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The Philadelphia Eagles have a young, athletic roster with one of the top-10 quarterbacks in all of the NFL leading the way and that’s cause for supreme optimism.
The ESPN Insiders recently projected which NFL franchises are in the best shape for the next three seasons using a panel of Jeremy Fowler, Louis Riddick, Seth Walder, and Field Yates — to rate each team’s quarterback, remaining (non-QB) roster, draft, front office and coaches using this scale:
100: A+ (Elite)
90: A (Great)
80: B (Very good)
70: C (Average)
60: D (Very bad)
50 and below: F (Disastrous)
After averaging the results from the panelists, each of the five categories was weighted to create the overall score — roster (30%), quarterback (20%), draft (15%), front office (15%) and coaching (20%). The result is a comprehensive ranking based on how well each team is positioned for the future.
After all the numbers crunching and simply using your eye test, the Philadelphia Eagles landed in a super favorable spot, at No. 6 on the list, behind the hated Dallas Cowboys who landed in the top-5.
6. Philadelphia Eagles
Overall score: 82.6CATEGORY SCORE NFL
RANK
Overall roster (minus QB) 78.0 15
Quarterback 86.0 6
Coaching 89.3 6
Draft 75.5 15
Front office 85.5 5
Why they’re here: The Eagles feature a potential MVP candidate in Carson Wentz, who showed an ability to raise the talent around him 2019. Coach Doug Pederson is resourceful, innovative and confident, while GM/executive VP of football operations Howie Roseman has infused the roster with talent while maintaining his status as a salary cap wizard who can find ways to keep this roster intact going forward. — YatesBiggest worry: The Eagles have upgraded the speed and skill level exceptionally well at the wide receiver position as compared to what they finished the season with last year. The question is whether they can now make it all work, on the field, where Wentz is as skilled a thrower as there is in the league. Chemistry is a big part of the game of football. They need to make it happen in Philly. — Riddick
Looking ahead: Jason Kelce is done after this year, Jason Peters is now a 38-year-old guard and Brandon Brooks is coming off an Achilles tendon tear. The interior offensive line needs reinforcements. And so does the linebacker spot. The Eagles have addressed the front and back ends of the defense, and a high-pedigree sideline-to-sideline player would complete the mission. — Fowler
Top stat to know: Among QBs currently under 30, Wentz has recorded the third-best QBR season: his 2017, when he posted a 78.5. He has shown the upside, and — performance wise — is fairly reliable looking forward. If I had to bet on the current quarterbacks most likely to be above average in five years, Wentz is no lower than sixth (behind Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson and Dak Prescott). That kind of certainty is worth a lot. — Walder
The Eagles will need their young infusion of wide receiver talent to blend with the returning DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffery and JJ Arcega-Whiteside on offense, while the addition of Darius Slay, Javon Hargrave, and Nickell Robey-Coleman should present the Eagles with some attitude and swagger that’s been missing at the Linc for years now.
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