Five off-season fixes: Philadelphia Eagles
With Super Bowl LI over, it’s time to turn our attention to the off-season. In this series, I’ll take a look at each of the teams who finished at the bottom of their division and prescribe five off-season fixes that should get them back in the mix next season. Up next, the NFC East’s Philadelphia Eagles.
With Chip Kelly fired and Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson hired as his replacement, the Eagles pulled off some big trades last off-season. They moved up in the draft to select quarterback Carson Wentz second overall, then traded Sam Bradford to Minnesota to get a first rounder back for this year’s draft. They also gutted Kelly’s players from the roster. Despite finishing 7–9, Philadelphia had a decent season, uncovering a franchise quarterback of the future in Wentz. With these five off-season fixes, we could see the Eagles return to the playoffs in 2017:
- Overhaul the receiving corps
The receiving corps was clearly Philadelphia’s biggest weakness last season. Drops and poor play cost Philadelphia wins. Several players could be released or traded, like Nelson Agholor, Kelly’s first round pick in 2015. With the 15th overall pick, expect Philadelphia to draft a true number one receiver for Wentz. Clemson’s Mike Williams is the top receiver in this class, but may not reach the Eagles. Washington’s John Ross or Western Michigan’s Corey Davis could be available, and Philadelphia should pounce. Adding veteran help would also be good for Wentz’s development, especially a true deep threat like DeSean Jackson. Rumours of a possible reunion with Philadelphia have emerged, as Jackson seems unhappy in Washington. Getting Jackson back and teaming him with a first round wideout should be Philadelphia’s priority.
2. Bolster the secondary
With the recent emergences of Kirk Cousins, Odell Beckham Jr, and Dak Prescott, the NFC East is now much tougher for defenses. Jim Schwartz improved Philadelphia’s defense in his first season as defensive coordinator, but they need more. Finding some upgrades at cornerback in the second round is a key priority for Philadelphia. The 2017 draft class is a deep one for defensive backs and corners like Michigan’s Jourdan Lewis or Florida’s Quincy Wilson could fall to the Eagles. Don’t rule out the Eagles adding veteran help as well. Bill’s cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who played under Schwartz in 2014, could hit the open market. Reuniting with Schwartz could prove tempting for Gilmore, who would be perfect to start opposite a rookie second rounder.
3. Find a running back
Another priority should be finding a young starter at running back in the second or third round. Ryan Mathews only started eight games for Philadelphia last season and isn’t a game-breaker. Finding a player like Texas’ D’Onta Foreman or Tennessee’s Alvin Kamara would take some pressure off Wentz and the receiving corps, while doubling as an insurance policy if Mathews plays well but gets injured.
4. Add a lineman in free agency
After finding a franchise quarterback, not enough teams invest in adequate protection for such a valuable asset. Several veteran linemen could hit the market this off-season and without any must-retain free agents, the Eagles should pursue someone. A veteran like Cincinnati tackle Andrew Whitworth could be redundant thanks to younger talent on the Bengals, but with only $4,717,226 in cap space (per Sportrac), that may be a tall task for Philadelphia. Expect them to address the position in the second or third rounds.
5. Get some run defense help
With Ezekiel Elliott carrying the Cowboys, NFC East teams must make sure their run defense is top notch. Philadelphia were average against the run in Schwartz’s first season, ranking 15th in the league. They could use some help on the defensive interior via free agency or the draft. The latter is a better bet due to Philadelphia’s limited cap space, and finding a decent defensive tackle in later rounds could help the Eagles when they face Elliott.
