The Super Bowl loss to Kansas City stung the Eagles and their fans, and Philadelphia’s 2022 coordinators — Jonathan Gannon and Shane Steichen — have left for head-coaching gigs. But there are plenty of reasons for optimism for 2023. Here are three:
Jalen Hurts is the quarterback of the future
In 2022, Hurts — who’s still playing on a rookie deal — cemented himself as the Eagles’ franchise quarterback. He went 16-1 as the starter in the regular season and playoffs, threw for 22 TDs and rushed for 13.
For his stellar season, he earned his first Pro Bowl nod and finished second in MVP voting to Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes. He also led the team to the Super Bowl in just his second year as the full-time starter.
Hurts is expected to receive a huge payday, perhaps a $50 million-a-year deal.
The best defensive line in football
The Eagles had the best defensive line in the league in 2022, racking up 70 sacks, the third most all time behind only the 1989 Minnesota Vikings and 1984 Chicago Bears.
They also made history as the first team to have four players with 10 sacks or more in a season. Edge rusher Haason Reddick led the way with 16. Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, an impending free agent, and defensive ends Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat had 11 sacks apiece.
Reddick, Sweat and Graham will be back, and rookie defensive tackle Jordan Davis is ready to take the torch from veterans Fletcher Cox, Linval Joseph and Ndamukong Suh.
Two first-round picks in this year’s draft
The Eagles have one of the deeper rosters, and it could get deeper. Thanks to GM Howie Roseman, Philadelphia has two first-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft — the No. 10 pick, which they stole from the New Orleans Saints in a 2022 draft day trade, and their own pick at No. 30.
The options are endless in the draft for the Birds. If last year is an indication, those picks could be on the move. During the 2022 draft, the Eagles traded for star wide receiver A.J. Brown and traded up to snag nose tackle prospect Davis.
