The Birds will enter this offseason with many unknowns and plenty of pending free agents. The harsh realities of the NFL have already gutted the roster during the start of the legal tampering period.
After reaching the Super Bowl with a stacked roster, the harsh realities of the NFL have already gutted the roster after the first wave of free agency.
Seven key Eagles starters or contributors are joining other organizations, as T.J. Edwards (Bears), Javon Hargrave (49ers), Andre Dillard (Titans), Miles Sanders (Panthers), Kyzir White (Cardinals), Gardner Minshew (Colts), and Marcus Epps (Raiders) have all agreed and will depart.
As the team works to retain C.J. Gardner-Johnson and others, we’re projecting the Eagles’ starting defense after the first day of the legal tampering period.
Edge -- Brandon Graham
Derek Barnett has never been the left defensive end in the Eagles’ scheme, so the initial edge goes to the returning Graham over a rookie.
The veteran edge rusher returns on a one-year deal and will likely be the starter, while Haason Reddick also assumes the left defensive role when Graham moves inside.
DT -- Jordan Davis
Davis was already ascending the depth chart when he suffered a high ankle sprain, and with Javon Hargrave (49ers), Linval Joseph (free agent), and Ndamukong Suh (free agent) all expected to depart, he’ll return as a starter.
The former Georgia All-American saw action in 13 games and made five starts during a promising rookie season.
Davis was dominant during the preseason but saw his momentum slowed by an ankle injury in Week 8.
The Eagles traded up to grab the defensive tackle, and he made plays logging 14 tackles, one quarterback pressure, and one pass defended with zero missed tackles.
DT -- Milton Williams
Fletcher Cox re-signed on a one-year deal, but if Philadelphia wants to take the next step as a unit, then it should be third-year defensive tackle Milton Williams as a starter opposite Davis.
Williams was a part of the Eagles’ deep rotation of tackles and defensive ends, improving from his rookie season.
Williams logged four sacks, 6 QB hits, and 9 TFLs, and was one of the only players at his position to earn such a stat line without starting a game.
That’ll change in 2023, with Cox still flourishing in the four or five-man rotation.
DE-- Josh Sweat
The athletic edge rusher returns in 2023 after posting double-digit sacks and will assume a leadership role for the first time.
MLB -- Nakobe Dean
The former Georgia All-American linebacker saw action in 17 regular season games, with most of his snaps on special teams.
Dean played with an edge and showed potential during the preseason, and he’ll be a likely starter in 2023 with T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White, both unrestricted free agents.
WILL --Davion Taylor
The 2020 3rd-round pick Davion Taylor is an option, along with Christian Elliss.
SAM -- Haason Reddick
The Eagles’ star pass rusher also spends time at left defensive end, but he’ll be called upon to log another 16.5 sacks season off the edge.
CB -- Darius Slay
The All-Pro cornerback signed a two-year, $42 million contract extension ensuring that he’ll return as one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks.
CB-- James Bradberry
Bradberry was thought to be gone initially but re-signed on a 3-year, $38 million deal, reuniting the NFL’s top cornerback duo.
Slot CB -- Avonte Maddox
Maddox returns in the slot and is one of the best in the league.
Safety -- Reed Blankenship
The former Middle Tennesee State safety saw action in 10 games with four starts after making the Eagles’ 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent.
Blankenship finished with 34 tackles, two passes defended, and one interception in a talented secondary.
With Marcus Epps departing to the Raiders and C.J. Gardner-Johnson available in free agency, Blankenship has all the looks of a starter in 2023.
Safety -- C.J. Gardner-Johnson
The Eagles have been making a late push to retain Gardner-Johnson and we’re predicting that a deal gets done.
Without the versatile safety, K’Von Wallace could get the nod, although a potential rookie in April’s NFL draft could throw everything off.
