Major Red Flags of the Philadelphia Eagles Offseason
It’s only been a few days, but the Philadelphia Eagles offseason is already grating on my nerves. The window of opportunity for Super Bowl contention could already be closing. Every decision could turn this from a refurbishing to a complete rebuild with a new Eagles head coach. Here are some things that concern me.
Don’t let the players hire coaches.
Forgive me, but I don’t want to hear now how the veterans “support” Nick Sirianni. I understand their desire to do the right thing by a man under fire. However, when they had a chance to truly support him, they were silent.
This team went off the rails for a month and a half, and the veteran voices were hardly dynamic. What they didn’t do was rally the other players to follow and correct the tail spin. I’m sure that his players also enjoy not being worked as hard during the offseason and training camp compared to other franchises. That strategy certainly didn’t pay off in 2023.
The Jalen Hurts-Brian Johnson Partnership
See Above! Brian Johnson made a poor first impression as the Eagles offensive coordinator, and his long term relationship with Jalen Hurts let him ascend to the role. If you part ways with Johnson, will that cause a rift with Hurts that makes him even more morose on the sidelines?
Players being able to dictate their leadership is dangerous. When players asserts their will, coaches will obviously feel a certain way about who got them that job. Who has the power exactly? You know the answer.
I don’t trust a “Sirianni Plan” to fix things.
Nick has been asked to regroup and come up with a plan to determine how to move forward, according to reports. That was how the Eagles asked Doug Pederson to proceed, but his plan led to his firing. Why should we expect that Nick has a plan after he had no answers while this talented roster was crashing and burning this year?
Nick Sirianni will meet with owner Jeffrey Lurie and will be expected to have a plan for how he is going to improve the Eagles. This will include a pitch on potential new coordinators and assistant coaches, per sources. This is why coaches around the league have been contacted.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 18, 2024
Who exactly lost the locker room?
Beat reporters and national media referenced issues in the locker room and a potential disconnect going on during the slide. If the veteran leaders are now publicly supporting Nick Sirianni, who was creating the drama? Did they have an issue with the coordinators? Could it have been an issue with their quarterback or a wide receiver with a big personality?
Time is ticking.
If the Eagles are going to make significant leadership changes with a new head coach or assistant coaches, it better come soon. We learned last year that the waiting game left them with picking through the coaching leftovers on defense.
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Philadelphia Eagles 2024 Offseason Stay Or Go: Offense
Jalen Hurts
Hurts didn’t have an excellent season in 2023. His agility and explosiveness as a runner didn’t help the offense like it did in 2022, and he carelessly turned the ball over at a rate well above his career average. However, there’s no chance the Eagles look to make a change at starting quarterback this offseason.
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Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty ImagesMarcus Mariota
Hurts stayed relatively healthy, and the Eagles didn’t play in many blowout games that gave Mariota a chance to take snaps. There is not enough of a sample size with the Eagles to judge the performance of the former Heisman Trophy winner in regular-season action.
While the Eagles have a preference for backups with starting experience, they could bring in a free agent upgrade even if they aren’t comfortable with Tanner McKee on the second team.
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Photo by Al Bello/Getty ImagesTanner McKee
McKee was never expected to make an immediate impact. He performed well during the preseason, and the organization will hang onto him as their second or third quarterback in 2024.
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Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesD'Andre Swift
The Eagles don’t typically value running backs as a top priority. Allowing Miles Sanders to leave in free agency and acquiring Swift for a minimal trade package demonstrated those feelings.
Swift carried the ball 229 times in 2023, shattering his previous career-high of 151. A running back coming off a 1000-yard season will command more money in free agency than the Eagles will offer.
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Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty ImagesKenny Gainwell
Nick Sirianni values Kenny Gainwell highly, for better or for worse. Even if the head coach doesn’t return, Gainwell is a serviceable back on an affordable rookie contract.
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Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesBoston Scott
The Giants bit was fun while it lasted. The Boston Scott era might’ve finally run its course after the 5-foot-6 back only had 24 offensive touches on the season.
