Philadelphia Eagles Coach Nick Sirianni Has Plan to Keep Offensive Weapons Happy

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said that one of his core values will help keep everyone happy, and work on that begins April 15 with Phase One of the offseason program

Dec 18, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni greets / Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

PHILADELPHIA – Another weapon was added to the arsenal when Saquon Barkley signed up, yet there is still only one ball that can be used.

So, do the math and you see that four weapons and one ball equal a very challenging question: How do you keep everybody happy if you are Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni?

It could be why a rumor was hatched during this offseason that A.J. Brown could potentially be traded. Well, the addition of Barkley and some other reasons forced that rumor, such as an exploding salary cap charge that goes to $26.5 million next year and $41.5 in 2026.

Jan 15, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni. / Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

It’s not too far-fetched to think about trading Brown, to a receiver-needy team such as the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills, to name two.

That would certainly be a surprise, especially because Sirianni thinks he has an answer to that question.

It’s called connection, one of the core values he espouses, and that should lead to contentedness among those weapons - Barkley, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert - no matter who gets the targets, the carries, the yardage, and the touchdowns.

“I always think that’s a really good problem to have is to have multiple weapons because the defense has to stop all those guys,” he said, “but what’s really important is to build that, the connection of this team. … When you have all these different talents, when you walk in the door and this individual is really good, this individual is really good, this individual is really good, you want to be able to spread the ball around to them.”

Sirianni admits that won’t always be easy, but that connection will begin to be built on Monday when the team convenes for Phase One of the offseason workout program.

There are a lot of new faces in addition to Barkley, so what better time to start that process than when everybody is together in meeting rooms and the locker room.

“We build the team, so that everyone’s excited for each other,” said Sirianni. “That’s what’s important, and that’s what’s going to happen and that’s what I’m excited about - the team, the team, the team, our core values, our culture over these next months.”

The coach used Brown’s first game with the Eagles two years ago in the season opener in Detroit against the Lions. Brown had a big day, targeted 13 times and making 10 catches for 155 yards.

Smith? Four targets, zero catches.

“When something like that does happen, because inevitably it will, you don’t go in with the assumption that it’s going to happen ever but sometimes it does, that everyone’s happy for each other and we get in the locker room because we won the football game, and everyone’s pumped up,” said Sirianni. “That’s something you have to work on.

“It’s not easy, but that’s the time they spend together, getting to know each other, hanging out with each other, that is so important to a team because it’s not the best group of individuals that wins, it’s the best team. That’s what we’re excited about developing here over the next couple months heading into our first game.”