The Philadelphia Eagles come into the 2020 season looking to win their second straight NFC East title and bounce back from their first-round exit by the hands of the Seattle Seahawks. They finished the 2019 regular season winning four straight games to take the division at 9-7.
Staying healthy will be key as they had a decimating amount of injuries last season, including Carson Wentz going down with a concussion in the Wild Card game.
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Offseason Recap
The Eagles did an all-around great job of filling their glaring holes on both sides of the ball. Their most notable move on the defensive side was trading for cornerback Darius Slay to slide in as their number one cornerback which they desperately needed. The Birds still have a hole at linebacker after releasing Nigel Bradham, but they did a draft a couple in Davion Taylor and Shaun Bradley, while also signing Jatavis Brown. A major loss was safety Malcolm Jenkins, who they let walk to free agency and sign with the New Orleans Saints. Outside of the player additions and subtractions, they also rehashed a majority of their coaching staff, most notably hiring Aaron Moorehead as wide receivers coach who should end the coaching carousel there. They re-signed defensive backs, Rodney McLeod and Jalen Mills. Then they signed Javon Hargrave, Will Parks, and Nickell Robey-Coleman in free agency. They also traded for receiver Marquise Goodwin who unfortunately opted out of the 2020 season amid COVID-19 concerns.
Offense
Even with several injuries to the Eagles offense and practice-squad receivers being on the field, Wentz still threw for more than 4,000 yards and 27 touchdowns. Not one receiver had 500 yards receiving and the receivers who suited up for the Wild Card game had a combined 55 career receptions. Unfortunately, the injury bug seems to have already started to carry over as their first-round pick, receiver Jalen Reagor got injured in practice on Sunday and is expected to be out 3-4 weeks. With week one less than two weeks away now, he will most likely miss at least the first two weeks. Wentz also suffered a “minor soft tissue” injury during the same practice but it should not keep him out of action. In other words, sit down “Wentz is injury prone” haters.
Tight ends Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert will probably be very highly targeted during those first two weeks while Reagor is out while other new draftees, such as fifth-round and sixth-round picks John Hightower and Quez Watkins, should get a chance to shine. JJ Arcega-Whiteside will really have to prove himself after a subpar rookie campaign to be a big part of the offense moving forward. Someone will have to step up so that Wentz doesn’t have to try doing it all himself.
Miles Sanders looks to take another step forward as the lead running back after a great rookie season, while the Eagles also signed Corey Clement again after he was a big piece to winning Super Bowl LII. Boston Scott had a coming-out party last season as well and could see a share of snaps in the backfield. Other names that will be interesting to watch for in the backfield are non-drafted free-agent signings Adrian Killins and Michael Warren II.
Defense
As mentioned, the Eagles’ biggest move on the defensive side of the ball was trading for cornerback Slay who will vastly improve their secondary. They have been really missing a number one corner for years as their pass-rushing has been their defensive strength over the years. In addition, to Slay, they also made other moves to help bolster their secondary, including drafting versatile safety K’Von Wallace in the fourth round who can move around between slot corner and safety. He will most likely slide in behind Mills and McLeod on the depth chart after the Eagles let veteran Jenkins go.
The defense kept the Eagles in more games down the stretch last season, as they gave up more than 20 points just once over the last five games, including the playoff game, and it was the offense that did them in against Seattle. In four of those five, they allowed just 17 points, and also six of the last eight. The moves they made only further improve the defense and they may honestly not give up more than 24 points in any game this season. Knock on wood.
Predicting the 53 Man Roster
QB (3) – Carson Wentz, Jalen Hurts, Nate Sudfeld
As much as we all love some quarterback controversy, there isn’t any to be seen here. It is Wentz’s job to lose and as much as you might think he’s “injury-prone”, he started every game of the season last year before a dirty hit to the head knocked him out of the playoff game. Hurts may see the field in potential two-quarterbacks sets if the Birds decide to do that, but he won’t take the starting spot from Wentz.
