The Philadelphia Eagles‘ season ended on Sunday because of a 23-19 loss by the hands of the San Francisco 49ers. In a season the place the Eagles have been trying to defend their Tremendous Bowl title, they as a substitute bowed out of the playoffs within the wild card spherical regardless of being sizable favorites and enjoying in opposition to an opponent that was lacking star gamers on either side of the ball.
The sport itself was marked by among the identical issues that had plagued the Eagles all through the season, with their inconsistent offense wanting unstoppable to start out the sport however falling aside by the tip of it, Jake Elliott uncharacteristically lacking kicks, the protection being stingy on the again finish however unable to generate constant strain up entrance, and extra.
Given the best way this season went and particularly the best way it ended, it is necessary to try what went incorrect via the prism of what may occur subsequent. With that in thoughts, we will stroll via a couple of of the important thing areas that want consideration this offseason.
The teaching workers
By most measurements, Nick Sirianni is without doubt one of the most profitable coaches within the NFL. He is 59-26 throughout his 5 NFL seasons, giving him a .694 profitable share that ranks fifth-best all time, in line with Professional-Soccer-Reference, and eighth-best via a coach’s first 5 seasons, in line with ESPN’s Invoice Barnwell. He is 6-4 within the playoffs and he is been to 2 Tremendous Bowls and gained one only a yr in the past.
And but, there may be fixed consternation about Sirianni each inside and outdoors of Philadelphia, with followers seemingly prepared to fireplace him on the first signal of any underperformance. And there has definitively been underperformance in two of his 5 seasons, together with this one, with these seasons bearing plenty of similarities to one another.
It would not assist that the Eagles have fallen aside on the finish of two completely different seasons, and each occasions it was within the years when Sirianni promoted an offensive coordinator from inside to exchange the one who had simply taken the staff to the Tremendous Bowl, solely to see the offense wrestle badly down the stretch and particularly within the playoffs.
The primary time across the protection was simply less than the duty of carrying the staff (partially due to expertise deficiencies but additionally as a result of Sirianni’s coordinator hires did not work out), so as soon as the offense broke down and the wheels simply got here totally off, however this time round many of the blame must be laid on the toes of the offense, as a result of the protection was completely ok to win. And while you’re an offensive-minded head coach and the offense breaks down, you are going to catch some warmth, even should you’re not the first play caller, which Sirianni wasn’t this yr.
That brings us to offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, who seemingly simply didn’t have any solutions for what ailed the offense this season. He could not work out a option to scheme across the staff’s varied points, nor to place Jalen Hurts in the very best place to succeed. Even Hurts expressed open frustration with the offense at occasions this season, and given the best way issues performed out on the sphere throughout each the common season and particularly within the playoff loss to the 49ers, it is not exhausting to see why.
We do not but know whether or not the Eagles plan to carry again both Sirianni or Patullo. It will frankly be fairly surprising if Patullo have been again given the offensive struggles and what we all know concerning the Eagles’ willingness to make aggressive adjustments, notably on the coordinator positions.
Sirianni is a special story. It is exhausting to make an argument that he is not at the very least coach given the diploma of success he is had throughout his tenure, and groups usually do not transfer on from good coaches as a result of good coaches are fairly exhausting to search out. However you may also make an argument for looking for a coach who extra definitively offers you a schematic benefit on recreation days and who can do a greater job of discovering offensive solutions when Plan A breaks down. We all know the Eagles are all the time attempting to be forward of the curve quite than behind it, so Sirianni’s future is unquestionably nonetheless one thing to look at.
It doesn’t matter what they select to do at head coach, they’d be sensible to retain defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who has constructed one of many higher defenses within the NFL over the past two seasons. They should add extra move rushers to get again to the place they have been a yr in the past, however Fangio is an elite defensive coach.
Patriots immediately dominant protection turns into the largest wild card of the NFL playoffs
Tyler Sullivan
It was a contentious season for Brown in Philly, and that continued on Sunday along with his sideline interplay with Sirianni, his tough efficiency within the recreation itself and at last his refusal to talk with the media following the loss. Brown hugged his teammates within the locker room after which left with out taking questions, per the Philly Voice.
