The Philadelphia Eagles are viewed as a Super Bowl contender due to a roster loaded with star power, yet Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has simultaneously built up a stable of promising, young players that are ready to emerge this season.
Here are five breakout candidates on the Eagles to watch for in 2024.
5 Eagles Ready To Break Out in 2024
Jalen Carter, DL
Jalen Carter looked like he was ready to break out in 2023 until he hit the dreaded “rookie wall” during the second half of the regular season. Now Carter is ready to thrive in Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s scheme.
Carter should take a significant leap forward, given the success that both Christian Wilkins and Zach Sieler had under Fangio last season. Both Wilkins and Sieler each recorded career-high sack totals in their lone season with Fangio as defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins.
In four seasons before Fangio arrived in Miami, Wilkins recorded 11.5 total sacks. In 2023, Wilkins recorded nine sacks in a contract year. In five seasons before Fangio’s arrival, Sieler recorded 10 total sacks. He recorded 10 sacks last season.
Therefore, it’s quite easy to project that Carter will exceed double-digit sacks in 2024. He is clearly an ascending player with elite tools and All-Pro potential. If Carter can handle a significantly bigger workload, he should quickly emerge as one of the top defensive linemen in the NFL.
Jahan Dotson, WR
The Eagles filled a massive void at WR3 when Philadelphia traded with the Washington Commanders for wide receiver Jahan Dotson. While the 24-year-old wide receiver clearly understands his role behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, he could break out in 2024.
Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has had plenty of success using three wide receivers throughout his career as a play-caller. Although Dotson’s career high is just 523 receiving yards in a single season, he could surpass that mark in Philadelphia.
In Moore’s first season as offensive coordinator with the Dallas Cowboys in 2019, Randall Cobb hauled in 55 receptions for 828 yards and three touchdowns as the team’s third wide receiver.
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The following season, Michael Gallup hauled in 59 receptions for 843 yards and five touchdowns as WR3 in Dallas. In all but one of Moore’s seasons as OC of the Cowboys, the team’s third wide receiver surpassed at least 600 receiving yards.
Therefore, it seems likely that Dotson could enjoy a career year immediately with the Eagles. Despite joining the team late, Moore has already explained that he expects Dotson to be “heavily involved” in Philadelphia’s offense.
Bryce Huff, EDGE
Roseman and the Eagles made a bold decision this offseason, as the franchise traded Haason Reddick to the New York Jets and replaced him with Bryce Huff. While it certainly looks like the correct move right now, Huff could emerge as a star in 2024.
While Huff was viewed as a limited pass-rush specialist, he has quickly showcased his potential in Philadelphia as Fangio utilized him as both a pass rusher and in coverage during the preseason.
Although Huff was rarely used in coverage during his time with the Jets, he actually had plenty of experience doing so in college. He dropped into coverage on 255 total snaps during his time at Memphis.
One of the main concerns about Huff was his ability to play against the run, yet he showcased the ability to do so with a few impactful plays during the preseason. It’s clear that Huff could take a massive step forward as an edge defender in Fangio’s scheme.
Dallas Goedert, TE
Dallas Goedert had arguably the worst season of his NFL career in 2023. Goedert averaged just 10.0 yards per catch last season. He also averaged just 42.3 yards per game, his lowest average since 2019.
While Goedert’s underwhelming performance wasn’t his fault, he should certainly be more involved in 2024 and beyond. Goedert’s usage was frustrating to watch last season, and Moore will likely have a better plan in place for the potential Pro Bowl tight end.
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Dalton Schultz put together impressive seasons as a tight end in Moore’s offensive scheme. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Goedert have the best season of his NFL career and cement himself as one of the top tight ends in the league.
Quinyon Mitchell, CB
While it might seem odd to list a rookie as a breakout candidate, that’s just how special Quinyon Mitchell could truly be. Mitchell has already quickly surpassed Fangio’s expectations as a rookie in Philadelphia.
After Fangio elected not to play rookie cornerback Cam Smith in Miami last season, many were skeptical about his willingness to give young players a chance. However, Mitchell has ascended up the depth chart in Philadelphia, as he is expected to be CB2 in 2024.
Fangio has stated that he prefers rookies to focus on one role during their first season in the NFL. Despite Fangio’s preference, Mitchell has already shown the ability to play both outside cornerback and in the slot as well.
The 66-year-old defensive coordinator was asked about Mitchell’s readiness and ability to handle multiple roles on Monday.
“Pretty quickly because we did play him at nickel early on, and he did fine in there,” Fangio said. “I do think for him personally, it would be good to lock in at one spot because even though we’ve been very happy with his development and his learning abilities, he still is a rookie, and I do think if he can get comfortable at one spot, it would be to his benefit. But we may not be able to do that.”
It’s clear that Fangio has grown fond of Mitchell’s versatility and already trusts him to play multiple spots if needed. Therefore, Mitchell is certainly a breakout candidate to watch for the Eagles in 2024.