Roster Changes

 

Key additions

QB Cody Kessler, RB Jordan Howard, WR DeSean Jackson, DE Vinny Curry, DT Malik Jackson, DT Hassan Ridgeway, LB Zach Brown, LB L.J. Fort, S Andrew Sendejo

 

Key losses

QB Nick Foles, RB Jay Ajayi, RB Darren Sproles, WR Golden Tate, WR Jordan Matthews, WR Mike Wallace, G Chance Warmack, DT Haloti Ngata, LB Jordan Hicks, S Corey Graham, S Chris Maragos

 

2019 draft class

OT Andre Dillard (1.22), RB Miles Sanders (2.53), WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (2.57), DE Shareef Miller (4.138), QB Clayton Thorson (5.167)

 

Projected Starters

 

Offense

QB: Carson Wentz
RB: Jordan Howard
WR: Alshon Jeffery
WR: Nelson Agholor
WR: DeSean Jackson
TE: Zach Ertz
LT: Jason Peters
LG: Isaac Seumalo
C: Jason Kelce
RG: Brandon Brooks
RT: Lane Johnson

 

Defense

DE: Brandon Graham
DT: Fletcher Cox
DT: Malik Jackson
DE: Derek Barnett
OLB: Nigel Bradham
MLB: Zach Brown
CB: Ronald Darby
CB: Jalen Mills
CB: Sidney Jones
S: Rodney McLeod
S: Malcolm Jenkins

 

Team Outlook

 

Notable depth

QB Nate Sudfeld, QB Cody Kessler, RB Miles Sanders, RB Corey Clement, WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, TE Dallas Goedert, TE Richard Rodgers, OT Andre Dillard, G Stefen Wisniewski, OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai, DE Vinny Curry, DE Chris Long, DE Josh Sweat, DE Shareef Miller, DT Tim Jernigan, DT Hassan Ridgeway, DT Treyvon Hester, LB Kamu Grugier-Hill, LB L.J. Fort, LB Nathan Gerry, LB Paul Worrilow, CB Rasul Douglas, CB Avonte Maddox, S Andrew Sendejo

 

Biggest strength: Tight end

Philadelphia has plenty of strengths on the roster, but Zach Ertz is one of the best tight ends in the league, and Dallas Goedert should only get better in his second season. Carson Wentz probably needs to spread the ball out a little more instead of locking onto Ertz, so I could see Doug Pederson making it a point to get Goedert more involved by running plenty of 12 personnel.

 

Biggest weakness: Cornerback

The Birds aren’t lacking for bodies at cornerback, but they remain young and unproven, getting a huge boost from Philly’s pass rush over the past couple years. While general manager Howie Roseman didn’t feel the position needed to be addressed through free agency, trade, or the draft, the defense needs to find a way to cover Amari Cooper in the division and other top receivers throughout the conference (like Michael Thomas and Julio Jones) in January.

 

Position battle to watch: Left tackle

Will there be a position battle between future Hall of Fame left tackle Jason Peters and first-round pick Andre Dillard? Perhaps not, but it would be a little surprising if Philadelphia’s first-rounder didn’t see the field in a pivotal season for the franchise after choosing Wentz over former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles. I think it’s possible the team tries to convince Peters to kick inside to guard, but “The Bodyguard” might not be open to it.

 

One more thought

Philadelphia continues to have a strong roster, but team chemistry and red-hot quarterback play is what won them Super Bowl LII. There are already some discouraging signs this offseason—namely the Carson Wentz story (which though written as an agenda-driven gossip piece, likely had some truth to it based on Wentz’s reaction) and Malcolm Jenkins not reporting to OTAs—so Doug Pederson needs to keep his guys together if they want to reach the postseason for the third consecutive year.

 

Early over/under: 9.5 wins (via CBS Sports)

Under. The schedule looks to set up rather favorably for the Eagles, but an improved division has me going with the under; remember, the team was 6-7 last season before Nick Foles took over for an injured Carson Wentz, and they won’t have that ace in the hole in 2019. While I expect Philly to potentially sneak into the playoffs again, it might be at 9-7 for the second season in a row.