Expectations are high for the Philadelphia Eagles heading into the 2022 season. In the first season with new Head Coach Nick Sirianni at the helm, the Eagles went 9-8 and managed to secure a postseason birth. While they were knocked out by the Buccaneers in the opening round, the season was still regarded as a success. The postseason birth was a massive step forward for the franchise and left plenty to build off. The organization is in an exciting state and made some notable improvements this offseason.
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Eagles Offseason Grades
Trades: A
The Eagles made news on draft night for trading the 18th and 101st overall picks to the Tenessee Titans for AJ Brown. The 25-year-old has had over 1000 yards receiving in two of his three seasons in the NFL. He is a physically imposing wide receiver who will be a terrific complement alongside DeVonta Smith. Adding Brown helps give Jalen Hurts the tools he needs to prove himself as a franchise quarterback. Wide receiver was a position of need for the Eagles and adding a proven pro-bowler is about as great of an addition as the team could have come away with. Expect AJ Brown to be a focal point in the offense this coming season and make a major difference.
Draft: B+
While the AJ Brown trade stole most of the headlines on draft night, the Eagles had several notable picks as well. Their two most impactful selections were Defensive Tackle Jordan Davis and his college teammate and fellow NCAA champion Nakobe Dean. The two Georgia Bulldogs are expected to play a major role in the defense right away. The Eagles have continually made the defensive line a point of emphasis in the draft and this was the case once again this year. Nakobe Dean was also largely regarded as a first-round talent before some injury news scared teams away. Adding this caliber of talent in the third round is a massive win.
In addition to the two Georgia Bulldogs, the Eagles made three other selections in the draft. In the second round, they selected Cam Jurgens who is a center out of Nebraska. The dominant Philadelphia offensive line has been a major part of the team's success and continuing to build depth is a positive. Jurgens likely will not have a major role this season but expect him to be groomed as the starting center of the future.
The Eagles also added LB Kyron Johnson in the fifth round and TE Grant Calcaterra with the 198th overall pick. Neither guy is a lock to even make the roster although there is a little bit of buzz surrounding Calcaterra. As the roster currently sits, Jack Stoll is the Eagles' second tight end on the depth chart. If Calcaterra can impress early on in training camp he has a real chance of earning some snaps this season.
Free Agency: A-
The Eagles had the 13th most cap space among the NFL heading into free agency this year which has been more than they have been accustomed to. They made use of this money and upgraded the team in a variety of positions. They began the offseason by signing hometown favorite Hassan Reddick to a three-year deal worth $45 million. Reddick produced 23.5 sacks over the past two seasons and will provide the Eagles with a necessary boost to the pass rush. They also resigned Derek Barnett to a one-year deal.
Kyzhir White was also brought in on a one-year deal and will likely get a majority of snaps with the Eagles. The linebacker position was arguably the team's biggest hole and White will go a long way toward fixing it. The team also put the icing on the cake by signing former Giants cornerback James Bradberry. The 28-year-old is set to be a great number two corner to play on the opposite side of Darius Slay. Anthony Harris was also brought in and will play a key role in the secondary.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Eagles did not make as large of a splash. However, they still made some nice additions along the margins. The team brought back RB Boston Scott on a one-year deal. They also signed two-time Olympian Devon Allen as he turns his attention back to football. Philadelphia also signed WR Zach Pascal who Coach Sirianni opened up and said he had a strong relationship with from their time with the Colts.
Overall Grade: A
The Eagles absolutely killed it this offseason. They made some massive improvements on both sides of the ball and addressed the holes that they previously had. The additions of AJ Brown, Kyzhir White, and James Bradberry were the ones that moved the needle the most.
The biggest question with this team will now be if Jalen Hurts is capable of leading the team. There are zero questions about Hurts' character or leadership, however, the question of if he has an NFL arm is still up in the air. The Eagles have done their best to put the pieces around Hurts and it is his job to produce. The wide receiver core has improved greatly from last season and gives him the tools to succeed. If all goes well this season this is an Eagles team that could make some noise.
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