Top Eagles storylines heading into 2023 OTAs
The Eagles on Tuesday begin their Organized Team Activities, the next step toward a 2023 season after losing the Super Bowl in February.
While OTAs begin this week, the Eagles offseason program began back on April 24. The NFL offseason is broken into phases as dictated by the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and NFLPA. The beginning of OTAs marks the start of Phase 3 for the Eagles.
This year, the Eagles again have just six OTA sessions: May 30, June 1-2, June 5-6, June 8.
Here are some key storylines this spring:
Take it easy again
The Eagles under Nick Sirianni are all about keeping their players safe and that wont change this offseason. The Eagles have just six OTA practices, while the maximum in the CBA is 10. No live contact is permitted during OTA practices but teams can hold 7-on-7s, 9-on-7s and 11-on-11s during this window. So theyll get in some good work but dont expect it to really look like football.
In addition to cutting the OTAs short, the Eagles are also just one of two teams (along with the Bengals) to not have a mandatory minicamp. This is the second straight year just the Eagles and Bengals have punted on the mandatory camp. That means that their entire spring workout schedule is technically voluntary, although the Eagles are expected to have strong attendance these days.
The Eagles have operated like this under Sirianni since he took over in 2021 and that certainly wont change now. Not after the Eagles played a Super Bowl with all 22 opening day starters healthy. While some of that comes down to luck, its hard to argue with results.
An eye on the depth chart
Well have plenty of observations from the couple of practices Eagles reporters will be in attendance but many of them honestly wont be super important. What might matter is our first look at the depth chart on the field. Because it at least gives us an idea of where things are starting.
Most of the positions on this team are solidified but there are a few questions marks worth watching:
1. Right guard: Expect second-year OL Cam Jurgens to get the first crack at this position but the Eagles did draft Tyler Steen out of Alabama early in the third round, so hell get some worth there this summer too. Its a competition but the Eagles will probably give Jurgens every opportunity to win the gig.
2. Safety: It seems likely that some combination of Terrell Edmunds, Reed Blankenship and Sydney Brown will start. Thats after both safeties from the 2022 season moved on in free agency.
3. Running back: The Eagles let Miles Sanders walk in free agency and have a group that now includes Kenny Gainwell, Rashaad Penny, DAndre Swift and Boston Scott. The breakdown of reps and touches is something well watch all summer.
4. WR3: Quez Watkins returns for another season but after struggling in 2022, its fair to wonder how much hell be pushed by free agent pickup Olamide Zaccheaus, who has had success as a slot receiver in the NFL.
5. Linebacker: Yeah, itll probably be Nakobe Dean and Nicholas Morrow but is that good enough?
The new defense
We wont get carried away with spring practice observations but the Eagles do have two new coordinators in 2023. We wont see much change on offense with the promotion of Brian Johnson to OC. But on defense, the Eagles hired Sean Desai. We have an idea of what hes going to run but this will be our first glimpse at his defense on the field.
Seeing the new guys
The Eagles brought back a good chunk of their Super Bowl roster from 2022 but there are some new faces, including two first-round picks in Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith. Also a few new skill players in Swift, Penny and Zaccheaus.
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