right here, with Grant Calcaterra and C.J. Uzomah the back-ups at this level.

The superstars get this unit on the high of the record, however depth is an enormous concern. I might love another actual go catcher on this group.

2) OFFENSIVE LINE

Final yr, the O-line was simply one of the best positional group on the group, however with future Corridor of Famer Jason Kelce now retired, issues are in flux. They nonetheless have Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata holding down the sort out spots, and that’s an excellent factor. Landon Dickerson is without doubt one of the greatest guards within the sport as nicely. There’s motive to imagine Cam Jurgens will do an excellent job changing Kelce at middle, nevertheless it’s not a assure. The appropriate guard job pits Tyler Steen and Mekhi Becton towards each other, with Matt Hennessy serving as a back-up at middle and both of the guard spots and rookie Trevor Keegan growing in there, too.

I nonetheless imagine Jeff Stoutland could make this new mixture of gamers work, however there’ll doubtless be some rising pains with Kelce gone. It additionally stays to be seen whether or not this group can do a greater job opening up holes within the run sport and, most significantly, do a greater job in blitz pickups.

3) QUARTERBACKS

I don’t love Kenny Pickett, however I do assume he’s the slightest of upgrades over Marcus Mariota. Tanner McKee is a brilliant fascinating prospect and, if Hurts have been to go down for an extended time period, I’d like to see extra of McKee.

That being stated, this group revolves round Jalen Hurts and, by all accounts from coaching camp, he appears excellent. He had a full low season to organize himself bodily this time round, and he appears rejuvenated by Moore’s offense, which is able to hopefully present him with simpler solutions because of some pre-snap movement and a tweaking of the general scheme.

When Hurts is enjoying his greatest, he’s a top-five QB. It’s that straightforward. That’s why this group is No. 2.

4) CORNERBACKS

Roseman did a lot work on this unit, and by the point the common season is over this may very well be one of the best positional group on the group.

Darius Slay continues to play glorious soccer. Free agent pickup Isaiah Rodgers appears actually good enjoying with the primary group, as does second-year man Kelee Ringo, who has been turning heads this summer time after seeing an increasing number of enjoying time on the finish of final yr. He was one of many few shiny spots on the protection in 2023.

First spherical decide Quinyon Mitchell is within the combine to begin as nicely, though it’s extra doubtless he begins the season as a back-up outdoors and slot nook, with Avonte Maddox returning to anchor down slot because the starter. Cooper DeJean might need had the within observe on that gig earlier than getting harm simply earlier than coaching camp, and whereas he’s not anticipated to overlook a number of time, he’s falling behind within the battle for that job. McPhearson continues to be round, too, though he could also be commerce bait sooner or later earlier than the commerce deadline.

There’s a lot extra expertise right here now than there was a yr in the past, and relying on how shortly the rookies Mitchell and DeJean develop, this might simply be one of the best positional group on the roster by the top of the season.

5) SAFETIES

Roseman screwed up final yr with security and he knew it. He thought one other C.J. Gardner-Johnson would fall out of the sky late in coaching camp, however as a substitute Justin Evans and Terrell Edmunds was one of the best he might do. It didn’t go nicely.

Roseman corrected that mistake in free company this time by bringing again CJGJ, solidifying one security spot. The Eagles desperately missed his brashness and playmaking potential. Whereas Blankenship didn’t grow to be a Pro Bowl security, he’s a serviceable starter who is aware of the place to be on the sphere more often than not and may make performs. Sydney Brown’s late season harm has him on the PUP record to begin coaching camp, however he seems to be a real starter within the NFL and needs to be again in time for the beginning of the season. Mekhi Garner, Tristin McCollum and Andre Sam are combating for spots on the roster as nicely.

For as soon as, Roseman gained’t be looking the waiver wire for safeties in early September.

6) RUNNING BACKS

D’Andre Swift began the season pink scorching final yr however cooled off because the weeks ticked by. Kenny Gainwell didn’t take a step ahead and Rashaad Penny made someone mad final yr and couldn’t see the sphere. Boston Scott was Boston Scott.

