This wasn’t how the Philadelphia Eagles‘ 2023-24 season was supposed to end. After coming within a few plays of winning last year’s Super Bowl, the Eagles were expected to defend their NFC title and take another shot at the Lombardi Trophy.
But Philadelphia’s issues, especially on the defensive side of the ball, were eventually too much to overcome. The Eagles lost five of their last six regular-season games, blowing their NFC East lead and sacrificing a home playoff game in the process.
Forced to go on the road and play without injured WR1 A.J. Brown, HC Nick Sirianni’s squad dropped its Wild Card game to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 32-9 on Monday night.
What should the Eagles do now? Here’s how Philadelphia might approach a few of its key decision points during the 2024 NFL offseason.
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While Sirianni is facing pressure to make staff changes this offseason, it’s challenging to believe Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie would fire his third-year head coach.
Philadelphia struggled to close the 2023 campaign, but that doesn’t erase Sirianni’s 34-17 regular-season record or the Eagles’ three consecutive playoff appearances. Perhaps the availability of a coaching legend like Bill Belichick changes Philadelphia’s equation. Still, FOX’s Jay Glazer suggested Monday that Sirianni is not on the hot seat.
1. Start Over at Defensive Coordinator
Sirianni probably wanted to hire Vic Fangio, who spent the 2022 campaign as an Eagles consultant, as Philadelphia’s defensive coordinator heading into last season, but Fangio’s availability never lined up with ex-Eagles DC Jonathan Gannon’s departure, and Fangio ended up with the Miami Dolphins.
The Eagles instead went with former Chicago Bears DC Sean Desai, who lasted 14 weeks before being stripped of his play-calling duties. Sirianni turned to former Detroit Lions HC Matt Patricia, who was on staff as a defensive assistant, near the end of the regular season.
Neither coordinator worked. Philadelphia continued to give explosive play after explosive play, finishing the year 29th in defensive DVOA and efficiency and 30th in points allowed.
It’s time to start fresh atop the Eagles’ defensive staff hierarchy, and there’s an obvious place to look for candidates — Philadelphia’s 2023 DC search.
Of the five non-Desai candidates the Eagles interviewed last year, now Denver Broncos DC Vance Joseph might be the only unavailable option. Los Angeles Rams LBs coach Chris Shula would surely accept a promotion in Philadelphia if offered.
The Eagles’ other candidates came from the college ranks: Michigan DC Jesse Minter, Georgia co-DC Glenn Schumann, and Illinois defensive analyst Jim Leonhard. Minter and Schumann might be in the running for NCAA head coaching jobs, but Leonard — formerly Wisconsin’s DC — could be an intriguing option for Sirianni and Co.
2. Cut James Bradberry and Draft a First-Round CB
Veteran CB James Bradberry said he received better offers than the Eagles’ three-year, $38 million proposal last offseason, but he ultimately decided to re-sign with Philadelphia. While the Eagles knew Bradberry was turning 30, they’d also watched him wrap up a dominant 2022 campaign that ended with a second-team All-Pro nod.
Still, this year has been a disaster. Bradberry has consistently struggled to guard opposing wideouts, especially in man coverage, forcing Philadelphia to give him consistent safety help. He allowed 2.9 more yards per target and 2.5 more yards per completion than he did last season, and he gave up 11 touchdowns as the nearest defender in coverage — the most in the NFL.
The Eagles gave Bradberry $20 million full guarantees. Cutting him will be costly against their salary cap, but they probably need to bite the bullet. Designating Bradberry as a post-June 1 release will leave Philadelphia with $4.74 million in dead money in 2024 and $12.5 million in 2025.
Hoping Darius Slay can get healthy and 2023 fourth-round pick Kelee Ringo can develop might be part of the Eagles’ strategy, but they also need to use early draft capital on cornerback additions. Alabama teammates Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry, Iowa’s Cooper DeJean, and Clemson’s Nate Wiggins could interest GM Howie Roseman in Round 1.
3. Get Jalen Hurts Healthy and Improve Offensive Cohesion
Bradberry was hardly the only Eagle to struggle in 2023. QB Jalen Hurts was in the MVP conversation last year (and early this season) before a knee injury seemingly hampered his production.
Hurts threw 15 interceptions in 2023 — the same number he’d tossed in the previous two campaigns combined. He also fell from second in QBR last year (68.3) to 12th this season (60.0)
On Monday, ESPN’s Tim McManus explored Hurts’ inconsistencies, reporting that Sirianni, Hurts, and first-year OCr Brian Johnson have different visions of how the Eagles’ offense should look. One source told McManus that Johnson has to “fit his own philosophy within an offensive structure belonging to Sirianni.”
MORE: Goedert Appears to Have Words With Hurts on Sideline
Johnson was Philadelphia’s quarterbacks coach before being promoted to replace Shane Steichen, and he’s generated head-coaching interest from the Atlanta Falcons and Tennessean Titans this offseason.
His job as the Eagles’ offensive play-caller is probably safe — Philadelphia doesn’t want to replace both coordinators for a second consecutive offseason, so Johnson and Hurts have to spend the next eight months getting on the same page.
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