Philadelphia – The Philadelphia Eagles created a sensation during the 2023 NFL Draft.
They were the only team whose Super Bowl odds changed from the start of the draft, according to Caesars Sportsbook, jumping from +850 to +750 thanks to a run that included Georgia superstars Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith and Kelly Ringo, along with a deal for another former Bulldog, running back. running back D’Andre Swift.
Analysts were close to unanimous in their agreement. Mel Kipper, Jr. handed out only two Class A draft picks after the draft: one to the Eagles and one to the Seattle Seahawks.
The most striking reaction may have come from Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons, who couldn’t hide his concern as Carter went ninth overall against Philadelphia.
“I’m sick to my stomach right now,” Parsons said during a Bleacher Report live broadcast, describing him as an “A-plus pick” for Philadelphia. “I was so shocked that eight teams let Jalen Carter go down to nine.”
Eagles receiver AJ Brown was also a part of the broadcast, and he playfully couldn’t let go of his opponent’s pass.
“Micah, just be a Philadelphia Eagle at this point,” he said, grinning. “You know you want to be a part of this great organization.”
The history of NFC teams failing the Super Bowl and then returning to the game the following year is slim. The last team to pull it off was the 1974 Minnesota Vikings. But an unofficial event that was supposed to feature a major loss in free agency has instead evolved into an interesting retooling, generating optimism that the Eagles are well-positioned to buck the trend.
Is the fuss justified? Let’s take a closer look at the situation as focus shifts towards the off-season training programme:
Coming and going
2023 draft class: DT Galen Carter, Georgia; OLB Nolan Smith, Georgia; OT Tyler Steen, Alabama; S. Sidney Brown, Illinois; CB Kelly Ringo, Georgia; QB Tanner McKee, Stanford; DT Moro Ogumo, Texas
Main holdings: RBD Andre Swift, RB Rashad Penny, S. Terrell Edmonds, QB Marcus Mariota, CB Greedy Williams, LB Nicholas Moreau
Major departures: S CJ Gardner-Johnson, DT Javon Hargrave, RB Miles Sanders, LB TJ Edwards, LB Kyzir White, S Marcus Epps, QB Gardner Minshew
How do juniors fit in
With Jalen Hurts still on a rookie contract and the roster brimming with talent from top to bottom, the Eagles had the luxury of easing up the 2022 class last season — a group spearheaded by defensive tackle Jordan Davis, center Cam Jurgens and linebacker Nakobe Dean.
The landscape has changed since then. Signed Hertz A Five years, $255 million extension in April. Anticipating this huge investment, Eagles management let high-profile shareholders like Gardner-Johnson, Hargrave, and Sanders walk in. General Manager Howie Roseman said the organization went into the postseason “with our eyes open and understanding that we have to kind of turn it around” to have some younger, less expensive players on the team.
While the roster is still in strong shape overall, there is growing urgency for the contribution of this draft class in 2023. That starts with Carter, a first-team All-American who would have been a top-five if not for some fielding concerns.
The absence of Hargrave—signed to a four-year, $84 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency—has to count. He was one of the Eagles’ best catchers last year, fielding 11 sacks. Fletcher Cox, 32, should not be expected to carry all the weight of the defensive line at this point in his career. Carter is expected to play right away and will be relied upon to back things up along the inside alongside the likes of Davis and Milton Williams.
said Carter, who noted that he’s modeling his game after Los Angeles Rams DT star Aaron Donald. Anything close to that would be more than welcome by the vultures.
Smith was frequently compared to Haason Reddick during the pre-draft process and has the opportunity to move into the No. 2 defensive lineman role behind him and be part of the rushing passing rotation. Steen could compete with Jurgens for the starting right guard position. Brown will have an opportunity to contribute safety (more on that in a moment) while Ringo, Maki and Ogumu will provide depth in their positions.
The highlights made the Eagles jump Jalen Carter
Check out some of the best highlights of Jalen Carter’s career at Georgia being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Determine the largest holes
Safety and linebacker are the two biggest question marks on the list, as both starters are no longer in every position on the team.
The loss of Gardner Johnson may be the most impactful. He was a difference-maker for that team last year (tied for most interceptions in the NFL with six despite missing five games with a torn kidney), positionally adept as a cornerback safety, and played with a defense-fueled advantage. on.
The Eagles signed veteran Edmunds to a one-year deal in March – favorite to start alongside Reed Blankenship – as did former Saint Justin Evans signing. While there is some talent to work with, the overall position feels light for a championship caliber team. Defensive coordinator Sean Desai’s group will benefit if the Browns, who recorded six interceptions en route to first-team honors last season, can make his presence felt early on.
“He’s got an exceptional playing rhythm. He’s a great hitter. You see him flying around, playing the ball,” Roseman said. “He can attack, he can play in the running game, he can cover holes, he can cover tight ends… I think our fans are going to love Sidney Brown, and we’re excited to bring him here.”
Linebacker is also in an uncertain state following the departures of starters Edwards and White. Dean, winner of the 2021 Butkus Award for Most Valuable Player in college football, is expected to step into the vacant position alongside Morrow, who tallied 116 errors with the Chicago Bears last season.
It should be noted that the Eagles didn’t acquire Gardner-Johnson until late August of last year. They will likely add both a safety and a linebacker before the start of the season.
running back dribble
Sanders signed with the Carolina Panthers in free agency after a career season in 2022 (1,269 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns). His most important departure was on the offensive side of the ball.
To make up for his absence, the Eagles signed Penny to a one-year deal in March, then acquired the Swifts from the Detroit Lions over the weekend in a 2025 fourth-round and seventh-round swap.
Benny has a lot of positive aspects but he has had injuries throughout his career. Swift is pretty loose in and of himself but is a handful in both running and passing when he’s healthy.
“You can definitely see his ability to make people miss space, and you saw that against our defense last year,” said head coach Nick Siriani. “He had some incredible knocks against us last year, where you look at each other like a man, that guy is hard to handle. So, he has the ability to make you miss as well as speed through the pits, which will serve us well for some of our draws and some organization.” RPOs that we manage.”
minimum
After a 14-3 showing in the regular season, the NFC champion Eagles will play the first-place playoff table this year. Their 2023 opponents had a collegiate winning percentage of . 567 last season—leading in the NFL.
Not only did Philadelphia have one of the easiest schedules in football in ’22, but they were also one of the healthiest teams over the course of the season. Chances are that the road will be more difficult this time around. And it’s fair to wonder how long members of the old guard like Cox, Jason Kelsey (35) and defensive end Brandon Graham (35) will continue to play at a high level.
On the other hand, the NFC remains wide open thanks to the disparity in quarterbacking in the two conferences – a gap that widened even further with Aaron Rodgers leaving the Green Bay Packers for the New York Jets. Arguably the best signalman in the NFC, Hurts is surrounded by one of the hottest offenses in football. Meanwhile, the defense has been able to keep key players like Darius Slay and James Bradbury in the fold, have added some veterans, and is once again looking strong along the defensive front.
If a few new additions — headlined by Carter and Swift — can live up to the hype they made over the weekend, the Eagles look to be in strong shape.