Philadelphia has a stacked offensive unit, a retooled defense, and two versatile studs at the coordinator positions in Kellen Moore (OC) and Vic Fangio (DC).
There are few holes on the roster, but there is plenty of room for younger guys and select veterans to have a breakout season, cementing the revamped Eagles as a Super Bowl favorite.
On offense, there are several candidates for the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year, while the defense has an All-Pro candidate at defensive tackle and young elite talent at cornerback. Ten players are poised for a breakout season, and with training camp quickly approaching, we’re previewing each player.
Breakout candidate No. 10 is the immensely athletic Albert Okwuegbunam Jr.
Background
Before being a fourth-round pick of the Broncos in 2020, Okwuegbunam had a successful career for the Missouri Tigers.
2× Second-team All-SEC (2017, 2019)
All-SEC Freshman Team (2017)
A 2020 4th-round pick, Okweugbunam logged 54 catches for 546 yards and four scores in 3 seasons in Denver.
2023 stats
Philadelphia acquired Okwuegbunam from Denver after the 2023 preseason finale that saw the versatile tight end catch seven passes for 109 yards and a touchdown. But the Broncos didn’t have room for him on their roster, so they made a deal with the Eagles.
Philadelphia traded a 2025 sixth-round pick and a 2025 seventh-rounder to the Broncos last August and decided not to utilize the pass catcher at all the previous seasons under offensive coordinator Brian Johnson.
A fourth-round pick out of Missouri, Okweugbunam was targeted just once in four games of action last season and did not have a catch.
2024 outlook
He’ll return under first-year offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and should find a role with the innovative play-caller. Look for Moore to incorporate Okwuegbunam more into the passing game.
Biggest reason he'll succeed
Moore will bring a modern offense that heavily features pre-snap motion and aggressive, vertical route concepts.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had a career year under Moore in 2021, finishing that season with 4,449 passing yards on 68.8% completion percentage while throwing 37 touchdowns and ten interceptions.
Prescott achieved career highs in passing attempts twice with Moore, with 596 in 2019 and 2021.
final analysis
The idea that Okwuegbunam would return in 2024 after being barely used last season gives insight into how poorly coached the Eagles were on offense.
Even with Dallas Goedert injured for almost a month, Brian Johnson never found a role for the talented pass catcher.
Howie Roseman’s do-over indicates that Okwuegbunam’s lack of usage in 2023 was on the staff, not the player.