RB (4) – Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, Corey Clement, Michael Warren
Sanders and Scott are the two backs who are locks to make the final roster but with the way the Eagles love going with a “running back by committee” of sorts, they will certainly have some competition for the third and fourth spots. The Eagles also signed former Georgia Bulldog Elijah Holyfield who can be a potential guy to be in the competition.
WR (6) – Jalen Reagor, DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffery, JJ Arcega-Whiteside, John Hightower, Greg Ward Jr., Quez Watkins
With Reagor out for at least the first two weeks, one of the other guys will have to step up to be the number one receiver. Jackson can still burn secondaries and could fit that bill as the top targeted receiver for Wentz. Arcega-Whiteside will have to step up big time in his sophomore campaign and if he does he could be one of the top targets. Jeffery is a very possible player to watch to be moved before the trade deadline. Hightower and Watkins could turn on the afterburners along with Jackson, while Ward stepped it up big time last season to go from practice squad to the only reliable receiver on the team.
TE (3) – Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert, Noah Togiai
Ertz and Goedert will probably get a share of snaps this season as they are both very dynamic tight ends. The Eagles recently put their third tight end, Josh Perkins, on the injured reserve with an upper-body injury, which puts Togiai the third guy on the depth chart.
OL (9) – Lane Johnson, Jason Peters, Jason Kelce, Isaac Seumalo, Jordan Mailata, Nate Herbig, Prince Tega Wanogho, Jack Driscoll, Matt Pryor
Andre Dillard being ruled out for the season with a biceps injury is a huge blow for the offensive line and veteran Peters is in the mix to slide back to the left tackle spot after being set to move to right guard. Joining him on injured reserve is Brandon Brooks. Peters has been the starting left tackle since the 2009 season for the Eagles, so he is the best bet to stay there now. They added solid depth in the draft with Tega Wanogho and Driscoll who could certainly see time in the rotation at left tackle and right guard, respectively.
DL (5) – Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, Malik Jackson, Hassan Ridgeway, T.Y. McGill
The Eagles signed McGill just a few days ago to help add to their depth, while Cox, Hargrave, and Jackson are the certain locks to make the roster.
EDGE (4) – Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, Josh Sweat, Vinny Curry
All four of these guys are certain to make the roster as they were a very solid group last season.
LB (6) – Nathan Gerry, Duke Riley, Alex Singleton, Shaun Bradley, T.J. Edwards, Davion Taylor
Even after adding some more names to the linebacker depth chart in free agency and in the draft, this group is still pretty slim and they may need to go out and add another guy. There is, however, a lot of versatility in this group so they will probably do a lot of moving around.
CB (5) – Darius Slay, Avonte Maddox, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Sidney Jones, Cre’von LeBlanc
A completely rehashed group, Slay and Maddox are set to start opposite each other which could make for a very dynamic duo. Robey-Coleman is a solid guy to have to rotate in while Jones and LeBlanc should fight for playing time.
SAF (5) – Rodney McLeod, Jalen Mills, K’Von Wallace, Will Parks, Rudy Ford
Wallace may end up jumping over Mills in the depth chart by season’s end, depending on how Mills does in transitioning to safety. But with the versatility Wallace has, he could also fill in at corner and maybe take more playing time away from Jones and/or LeBlanc.
ST (3) – Jake Elliott, Cameron Johnston, Rick Lovato
This is no different than it has been for a couple of years, as they are a very reliable group, with Elliott a very good kicker and Johnston a deep ball punter. Lovato as the long snapper is definitely something to be happy with.
COVID (1) – Marquise Goodwin
2020 Outlook
The Eagles come into this season with pretty heavy expectations to win a second straight NFC East title and go much deeper into the playoffs. After a first-round exit, they will have extra motivation to play further into the winter. The Cowboys got a little tougher and it will be another battle to the end between them for the division. The week 16 matchup between the two could definitely decide the division
Season Prediction: 11-5 and win the NFC East division.
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