The 2023 season has just ended, and on March 13, the 2024 campaign will open its doors. DNA of Sports therefore takes this opportunity to offer you an overview of the different franchises during the offseason. Which players to keep and cut? Which free agents to extend? Which recruits to observe? Here are some ideas, franchise by franchise. In the spotlight today, the Philadelphia Eagles. You will find the files for each team on this page.
There is going to be work to do during this 2024 offseason for Howie Roseman. In Philadelphia, it feels like we've experienced two seasons in one. First, convincing matches – sometimes won down to the wire, of course – but with systematic victories as a result. And then, after successively beating the Chiefs and the Bills for a 10-1 record (the best in the league at that time), everything fell apart.
Without really understanding why, the Eagles start losing. And not just a little. It's simple, from this stage, Nick Sirianni's men lost in five of the last six matches of the regular season.
And in the playoffs? Not even a little burst of pride. Philly collapsed for good in the first round against the Buccaneers in control. 32-9 at the end of the match. It hurts. And a long questioning is necessary.
The first changes are coming quickly with a greatly renewed coaching staff before the end of January. Among other things, two new coordinators for attack and defense. But is this the only solution? Philadelphia also suffers from an aging group, mainly on defense, with a good number of veterans who are reaching the end of their contracts (or careers). Choices must be made, and they will be far from obvious to get this team back on track and hope to reach the holy grail again.
The captains
- Jalen Hurts (QB)
- Lane Johnson (OL)
- J. Brown (WR)
Much criticized at the end of the season, Jalen Hurts remains one of the leaders of this team. Like everyone else, he had two seasons in one and was particularly helpless in the last few games. In his first ten, he always threw at least one touchdown. Over the last seven, he experienced a slump with four games without a single pass found in the goal. On the other hand, Hurts remains valuable in his mobility. In 2023, he recorded 605 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground. With his long-term contract signed last year, the young quarterback will have to raise his head and prove that he deserves his place.
Lane Johnson is still one of the pillars of the Eagles offensive line, alongside Jason Kelce and Landon Dickerson. It remains one of the team's greatest strengths in 2023. The 33-year-old tackle, as a worthy representative, was again very solid with only three sacks conceded and 4 small penalties out of a total of 981 snaps played.
AJ Brown, for his part, established himself again this year as a leading receiver and indisputable number one in Philly. Despite this disastrous end to the season and an injury, the 26-year-old receiver emerged with a very good record of 106 receptions for 1,456 yards and 7 touchdowns.
The undesirables
- James Bradberry (CB)
- Shaquille Leonard (ILB)
- Julio Jones (WR)
When we talk about the explosion in mid-flight of the eagles, we are mainly referring to defense. She was a shadow of her former self from December onwards and had already shown signs of weakness earlier in the season. James Bradberry and Shaquille Leonard are not necessarily primarily responsible. But they did not live up to the expectations placed on them this season.
Bradberry in particular who is starting to show signs of decline at the age of 30. Renewed last year, the cornerback did not have a horrible season but was often late in his coverages. Cutting him could be an interesting possibility to renew a squad that is losing momentum. But be careful, this decision could lose money in the Eagles' salary cap.
Finally, Julio Jones has never really been able to express himself since his arrival during the season in Philly. The All-Pro receiver has 35 years on the clock and has failed to fill this role of third receiver sought after with his signature.
The summer man
Vic Fangio, defensive coordinator
Big job ahead for Vic Fangio. Philadelphia's new defensive coordinator has just left the same position with the Dolphins by mutual agreement. As a respected strategist, major blows will weigh on his shoulders. He will have to restart a feared defense in 2022 but which was not up to par last season. It is also this bitter failure which cost Sean Desai, his predecessor, his place.
The task will be all the more difficult as many players on this defense are veterans and are reaching the end of their contracts. Should we make a clean slate of the past and start afresh with a younger group? Or on the contrary keep the leaders for a potential last dance? These are questions that we will have to ask ourselves.
At 65 years old Vic Fangio in any case has a CV as long as his arm to testify to his competence. The year 2023 for Miami was not sensational: the defensive squad finished the season in 10th place in the league in terms of yards allowed. But the Dolphins were only 22nd in points conceded. They still managed 56 sacks, the third highest total in the league.
In the end, Fangio's prowess in Denver, Chicago or San Francisco speaks for him. And by taking charge of a defense that finished in 30th place in points conceded, and 27th in yards allowed, he can only do better.
