We knew the Eagles wouldn’t be able to keep all their free agents. With a massive Jalen Hurts extension on the horizon, a lot of key contributors and fan favorites were going to have to hit the open market. Even with the likes of Javon Hargrave, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, T.J. Edwards, Isaac Seamulo, and several other key players leaving in free agency, the Eagles are still one of the best teams in the NFC.
The Eagles are returning the same offense as last season, but replacing Seamulo on the offensive line with second-round pick from 2022, Cam Jurgens, and replacing Miles Sanders with Rashaad Penny. Jurgens looked impressive in the 2022 preseason but obviously didn’t play much at all last year behind Jason Kelce. With Kelce coming back yet again for another run at a Super Bowl, Jurgens will now likely slide over to right guard. Penny was a former first-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks, and while he has shown serious potential, he has not been able to stay healthy throughout his career.
When healthy, Penny has averaged 6.2 yards per carry over the last two seasons. Now you add him behind one of the best offensive lines in football, with one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in Hurts, and it looks like Penny could be in for a major breakout season. The Eagles were also able to bring back Boston Scott on a one-year deal. The Eagles backfield now consists of Penny, Scott, and Kenny Gainwell, forming a very good running back by-committee group.
The Eagles should take a swing on Rashaad Penny in free agency.
He's battled injuries, but he's been a force when healthy.
1,095 rushing yards with 8 TDs over the last two seasons, good for 6.2 yards per carry.
pic.twitter.com/f2opgywNeq— Brenden Deeg (@BrendenDeeg_) March 9, 2023
The Eagles lost several key starters on defense, but being able to re-sign James Bradberry along with keeping Darius Slay were the two biggest moves of the off-season for the team. Slay is one of the most well-respected leaders on this team, and losing him would have been catastrophic to the locker room. Coming into free agency it looked like the Eagles had no shot at re-signing All-Pro corner Bradberry. Howie Roseman was somehow able to work his magic and brought back Bradberry to keep the best cornerback trio intact.
The losses at linebacker, defensive line, and safety are definitely going to hurt, but the Eagles have young players ready to take the next step at those positions. Nakobe Dean now slides into the starting inside linebacker position, after falling from a projected first-rounder all the way to the third round in the 2022 draft, he has his chance to prove every team wrong this season. Losing Hargrave is going to be hard on the defensive line, but keeping Fletcher Cox was a big move by Roseman. The Eagles will now look to Jordan Davis to take the next step and help fill the void by Hargrave.
The Eagles lost both starting safeties, but standout undrafted free agent Reed Blankenship is now in for a much bigger role. The Eagles will definitely look to continue to add to the safety room, but Blankenship will certainly be leaned on heavily more this season. The Eagles also added former Steelers safety Terrell Edmunds Friday, so he looks to be the starter opposite of Blankenship right now.
Reed Blankenship proved that he’s a starting caliber safety last season.
In 217 coverage snaps, “Ghost” allowed 8 receptions on 13 targets for 95 yards (33 YAC), 1 TD and 1 INT. 👻
Which was good for a passer rating of 77.4.
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson: 79.8
Marcus Epps: 145.3 pic.twitter.com/azbvTcCvS5
— DiBirds (@DiBirdsBlog) March 20, 2023
The Eagles also still have two first-round picks, one of which is in the top ten, to improve their roster. Even with all the departures from last season’s Super Bowl team, Roseman has done a great job reconstructing this team and they will once again be one of the top teams in the NFC.
As long as Hurts is under center, all Eagles fans should be confident.
Featured Image: Michael Reaves/Getty Images
