What are Eagles’ earrings after falling in the Super Bowl?

Philadelphia faces the challenge of having to replace seven starters from the team that won the NFC last year.

PHILADELPHIA — The price of success in 2022 was high for the Philadelphia Eagles.

After dominating the regular season with a 14-3 record and earning a trip to the Super Bowl LVII, the rest of the league wanted a piece of what they built. The Arizona Cardinals they took the defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon to make him your new head coach. The Indianapolis Colts They did the same with the offensive coordinator Shane Steichen. And, the staff was decimated, particularly on defense, with seven starters — the safeties C.J. Gardner-Johnson y Marcus Eppsdefensive tackle Javon HargraveHall Miles Sandersguardia Isaac Seumaloy linebackers T.J. Edwards y Kyzir White— migrating via free agency.

Typically, the general manager Howie Roseman works to extend key contributors before they hit the open market, but the organization made the decision to pause negotiations throughout the season, hoping not to ruin team chemistry with new contracts for some but not others. The Eagles they counted 19 unrestricted free agents, as a result.

“We understood that it could cost us in the end, but we thought it was worth it for the opportunity to potentially win a championship,” he said. Roseman during the scouting combine last month. “Unfortunately, we fell short.”

But this offseason hasn’t been all about losses. Philadelphia He managed to renew with the corner All-Pro, James Bradberry; restructured the agreement Darius Slay after a breakup seemed inevitable; they brought back the pillars Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox y Jason Kelce; and added players, including running back Rashad Pennyquarterback Marcus Mariotacornerback Greedy Williams y linebacker Nicholas Morrow. Los Eagles They have a rising quarterback in Jalen Hurts and return with a strong supporting cast led by A.J. Brown y DeVonta Smithalong with one of the best offensive lines in the league.

But the Dallas Cowboys have gained ground in NFC Eastif the multiple departures from the template of the Eagles combined with the additions of Brandin Cooks y Stephon Gilmore to the roster of their divisional rivals.

whatever Philly may or may not preserve the first divisional spot and remain a contender for the Lombardi Trophywill largely depend on the following questions:

How much will the Gardner-Johnson output end up costing?

If his 2023 campaign goes off the rails, there’s a good chance fingers will start pointing to decision-making around Gardner-Johnson and the resulting side effects.

According to a source with direct knowledge of the negotiations, the Eagles offered a multiyear deal early in free agency, but Gardner-Johnson he did not accept, feeling that he was far below his worth. Philly went ahead and agreed with Bradberry y Slay. With him they gave Eagles they had practically disappeared, Gardner-Johnson opted for a one-year pact and up to 8 million dollars with the Detroit Lions.

Gardner-Johnson He finished last season tied for the league lead in interceptions (six) despite missing five games with a lacerated kidney, and was an impact player for the best pass defense in the league. So why wasn’t there a bigger effort to retain him? The feeling here is that the Eagles were reluctant to commit much money to Gardner-Johnson because of the uncertainty around how reliable it could be in the long term.

But, there is a risk in letting him go, too. Philadelphia now he hits the reset button at safety, and instead of re-signing with a 25-year-old who continues to show signs of progress, they retained the veterans Bradberry (29 years old) and Slay (32), which join Kelce (35), Cox (32) y Graham (34) as the Eagles who received new deals in the offseason.

Reed Blankenship he did well in counted opportunities as a rookie at safety, but the Eagles they need to look abroad for help. Adrian Amos, Terrell Edmunds y Taylor Rapp they are among the remaining free agents. It is worth noting that Roseman no acquisition a Gardner-Johnson of the Saints until August of last year, so there is plenty of time to take care of the position, but it seems unlikely that the results will be as good as they were with Gardner-Johnson in 2022.

How dramatic will the drop in level at running back be?

Sanders signed a four-year, $24 million deal with the Carolina Panthersmonetizing the best year of his career, when he rushed for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Los Eagles they took the less onerous route and brought in the explosive but constantly injured Penny for one season and a total of just over a million dollars, renewing with rotation running back, Boston Scott.

“I feel like it’s a great place to refresh, restart my career,” he said. Pennya former first-round recruit for the Seattle Seahawks. “Playing with a finalist for the prize of MVP As a quarterback, a great running back group, great weapons at wide receivers and probably the best offensive line, I’m definitely excited to get to work.”

There is an argument that can be made that the need for a top running back is lessened by the factors you mention. Pennyincluding operating alongside Hurts, whose running ability puts defenses in trouble. It is not difficult to imagine Penny going through huge gaps and adding explosive plays to this offense.

His story, however, suggests that injuries will be a factor —Penny significant time has been lost to a torn ACL, a calf injury, and a fractured fibula throughout his five-year career–and it would be wrong to suggest that the production of Sanders it was solely due to the system. There is talent in the current group of running backs, led by Penny, Kenneth Gainwell y Scottbut there is also room for improvement.

The former runner of the Cowboys, Ezekiel Elliotthas expressed interest in joining the Eaglessources told ESPN. Elliott He had his fewest rushing yards total, 876, in 2022, but he scored 12 touchdowns and remained his team’s leading rusher in short-yardage and pass-protection situations.

Los Eagles they will probably want to see what happens in the 2023 NFL Draft before adding another veteran to the group. The most realistic way that Elliott ends in Phillyis if the Eagles they leave the event without a runner, and Elliott he can be signed at a bargain price later in the offseason.

The star of the University of Texas, Sesame Robinsongenerated emotion among the recent fans, when he published a photograph on his social networks from Philadelphia, presumably on an official visit prior to the draft. The Eagles they have two first-round picks for this April’s event — No. 10 and No. 30 overall — and would likely have to invest the first one to win Robinson, All-American unanimous and winner of the Doak Walker Award. That would be somewhat out of character for the way the Eagles they normally build their template. But, there is a school of thought that believes that Philly he must go all-in on offense and allow that side of the ball to carry most of the load in 2023 while the defense rebuilds.

Whether it’s a bombastic addition like Robinsonor someone else, it would not be surprising to see Philadelphia taking care of the position between today and the start of the regular season.

Will the young talent be able to step up?

The defense lost both starting safeties, both starting linebackers, and an impact defensive tackle in Hargrave during the campaign break. Although the second wave of free agency and the draft — the Eagles they have six teams in all — can help reshape the roster, Philly he will have to rely on some young players who are already on the roster.

Two main candidates are the linebacker I’m Dean and defensive tackle jordans davisformer college teammates on the defense of Georgiawho served as role players during their debut seasons in Philadelphialast year. Dean he played mostly on special teams, while Davis he started the year strong, before a high ankle injury slowed him down.

Dean is a favorite to take over as a starter at one of the two linebacker spots, and Davis should see an increase in his role inside the defense of the Eaglescon Hargrave now in San Francisco.

Meanwhile, 2022 second-round pick, Cam Jurgensis the favorite to replace Seumalo as right guard.

“Those guys are ready to play. They’re ready to contribute,” he said. Roseman. “We knew when we drafted them last year, we took them because they were the best players, not necessarily because they were guys ready to fill positions of need. We look at our team this year, knowing those guys can step up and be a part of it”.