The Eagles Not Being Considered the Clear Favorites in the NFC Because of the 49ers is Ridiculous
It is still only April, so perhaps a grain of salt should be applied here.
Still, as we approach the 2023 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers are widely considered the co-favorites to win the NFC this upcoming season (both teams have +350 odds on both DraftKings and FanDuel).
The 49ers have a very good roster and, of course, were in the NFC Championship less than three months ago, so I understand the optimism.
The blunt truth, however, is that the Eagles should be considered the favorites in the NFC right now by a wide margin. Let’s break down why.
The Eagles Losses in Free Agency are Getting Overblown
Everyone and their mothers knew that the Eagles were going to lose a lot of good players in free agency. They had so many impactful players hitting the open market and not a ton of money to work with while also needing to be cognizant of Jalen Hurts’ upcoming contract extension. Howie Roseman was prepared for this reality and managed actually to retain more players than most had expected. James Bradberry, Darius Slay, Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, and Jason Kelce are all sticking around, which is something I would not have predicted a month ago.
The only significant player, the Eagles, lost at a position that they prioritize was Javon Hargrave, who ironically signed a massive deal with the 49ers. Hargrave is an awesome player, but the 4 years, $84 million contract he received as a 30-year-old who does not really make an impact in run defense was way too lucrative for my liking. Say what you want about the C.J. Gardner-Johnson debacle, but he and his agency completely misplayed free agency, and it is their own fault that CGJ is not currently on a long-term deal with a contender right now. Outside of those two (and I suppose you could argue Isaac Seumalo as well), the players the Eagles lost were either at positions they have never invested significant resources in, or they were just not super impactful players in the first place. The Eagles also added several players on cheap one-year deals at the aforementioned lesser-valued positions, including one with a huge ceiling in Rashaad Penny, and their 2022 draft class consists of logical replacements for their departed free agents (Jordan Davis-Javon Hargrave, Cam Jurgens-Isaac Seumalo, Nakobe Dean-T.J. Edwards/Kyzir White). Given the limited resources he had to work with, I think Roseman handled free agency about as well as anyone could have reasonably expected.
Additionally, it is not as if the 49ers went completely unscathed in free agency, as they lost their starting right tackle, slot corner, one of their starting linebackers, two rotational pass-rushers, and a kicker who had never missed in the playoffs in his 18-year career. Did the Eagles’ roster really drop off so much more than the 49ers? I honestly don’t think so.
Draft Capital
The Eagles are scheduled to make four picks (#10, #30, #62, #94) in the 2023 Draft before the 49ers make their first pick (#99). They are in a much better position to fill their roster holes heading into training camp, comparatively speaking.
Who is the 49ers’ Quarterback?
The quarterback of the Eagles is Jalen Hurts, who is 24 years old and might have won MVP if he did not get injured late in the season. I think they are doing alright there. Compare that situation to the 49ers. Rookie Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy became the media’s golden boy (to a ridiculous extent) after starting his career 7-0 by holding his own in a very favorable situation. He tore his elbow in the NFC Championship because Haason Reddick was getting blocked by a tight end, and now his status for the start of next season is unclear. Behind him is 2021 third overall pick Trey Lance, someone I would love to see actually gets a real chance to show himself but, for the moment, is still an unknown who appears to be in Kyle Shanahan’s dog house, and Sam Darnold. This quarterback discrepancy already reared its ugly head in the NFC Championship Game, to the point where 49ers players spent the offseason whining about how they did not get a fair chance to win because of Brock Purdy’s injury, as if it somehow caused their top-ranked defense to get gashed for 31 points.
In fact, forget the 49ers. Who is even the second-best quarterback in the NFC (assuming Aaron Rodgers gets traded)? Dak Prescott? Jared Goff? Geno Smith? The Eagles have a still-loaded roster with by far the best quarterback in the conference. After winning the conference painlessly last year, the fact that anyone is being lumped in with them right now is nonsensical.
Featured Image: Sporting News
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