The Eagles started 10-1 last year before going 1-7 down the stretch (including a playoff loss), which resulted in major changes around Nick Sirianni. If you like the analysis here, consider signing up for our free newsletter to get can’t-miss NFL news and insights straight to your inbox every week.
- 2023 finish: 11-6 (second in NFC East); lost to TB in WC Round
- Over/under: 10.5 wins
Notable additions
QB Kenny Pickett, RB Saquon Barkley, WR Parris Campbell, WR John Ross, TE C.J. Uzomah, OL Mekhi Becton, G Matt Hennessy, C Nick Gates, OLB Bryce Huff, ILB Devin White, ILB Zack Baun, ILB Oren Burks, S C.J. Gardner-Johnson, OC Kellen Moore, DC Vic Fangio
Notable losses
QB Marcus Mariota, RB D’Andre Swift, RB Boston Scott, RB Rashaad Penny, WR Julio Jones, WR Olamide Zaccheaus, WR Quez Watkins, TE Jack Stoll, OL Jack Driscoll, G Sua Opeta, OLB Haason Reddick, LB Shaquille Leonard, LB Nicholas Morrow, LB Shaun Bradley, LB Zach Cunningham, CB Bradley Roby, S Kevin Byard, S Justin Evans, OC Brian Johnson, DC Sean Desai
2024 draft class
CB Quinyon Mitchell (1.22), CB Cooper DeJean (2.40), OLB Jalyx Hunt (3.94), RB Will Shipley (4.127), WR Ainias Smith (5.152), LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (5.155), G Trevor Keegan (5.172), WR Johnny Wilson (6.185), C Dylan McMahon (6.190)
Projected starters
QB: Jalen Hurts
RB: Saquon Barkley
WR: A.J. Brown
WR: DeVonta Smith
WR: Parris Campbell
TE: Dallas Goedert
LT: Jordan Mailata
LG: Landon Dickerson
C: Cam Jurgens
RG: Mekhi Becton
RT: Lane Johnson
DL: Jordan Davis
DL: Jalen Carter
OLB: Bryce Huff
ILB: Devin White
ILB: Nakobe Dean
OLB: Josh Sweat
CB: Darius Slay Jr.
FS: Reed Blankenship
SS: C.J. Gardner-Johnson
SCB: Avonte Maddox
CB: Quinyon Mitchell (R)
2024 outlook
The 2023 collapse for Philadelphia caused Nick Sirianni’s job status to be in serious question, but the Eagles instead brought in two new coordinators to run their respective sides of the ball in Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio. They also added major star power in the form of Saquon Barkley, while the secondary was remade with rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean joining the cornerback room and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson returning after a year in Detroit.
Last season, the Eagles were reliant on veteran additions like Julio Jones, Shaquille Leonard, Bradley Roby, and Kevin Byard to piece everything together on the fly, but the roster was assembled much cleaner this offseason, including Saquon Barkley possibly having a Christian McCaffrey-type resurgence with a new team, swooping in for Bryce Huff, and hunting for bargains like Mekhi Becton and Zack Baun.
I believe the offense will have no issues getting back on track as Jalen Hurts proves he is a top-five quarterback throwing to A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, so the defense improving under Fangio will determine how high the Eagles can fly in 2024. On paper, the group is much better than it was a year ago, and the Georgia core of Jordan David, Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith Jr., and Nakobe Dean all playing up to expectations could make Philadelphia the best team in the NFL.
Position battle to watch: Cornerback
The battle at right guard between Mekhi Becton and Tyler Steen, as well as the rotation at inside linebacker are worth watching, but cornerback is what everyone has their eyes on. Fangio saying he has no problem playing rookies and the No. 22 overall pick being spent on Quinyon Mitchell would seem to give him the edge across from Darius Slay Jr., but Kelee Ringo and Isaiah Rodgers have both seen starter snaps and impressed to begin camp, and we’ll see how fellow rookie Cooper DeJean (hamstring) factors in—including in the slot where Avonte Maddox returns—when he hits the field.
Breakout candidate: LB Nakobe Dean
A slimmed-down Jordan Davis is another option here, but I loved Dean coming out of Georgia, and the key is staying healthy to force his way onto the field. Early on, it sounds like Zack Baun has established himself as a top guy alongside Devin White, but Dean missed almost the entire spring, and he’s expected to shine as the games begin—where his instincts will be on display—with Fangio’s defense utilizing him more as a blitzer and in coverage.
Circle on the calendar: Week 1 (v GB) | Friday, September 6 – 8:15 PM ET
It’s tough to not choose either of the Dallas games or even Saquon Barkley’s return to New York in Week 7, but based on how last season ended, fans will want to see how the team looks from the jump for a trip to Brazil where they will take on another Super Bowl contender in the Packers. A confident Jordan Love and an aggressive Green Bay defense will be an immediate challenge for both sides of the ball.
Bottom line
I wasn’t as high on Quinyon Mitchell or Cooper DeJean and thought Detroit (Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr.) and San Francisco (Renardo Green) arguably drafted better prospects with later picks, but the rookies were deemed scheme fits—and there is no denying the Eagles added more talent this offseason. If everything comes together on the field, there is no reason Philadelphia can’t get back to the Super Bowl.