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Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty ImagesRashaad Penny
Penny never found a role with the Eagles. It’s surprising that they kept him on the roster the entire season. He was a liability as a pass blocker, and he shouldn’t return in 2024.
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Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesA.J. Brown
A.J. Brown proved himself as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL with a torrid stretch during the middle of the 2023 season. His production dipped down the stretch, but there’s no reason to think he won’t return next season.
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Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesDeVonta Smith
The Eagles will have to consider signing DeVonta Smith to a contract extension during the offseason. He is a core piece of their future.
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Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty ImagesQuez Watkins
The Eagles probably could’ve used an upgrade over Quez Watkins after his disappointing performance in Super Bowl LVII. Another underwhelming effort that included a noticeably decreased role late in the season should end his Eagles career as he enters free agency.
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Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty ImagesJulio Jones
Signing one of the best wide receivers in the history of the game didn’t seem like a bad idea. However, Julio Jones doesn’t have a long-term role with the Eagles.
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Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesOlamide Zaccheaus
The St. Joe’s Prep storyline sounded interesting at the beginning of 2023, but national announcers pounded it into the ground throughout the season. Zaccheaus took advantage of the opportunities he got on a one-year deal, but the Eagles never gave him enough of a role to justify signing the impending free agent to another contract.
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Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty ImagesBritain Covey
Although he doesn’t play a significant role on offense, Covey offers enough value on special teams to keep a roster spot. He finished first in the NFL in punt return yards and second in punt return average in 2023.
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Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty ImagesDallas Goedert
Goedert didn’t play as big of a role in the offense this season as he might’ve hoped. However, he’ll return as a key piece of the attack in 2024.
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Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesJack Stoll
The Eagles trust Jack Stoll as a blocker. They’ve had chances to add a better receiving tight end behind Goedert, but they haven’t made it a priority. Until they prove differently, it’s hard to see them moving on from Stoll.
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Photo by Rob Carr/Getty ImagesGrant Calcaterra
Calcaterra didn’t make significant progress after a strong rookie season in 2022. Without obvious competition behind Goedert, he’ll most likely return in a depth role next season.
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Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesAlbert Okwuegbunam
Okwuegbunam never justified a preseason trade attempting to find better depth behind Goedert. We don’t have a picture of him in an Eagles uniform, and that tells you what you need to know.
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Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty ImagesJason Kelce
It’s finally time for Jason Kelce to hang up the cleats. The Super Bowl LVII loss had a lot to do with his decision to return in 2023, but the Eagles snuck one more All-Pro season out of their future Hall of Fame center.
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Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty ImagesLane Johnson
Lane Johnson is under contract through 2026. The Eagles will likely prioritize finding his replacement at the top of the 2024 NFL Draft.
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Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty ImagesJordan Mailata
Mailata will return as the left tackle in 2024. He’s become a long-term building block thanks to his development at Jeff Stoutland University.
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Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesLandon Dickerson
Dickerson has exceeded expectations in three seasons with the Eagles by establishing himself as one of the best guards in the NFL. The Eagles will have to explore a contract extension for the 25-year-old.
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Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesCam Jurgens
Jurgens transitioned to a new position in 2023. He’ll likely slide to center after Kelce’s retirement.
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Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesSua Opeta
The Eagles kept Opeta as a backup on a one-year deal in 2024. They’re more likely to trust recent draft pick Tyler Steen as their primary backups on the interior of the offensive line moving forward. Don’t kick him out the door just yet, but he’s probably more likely to leave than to stay.
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Photo by Rob Carr/Getty ImagesTyler Steen
Steen adjusted to a new position as a guard for his only career NFL start. The Eagles will bring him back as a depth option in development.
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Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty ImagesJack Driscoll
If the Eagles draft an offensive tackle, they probably expect the rookie to play a role as their third tackle in 2024. Driscoll struggled against the Jets when Lane Johnson left the game with an injury, and his rookie contract has now expired. He could be a casualty of Howie Roseman’s attempt to reshape the future of the offensive line.
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Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty ImagesFred Johnson
The Eagles prioritize depth on the offensive line, and they’re confident in their ability to develop young players. A journeyman like Fred Johnson probably won’t return in 2024.
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Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
