Following a Super Bowl loss, the Eagles' front office had a busy offseason. Here are five bold Eagles predictions heading into the 2023-24 season.
The Eagles posted a 14-3 record last en route to being crowned NFC Champions. However, they came up just shy of winning the Super Bowl, losing 38-35 to the Chiefs.
Howie Roseman and the Eagles' front office has been busy this offseason in their pursuit of getting the franchise back to the NFL's biggest stage with the hopes of winning this time around.
Bold Eagles predictions heading into the 2023 NFL season
5. Javon Hargrave's presence will be missed
The Eagles' defensive unit combined for 70 total sacks in the 2022-23 season, which ranks third all-time by a team in a single season. Javon Hargrave played a large role in the historic pass-rushing season, tallying a career-high 11 sacks and 10 tackles for loss. Unfortunately, for the Eagles, Hargrave played himself out of the Eagles' pay range and elected to sign a four-year contract with the 49ers worth up to $84 million ($40 million guaranteed). Not only did Hargrave leaving for the 49ers hurt the Eagles, but it also made their conference rival and arguably biggest threat even stronger.
While the Eagles addressed the need to replace Hargrave by selecting Jalen Carter with the No. 9 overall selection in the NFL Draft, it remains to be seen how ready he is to take the prominent role that Javon Hargrave had as an interior lineman for a Super Bowl contender. Leading up to the NFL Draft, Carter was connected to a car crash that killed two people, including one of his college teammates. As you'd expect, the incident has weighed heavily on him and taken a toll on his physical performance.
Still dealing with the aftermath of the events, Carter is now being sued by a survivor of the car crash incident for his role in the matter. Whether or not Jalen Carter can bounce back from this life-altering event and how quickly he can do it will have a major impact on the Eagles' ability to replace Javon Hargrave's presence.
Bold Eagles predictions heading into the 2023 NFL season
4. DeVonta Smith outperforms A.J. Brown
The connection between Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith only continues to grow stronger dating back to their time together at Alabama, despite the increased competition for targets last year with the addition of stud wide receiver, A.J. Brown.
A truly special talent, Smith was the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since Desmond Howard did it in 1991. His route running and ability to make contested catches is amongst the league's best to the point it made future Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Richard Sherman realize it was time to retire. Now entering his third season in the NFL, Smith is bound to take the notable third-year leap that plenty of young wide receivers have taken over the years to solidify themselves among the NFL's best receivers.
While A.J. Brown earned AP Second Team All-Pro honors last season, Smith outperformed him down the stretch of the season. Smith also ran more routes than Brown while boasting similar target shares in the offense. In his second season, Smith totaled 95 receptions to go along with 1,196 yards, and seven touchdowns. In comparison, Brown recorded 88 receptions, 1,496 yards, and 11 touchdowns.
A.J. Brown's physical traits and stature will always make him a threat to score touchdowns from anywhere on the field, but this season DeVonta Smith will continue to improve and establish himself among the NFL's best receivers and overtake his All-Pro teammate.
Bold Eagles predictions heading into the 2023 NFL season
3. Nakobe Dean was worth waiting for
Leading up to the 2022 NFL Draft, former Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean was expected to be a first-round selection. However, a pectoral injury caused Dean to slide to the third round. Dean played a huge role in Georgia's 2021-22 run to an NCAA National Championship run who seemed poised to make an instant impact in the NFL.
The Eagles decided to take a "redshirt year" approach to ease Dean into NFL action and allow him to get healthy. Now, according to Bo Wulf of The Athletic, Dean "will be penciled into a starting role" in 2023.
Dean's insertion into the starting defensive unit could prove to be a massive decision because the Eagles lost their two starting linebackers from last season (T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White). With that being said, Dean should see plenty of time on the field and have loads of opportunities to prove why teams should have taken a chance on him despite the injury woes.
Dean is a high-IQ player who has great sideline-to-sideline speed at the linebacker position. The Eagles have developed a bit of a reputation for acquiring defensive players out of Georgia, drafting five former Bulldogs over the last two seasons: Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, Kelee Ringo, and Dean. Dean will be able to establish himself as the best of the bunch this upcoming season given the role he is stepping into.
Bold Eagles predictions heading into the 2023 NFL season
2. Eagles repeat as NFC champions
The Eagles will become the third team since 1995 to win two straight NFC Championship Games. Retaining a majority of the roster that went to the Super Bowl last season, continuity will play a huge role in the Eagles' return to the big game.
The Birds lost some notable players this free agency due to cap constraints: Miles Sanders, T.J. Edwards, Kyzir White, Javon Hargrave, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson all left via free agency. However, they were able to retain the backbones of their franchise by re-signing Jason Kelce, Fletcher Cox, Lane Johnson, and Brandon Graham. All of them have spent over 10 years with the franchise and helped lead the franchise to a Super Bowl under then-coach Doug Pederson
Not to mention, reinforcements on the way: They drafted Jalen Carter, and Nolan Smith, traded for D'Andre Swift, and signed Rashaad Penny and Greedy Williams. They also extended their elite starting cornerback tandem from last year of Darius Slay and James Bradberry.
Being that they were able to retain Kelce and Johnson, their offensive line is also still one of the best (if not the best) in the league. Jalen Hurts' supporting cast of A.J. Brown, Dallas Goedert, and the continuously-ascending Devonta Smith puts Hurts and the Eagles in a position to succeed every week. Hurts is only going to continue to progress and take another step forward as one of the NFL's best quarterbacks.
Aside from the 49ers, it doesn't feel like there is a real threat that should keep the Eagles out of the NFC Championship Game. The Packers lost four-time MVP Award winner Aaron Rodgers to the Jets, the Bucs lost Tom Brady to retirement, and the Vikings lost significant pieces on both sides of the ball (Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen, Zadarius Smith, Eric Kendricks, Dalvin Tomlinson, Patrick Peterson, and Irv Smith Jr.).
The Eagles will cruise back to another NFC Championship appearance in 2023.
Bold Eagles predictions heading into the 2023 NFL season
1. Jalen Hurts wins MVP
Jalen Hurts just had a monster season where he finished second in the MVP voting behind Patrick Mahomes. Were it not for a shoulder injury that kept Hurts out of two games late in the season with the Eagles practically already securing a bye week, he may have had a case to win the award over Mahomes.
The Eagles went 14-1 in the 15 games Hurts started last year. In those 15 games, he threw for 3,701 yards and 22 touchdowns, while only tossing six interceptions. He also added 760 yards on the ground and 13 rushing touchdowns. His dual-threat ability combined with the supporting cast of A.J. Brown, Dallas Goedert, and the continuously-ascending Devonta Smith made the Eagles' offense virtually unstoppable.
Once the playoffs came, Hurts continued to elevate his game. Despite losing in the Super Bowl to Mahomes and the Chiefs, Hurts had a historic Super Bowl performance. As a quarterback, he tied the record for rushing touchdowns in a Super Bowl, reaching paydirt three times on the ground.
After an epic season that had Hurts and the Eagles fall just short of their ultimate goal, the franchise rewarded him with a five-year contract worth $255 million. Now that he has been given this huge contract, expectations will only continue to grow.
Jalen Hurts' work ethic and leadership skills combined with his physical gifts make him a candidate to live up to his contract value. The Eagles will come out hungry next season on a revenge tour following their Super Bowl loss, and Hurts will lead the way. His efforts will lead to him earning this year's NFL MVP Award honors.