The Philadelphia Eagles this past season overcame the odds and ended up making the postseason. They went 9-7 in the regular season and finished second in the NFC East division. They started out the season 4-6 and seemed as if they were going to disappoint. Carson Wentz went down with an injury the following week and all hope seemed lost.
However, Nick Foles came in and had a record of 4-1. He threw for 1,413 yards with seven touchdowns and only four interceptions. His completion percentage was a very high 72.3 percent, while his quarterback rating was a solid 69.5. He pulled the Eagles back into playoff contention.
Wentz showed flashes but was inconsistent at times. Over 11 games, Wentz threw for 3,074 yards with 21 touchdowns and only gave up seven interceptions. His completion percentage sat at 69.6 percent and his quarterback rating at 64.9.
Wentz is now the quarterback of the future. They are letting Foles explore his options in free agency. Foles had a $20 million player option that the Eagles decided to non-tender. He’s now an unrestricted free agent. He probably won’t garner $20+ million, though he will likely want a long-term contract in the nine figure range.
The Eagles don't have a lot to work with as far as their cap space. They only have $2.1 million in available space to acquire a free agent. This will hinder their ability to bring back Golden Tate, who is also a free agent. Their lack of cap maneuverability leaves them with few options. However, there are still a few questions they must ask themselves going into this offseason.
3. Is Wentz the answer at quarterback?
Last season, Wentz started out very slowly. The third-year NFL player struggled to get his teammates in the end zone early on. His completion percentage was fine and he wasn't throwing many interceptions. His only really bad game was against the New Orleans Saints, where he only threw for 156 yards with three interceptions.
His ability as a quarterback is clearly there. However, he must remain consistent. Foles coming in and outperforming him is not a great look for his future. He still should be able to be competent and the team trusts him moving forward.
2. Is their secondary for real?
The real issue with the Eagles last season was their secondary. Halfway through the season, they had one of the worst defensive cores in the entire league. However, they were able to rally in the second half of the season and improve.
Pro Football Focus ranked their secondary 23rd overall in the entire league. Fifteen different players received snaps in the Eagles secondary, with 12 of them getting at least 100. Without Malcolm Jenkins anchoring the back end, the team would've collapsed at the end of the year.
1. Can their corps of wide receivers step up?
The Eagles have one of the best group of wideouts in the league. This includes Nelson Agholor, Zach Ertz, Alshon Jeffery, and Jordan Matthews. This group of guys have the talent to be one of the best in the league. However, Jeffery seems to have fallen off the table a bit.
For the Eagles to have a dynamic offense next season, this group of receivers needs to step up. The offense cannot just rely on Ertz to succeed. They need to play better collectively as a group.
Follow Us
Subscribe