Roseman’s most stunning transfer of the low season was to signal Saquon Barkley to an enormous free agent contract, seemingly giving the group one thing they’ve by no means had below Nick Sirianni — a bell cow operating again who can catch the ball out of the backfield, too. By all accounts, Barkley has appeared excellent in coaching camp, and the hope is there are nonetheless one or two extra extremely productive and wholesome seasons from the previous Giants star.

Gainwell continues to be round and can nonetheless get round 5-7 carries a sport, most certainly, all of them in all probability contained in the 10-yard line simply to drive us all to drink. Rookie Will Shipley will get a shot because the third operating again, and it’s doable Roseman will add one other operating again to the combination as gamers get minimize. It’s a greater group than final yr with Barkley alone.

7) DEFENSIVE TACKLES

Everyone seems to be raving about Jalen Carter’s apply performances and that’s good. The previous first spherical decide may very well be within the dialog of Defensive Participant of the Yr if he meets his potential, and all indications are he’s on observe to just do that. He’s simply the group’s greatest defensive lineman, and he’s solely in his second yr. He wore down final season as he performed greater than he ever had earlier than, so one should hope he discovered from that and can be higher ready for the trials of a full 17-game, 18-week schedule.

Jordan Davis is an enigma on the line of defense. He has super athleticism for a person his dimension and needs to be one of many nice run-stuffers within the sport. Many analysts imagine there may be even an honest pass-rusher in there someplace, however we’ve got not seen Davis dominate the road of scrimmage like we thought we’d when he was drafted. If he does come to play this yr, the inside of the D-line can be among the many greatest in soccer, however that’s nonetheless up within the air.

Milton Williams may very well be one of many extra necessary gamers on the line of defense, with the flexibility to play each inside and outside. Search for him to proceed to be an honest utility knife for Fangio. Marlon Tuipulotu, P.J. Mustipher and Moro Ojomo will all battle for snaps this spring, too.

8) EDGE RUSHERS

Possibly I’m down an excessive amount of on this group with the departure of Haason Reddick, however I’m not bought on Bryce Huff as a real substitute. He signed an enormous cash take care of the Eagles to hurry the passer, however Vic Fangio’s latest feedback about his lack of ability to be a three-down lineman aren’t terribly encouraging. After Huff, the Eagles are counting on a bounce again season from Josh Sweat, who wore down in the course of the season with an elevated workload. That’s not nice information with Huff probably not on the sphere for most of the 1st and 2nd down snaps that Reddick would have obtained.

For this unit to take a step ahead, they want former first spherical decide Nolan Smith to get actual enjoying time and be productive. Jalyx Hunt has proven fascinating athleticism this spring, however isn’t anticipated to be a significant contributor, and the good Brandon Graham, again for one ultimate season, can be within the combine because the group’s No. 4 edge rusher.

A lot of this depends upon the flexibility of Huff and Smith to enhance. They definitely have the flexibility, however till they present it on the sphere, it’s exhausting to rank this grouping any greater.

9) LINEBACKERS

I’ll say this concerning the 2024 Eagles. For many of the roster, the ground is greater than it was final yr, even when the ceiling could also be a bit decrease. Whereas linebacker continues to be the weakest space of the Eagles, it’s in higher form than a yr in the past, when Myles Jack signed after which give up within the span of a pair weeks, Zach Cunningham arrived late in the summertime and earlier than Christian Elliss was traded away.

Nowhere is the positional drama extra acute that at linebacker, with three gamers — Nakobe Dean, Devin White and Zach Baun — seemingly combating one another for 2 beginning spots. White and Baun, signed as a free agent from New Orleans, seem to have the within observe early in camp, with rookie Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Oren Burks and Ben VanSumeren all within the combine for spots on the roster, too.

Truthfully, I actually like Baun. I feel he’s going to be a really nice shock at linebacker, and White’s athleticism is intriguing. Each have good dimension and respectable speech. This appears to be an improved group of gamers over final yr’s squad which was objectively the worst within the NFL.