- From Saquon Barkley to Zack Baun, Howie Roseman expertly navigated the offseason: The Eagles’ basic supervisor addressed his crew’s greatest weaknesses with stars and beforehand unheralded gamers.
- Coordinators Vic Fangio and Kellen Moore placed on a masterclass: Both added this offseason, Fangio and Moore led the Eagles’ protection and offense, respectively, to new heights.
Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes
The Philadelphia Eagles have been a crew in turmoil on the finish of the 2023 season, having misplaced six of their last seven video games, together with a blowout defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers within the wild-card spherical. General supervisor Howie Roseman was tasked with bettering a crew with a number of points. His offseason grocery record included:
- Replacing each coordinators after firing Brian Johnson and Sean Desai
- Improve a working again room that completed thirty first in PFF dashing grade
- Replace the manufacturing of retired heart Jason Kelce
- Fix a protection that ranked twenty eighth in PFF protection grade, together with final in slot protection grade
- Find solutions at linebacker, the place each of their starters left by way of free company
Philadelphia first introduced in Vic Fangio, who had served as a guide with the crew in 2022, to be their defensive coordinator. Armed with elite personnel, Fangio used his array of zone coverages to guide his unit to the best PFF defensive grade within the NFL. The biggest accomplishment for the protection was ending this season with the bottom explosive move charge allowed after rating tenth worst in 2023.
Along with Fangio got here offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who made the adjustment to heart the offense round Saquon Barkley and simplify the Eagles’ passing sport for Jalen Hurts. During their 2-2 begin, Philadelphia ran the ball on 41.1% of their performs, the Fifteenth-highest charge within the NFL. Over their run of 16 victories of their final 17 video games, they ran the ball practically 55% of the time. No different crew cleared 50% in that span.
The correct coordinators have been in place on the sideline and the correct personnel was on the sphere. Chief among the many newcomers was Barkley, who set the all-time single-season dashing file, together with the postseason. The Eagles all the time block properly within the run sport, however Barkley’s explosiveness introduced their assault to an unstoppable stage.
Saquon Barkley: Career PFF Grades
For a time, that blocking was in query after legendary heart Jason Kelce retired. The plan was all the time for Cam Jurgens to take over that spot, however the Eagles then wanted to discover a substitute at proper guard. That got here within the type of Jets castoff Mekhi Becton, who had by no means performed a snap at guard — both within the NFL or school — till this season. His contributions helped the Eagles keep their common elite manufacturing up entrance.
Philadelphia noticed a resurgence in its secondary after signing previous good friend C.J. Gardner-Johnson in free company. Roseman additionally made a shrewd transfer in deciding on cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean together with his first two alternatives in final 12 months’s draft.
Gardner-Johnson posted the most effective PFF protection grade of his profession whereas selecting off six passes and breaking apart six others. Mitchell was glorious on the surface all season, breaking apart 10 passes. Perhaps essentially the most impactful was DeJean, who turned top-of-the-line slot cornerbacks within the NFL and returned an interception for a landing within the Super Bowl.
The linebacker unit dramatically improved with breakouts from a number of gamers. Zack Baun, PFF’s Breakout Player of the Year, arrived from New Orleans and took benefit of his first actual alternative to play off the ball. In giant half due to Baun, The Eagles rose from 18th all the way in which to first in PFF total grade from their linebacker unit.
Highest-Graded Linebackers in 2024 (Regular Season Only)
Even Roseman’s depth signings made a huge effect. Nakobe Dean was having an excellent season earlier than struggling a season-ending damage within the wild-card spherical, pushing ex-49er Oren Burks — one in all Roseman’s savvier signings — right into a crucial position within the postseason because the starter alongside Baun.
Free-agency choices from Becton and Baun, amongst others, loom giant over the crew’s short-term future. The Eagles may even decide thirty second within the 2025 NFL Draft, although selecting decrease in rounds hasn’t bothered them currently. If there’s anybody geared up to cope with the trials of the offseason, it’s Howie Roseman. He’s confirmed it again and again, and his unimaginable work within the 2024 offseason is the first purpose the Eagles simply gained their second Lombardi Trophy.