32 Teams in 32 Days: Eagles Look to Repeat With Aging Stars

One of the best defenses in the league may look different now, but Philadelphia should have no problem relying on what’s left of its veteran roster core in 2023.

Welcome to 32 teams in 32 days. To get us through the offseason, we’ll be taking a closer look at every team in the league, in order of projected 2023 win totals. Up next: the Eagles.

After having a dream season in which the Eagles won the NFC crown before a narrow defeat in Super Bowl LVII, Philadelphia’s challenge this year is to now deal with significant defensive turnover.

General manager Howie Roseman watched as safeties Marcus Epps and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, linebackers Kyzir White and T.J. Edwards, and defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Javon Hargrave all left in free agency. It was a mass exodus for a group that had dominated the league, ranking third in yards against, first in yards per play allowed and first in sacks.

However, Roseman was aggressive in backfilling some of the losses, led by his draft class that included first-round picks in defensive tackle Jalen Carter and edge rusher Nolan Smith. There were also the signings of safety Terrell Edmunds and linebacker Nicholas Morrow, both of whom will slot in as starters. Then there’s the expected maturation of Jordan Davis up front along with linebacker Nakobe Dean, both high draft picks in 2022.

The Eagles open the 2023 season on the road against the Patriots :: Eric Hartline/USA TODAY Sports (left); Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports (center, right)

Considering how high-octane the offense is, Philadelphia’s defense doesn’t need to be phenomenal. It merely needs to be solid, and the Eagles will be back in the playoffs, fighting for their third Super Bowl appearance since 2017.

Biggest Gamble this offseason: Running the risk of age

Let’s be clear about this. The Eagles are right to be betting on their aging veterans. Nobody was clamoring to move on from All-Pro center Jason Kelce, or star corners James Bradberry and Darius Slay.

However, it’s a risk. Kelce and edge rusher Brandon Graham are both 35 years old. Bradberry will turn 30 this summer. Slay is 32. Standout right tackle Lane Johnson is 33. The production has been there consistently for each, but the questions on when they will fall off are also real.

If the Eagles can squeeze another year of top-end play out of their aging stars, they will be a force once again. If not, the onus falls on the rest of the roster, which is capable but also being asked to do much more than a season ago.

Toughest stretch of the season: Weeks 11 to 15

The defending NFC champs have a rough slate, including 10 games against teams in the two Eastern divisions. However, no portion of the slate is tougher than after their bye.

Beginning with a Week 11 date at Arrowhead Stadium for a Super Bowl rematch with the Chiefs on Monday night, the Eagles will face five straight playoff teams. The Bills are up next at home, before welcoming in the 49ers in a clash of NFC powers. Next up are the Cowboys on the road, before finishing up the gauntlet with a cross-country jaunt to face the Seahawks.

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Breakout player to watch: RB D’Andre Swift

Swift might seem like an odd choice given he’s been a well-known name for years, but consider this: Swift has never rushed for 700 yards in a season.

The Eagles traded with the Lions for Swift at the end of April :: David Reginek/USA TODAY Sports

That’s likely going to change in 2023. With opposing defenses having to play back and respect the deep-ball capabilities of receivers DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown, rushing lanes—behind the league’s best offensive line—will be there for Swift. After averaging 4.6 yards per carry over three seasons with the Lions, Swift should be even more effective in Philadelphia.

For Swift, the big challenge is staying healthy, as he’s missed 10 games over his young career.

Position of strength: Offensive line

While the Eagles are loaded across their roster, no group is better—perhaps in all of football—than Philadelphia’s offensive line.

Between Kelce and Johnson, the Eagles have a pair of future Hall of Famers. Kelce has been a first-team All-Pro three of the past four seasons, while Johnson is a two-time All-Pro who didn’t allow a sack last year.

Meanwhile, third-year guard Landon Dickerson is coming off a Pro Bowl campaign. Left tackle Jordan Mailata is a mountain, at 6'8" and 365 pounds, and has become a top-tier protector on the edge.

Position of weakness: Linebacker

If there’s one area that houses a litany of questions for Philadelphia, it’s the linebackers. After losing White and Edwards in free agency, to the Cardinals and Bears respectively, the Eagles are relying heavily on a quartet of unknowns.

Dean took 340 snaps on special teams last season, but only 34 on defense, according to RotoWire :: Maria Lysaker/USA TODAY Sports

Come the fall, expect Dean and Morrow to see a majority of the snaps, while veteran backups Christian Elliss and Shaun Bradley rotate in. If Dean pans out, and Morrow replicates his breakout season with the Bears of a year ago, Philadelphia will be fine. If not, the second level will be exploited.

X-factor: How close do Eagles come to 70 sacks?

Last year, the Eagles became a historic defensive team with 70 sacks, joining the 1984 Bears as the only two teams to reach the threshold.

This season, odds are the number will decline some, even with the infusion of two rookie pass-rushers, but by how much? In 2022, Philadelphia had a whopping four players reach double-digit sacks. One is already gone in Hargrave, and Graham (entering his age-35 season) has never had more than 9.5 sacks.

History says the Eagles’ pass rush will regress, but will it be slightly, or a significant amount?

Sleeper/fantasy pick: RB Rashaad Penny

Penny is a borderline sleeper heading into this season. Swift isn’t the most durable back (neither is Penny, but hear me out), and the Eagles offense produced a top 15 fantasy back (Miles Sanders) last season. If Penny earns a bigger role, he could become a useful flex option. —Michael Fabiano, SI Fantasy

Best bet: Take the over on Jalen Hurts’s 9.5 rushing touchdowns

The Eagles shouldn’t fix what isn’t broken. Hurts had 13 rushing TDs in 2022. Do we think that happens again? Unlikely. But, Hurts had 10 rushing TDs in 2021, and this line is 9.5. For plus money, let’s ride with the over. —Jennifer Piacenti, SI Betting

Final record: 12–5, second in NFC East