The main free agents
- Jason Kelce (OL)
- Fletcher Cox (DT)
- Brandon Graham (DE)
- Marcus Mariota (QB)
- De'Andre Swift (RB)
Others : Boston Scott (RB), Zach Cunningham (ILB), Justin Evans (S), Shaquille Leonard (ILB), Iosua Opeta (G), Rashaad Penny (RB), Olamide Zaccheaus (WR), Nicholas Morrow (OLB), Braden Mann (P), Jack Driscoll (G), Shaun Bradley (LB), Quez Watkins (WR) and Jack Stoll (TE).
In the ranking of teams with the most margin before reaching the salary cap, Philly comes in 17th position with $28,036,979 available. It leaves a little wiggle room but it's not great either. In addition, many executives are reaching the end of their contracts, including some veterans at the end of their careers, such as Jason Kelce who is expected to retire. Fletcher Cox could follow the same path.
It's more or less the same thing for Brandon Graham. The defensive lineman is definitely one of the leaders of the defense. At 35 years old, however, his level of production has fallen compared to last year. He has 3 small sacks in 2023 compared to 11 in 2022. His future remains uncertain.
The loss of De'Andre Swift could also damage the Eagles' running game. His 229 carries and 1049 yards for 5 touchdowns did good. But we will have to align the dollars to keep it. And paying a running back has become a luxury in the NFL.
The top 5 needs
- Cornerback
- Offensive line
- Safety
- Linebacker
- Recipient
In the draft or among free agents, we will have to find a lasting solution at the cornerback position. Darius Slay is 33 years old, James Bradberry is 30. The two players are not eternal and they will soon have to give way, especially since Bradberry has shown signs of decline this season. Among the young players recruited in this section, no one has really emerged.
The offensive line, although Philadelphia's strong point, is rising high in this ranking due to the departure (not yet official) of Jason Kelce. Howie Roseman will have to find a worthy successor to his All-Pro center to allow the Eagles to dominate in this section, and abuse the much-maligned tush push.
Safety and linebacker are also positions of great need for the Eagles. Reed Blakenship held the house this season in the back of the field but he remained very alone. He showed enough to deserve a top spot at the position. But who to accompany him? Sydney Brown has shown promise but still needs to prove and Kevin Byard has remained disappointing. New blood seems essential.
On the linebacker side, we will have to make choices because Haason Reddick's contract weighs on the payroll. The situation is delicate. At 30 years old, the Eagles' star linebacker has seen declining production in 2023 and is nearing the end of his contract. The Bradberry experience may have made Howie Roseman doubt a potential extension for the player since Reddick was informed that he could look for a new team.
Finally, receivers may not be the priority but there is the Devonta Smith issue to address. The 2020 Heisman is eligible for a contract extension starting this year. A solid second target for Jalen Hurts, Smith would be an interesting bet for the future. On the other hand, in this squad, we lack a third quality target. The Julio Jones experiment did not bear fruit and we will have to find other answers.
Target
L'jarius Sneed (CB, Chiefs)
Everything will depend on the management of the Chiefs. But if the defending champions choose not to retain L'jarius Sneed, he will be one of the prime targets in free agency to relieve the pass defense, one of the black spots of Philly's defense in 2023 .
Affording his services may seem like a luxury for the Eagles who will have a lot of choices to make with the potential departure of several executives. But Sneed would also be a long-term security to complete the squad and replace Darius Slay and James Bradberry in the medium term. In any case, it is obvious that Howie Roseman will have to seriously consider this position during this offseason if he hopes to see the formidable defense of the Pennsylvania franchise again in 2024.
New blood
Laiatu Latu (Edge, UCLA)
If we have to say goodbye to Haason Reddick this year, the choice of Laiatu Latu would be a good option for the Eagles. The UCLA Edge could have a direct impact with his power and physicality to support Josh Sweat and Nolan Smith in putting pressure on the quarterbacks.
With the 22th choice of this 2024 draft, the Eagles will be forced to take what is left. Without a doubt, defense will be the priority in their first round. In the absence of Laiatu Latu when choosing, choosing a cornerback or a safety would also be a solid option.
Other picks: Cooper DeJean (CB, Iowa), Kool-Aid McKinstry (CB, Alabama), Nate Wiggins (CB, Clemson)
