The Eagles started their NFL offseason much earlier than expected.
As head coach Nick Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman prepare for their end-of-year press conferences on Wednesday, plenty of questions must be answered ahead of free agency, the draft, and training camp this summer.
Philadelphia went 1-6 in their final seven games, so the more immediate discussions will center around offensive and defensive coordinator candidates, along with a synopsis of where the breakdown in communication on defense began.
Other questions will focus on Jalen Hurts and his continued development, A.J. Brown’s temperament, DeVonta Smith’s contract, and the future of veterans like Jason Kelce, Fletcher Cox, and Brandon Graham.
With activities around the NovaCare Complex set to ramp up, here are seven questions facing the Eagles in 2024.
Whose offense will Philadelphia run in 2024?
Brian Johnson is out as offensive coordinator, fired after one season of running Nick Sirianni’s offensive system.
Philadelphia will hire a new offensive coordinator, but will any candidates want some say in the scheme, weekly game planning, and offense flow?
Sirianni gave up play-calling during the 2021 season and spent most of 2023 defending Brian Johnson’s performance based on it being the head coach’s scheme and playbook.
Will Philadelphia invest in linebacker position?
Philadelphia has gone almost 40 years without drafting a linebacker in the first round and will sit around as the 49ers, Ravens, Chiefs, and Lions all benefit from solid linebacker play.
Names like Fred Warner, Lavonte David, Demario Davis, Matt Milano, Roquan Smith, Bobby Wagner, Dre Greenlaw, Nick Bolton, and Patrick Queen are just some of the examples that should intrigue GM Howie Roseman enough to invest the proper resources or draft picks at the position.
The Eagles like to build through the trenches, but Roseman has to adapt his style and principles at some point.
Will Philadelphia get more aggressive on defense?
The Eagles’ passive approach on defense was more than impactful during the two seasons with Jonathan Gannon. Still, the two deep safeties and four pass rushers look like they failed under two different coordinators this season, and the question has to be asked: Is Philadelphia ready for a change in defensive principles?
The Eagles have interviewed veteran coordinators Ron Rivera and Mike Caldwell, but could a name like Wink Martindale, and his pressure scheme entice Nick Sirianni?
Will the Eagles draft a dynamic safety?
Philadelphia landed Jalen Carter (9) and Nolan Smith (30) in the first round of last April’s NFL draft.
In back-to-back seasons, Howie Roseman bypassed a dynamic safety to select a Georgia defender.
2022 Roseman bypassed Kyle Hamilton for Jordan Davis, while in 2023, Roseman bypassed the Lions Brian Branch for Smith.
Hamilton, Branch, Antoine Winfield Jr., Jabrill Peppers, Xavier McKinney, Jevon Holland, and Talanoa Hufanga are some names Roseman has passed on in previous years. Reed Blankenship is solid, and Kevin Byard could still be impactful, but Philadelphia has to get serious about addressing the need for dynamic playmakers in the middle behind Jalen Carter.
Is Howie Roseman getting away with failures?
The Eagles are explosive on offense and will always be competitive, but Roseman’s decisions on defense have backfired after further evaluation. Terrell Edmunds and Justin Evans were less than solid during their tenure, while the Kevin Byard deal has yet to produce game-changing results.
Roseman wasted a season of Rashaad Penny’s career, rarely used Olamide Zaccheaus outside of gimmick plays, and may have errored tremendously when he chose to pay James Bradberry over C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
Roseman gets credit for moving up to land Jalen Carter. Still, he’s ignored dynamic safeties in back-to-back years for Georgia defenders who have produced in limited roles and saw third-round pick Tyler Steen play in just one regular season contest.
What happens with Haaason Reddick?
Any thought of potentially moving on from Reddick this offseason evaporated after Nolan Smith failed to produce outside of one sack and some flashes of athletic brilliance.
A year after logging 19.5 sacks, Reddick registered 10+ sacks for the fourth straight season, but the Eagles will have a serious decision to make after the new league year.
Reddick will enter the final year of his contract with a salary cap charge of $21.8 million for 2024.
Will Howie Roseman resign Reddick, restructure his deal, or potentially move on?
Can Jalen Hurts handle the pressure?
Jalen Hurts is no longer the second-round pick who ascended to the starting quarterback position.
Hurts is set to start a new $255 million deal and face an offseason of questions regarding a potential regression while playing as his fourth offensive coordinator during his time with the Eagles.
Pressure and expectations come when you are one of the five highest-paid quarterbacks in NFL history.
Can Jalen Hurts handle that?