Commerce rumors swirled round Brown even in the course of the season because the Eagles have been chasing back-to-back Tremendous Bowls, and it might be shocking if these rumors did not choose up this offseason, given the place it seems like the connection between the 2 sides is at this level. Nevertheless, there are a number of issues to contemplate relating to potential Brown trades.
The primary is that the Eagles do not actually have anyone to exchange him. They’ve DeVonta Smith, in fact, however their depth chart is skinny past the highest two: all they’ve past the Brown-Smith duo is Jahan Dotson (who is ready to be a free agent), Darius Cooper, Britain Covey after which Johnny Wilson on injured reserve. That is at the very least a part of why the goal tree has been so concentrated over the previous few years. They might in fact goal a possible substitute with no matter draft compensation they obtained in a commerce, however the unique Brown commerce to Philadelphia proves how dangerous that’s.
The second is the monetary implications. Brown’s three-year contract extension signed in April 2024 hasn’t even kicked in but. He is beneath contract via 2029, but additionally has 5 void years tacked onto the tip of his deal, per Over the Cap. If the Eagles have been to commerce him previous to June 1, they’d be taking up a $43.4 million useless cap hit, costing themselves simply over $20 million in contrast with the hit that might come from protecting Brown on the staff. A post-June 1 commerce is extra financially possible, however even that might save the Eagles solely $7 million on their books for 2026. That makes buying and selling him this offseason extremely difficult. (Chopping him is clearly a non-starter.)
The third is that whereas Brown stays superb, his efficiency did tail off barely this yr. He caught 78 passes and went over 1,000 yards as soon as once more, however he posted career-worst marks in yards per route, per goal and per reception, in addition to yards after catch per reception and first downs per route and per goal. To be clear, his numbers in these classes have been nonetheless fairly good; he completed twenty second within the NFL in yards per route, for instance. However while you often verify in throughout the high 5 and drop exterior the highest 20, there could possibly be some minor trigger for concern shifting ahead.
All that being stated, if the Eagles do put Brown in the marketplace, there are certain to be loads of suitors for a 29-year-old (he turns 29 in June) wideout who has persistently proven that he’s among the many perfect gamers within the league at his place. The larger query is whether or not the Eagles ought to actually be contemplating it, or whether or not they need to as a substitute be determining a option to mend fences, which might virtually actually be higher for the Eagles on the sphere.
The working recreation
In 2024, the Eagles dominated on the bottom as a result of their run recreation was each environment friendly and explosive because of the league’s finest offensive line and a celebrity working again who was in the very best scenario of his profession.
They averaged 4.9 yards per carry total, and 5.3 yards per keep on working again runs. As a result of the offensive line was so good, the Eagles led the NFL in yards earlier than contact per carry, in line with TruMedia, and since Saquon Barkley was so good, he ripped off 30 explosive runs, which ranked third within the NFL.
This yr, none of these figures lived as much as the place they have been the earlier season. Philly averaged 4.2 yards per carry total and 4.4 per keep on working again runs. Amid offensive line accidents and under-performance, the Eagles’ yards earlier than contact per carry common dropped by greater than three-quarters of a yard and Barkley dipped to twenty explosive runs, which ranked ninth within the league.
Determining a option to get again to the place they have been final season goes to be extremely necessary. Among the enchancment can come from the offensive line being more healthy. Lane Johnson and Landon Dickerson have been injured on and off all through the season and mixed to overlook 10 video games and performed harm in a number of others. Getting them as much as full well being and full velocity will assist.
However that additionally cannot be the one a part of the plan. Relying on Barkley to be the man he was in 2024 in all probability is not affordable. He’ll be 29 subsequent season, an age by which working backs are usually slowing down. Barkley is clearly not your typical working again, however he is additionally bought plenty of tread on his tires at this level and possibly must be spelled extra usually than he was this yr and final. Discovering a complementary again who can rip off explosive runs now and again, whether or not that is Tank Bigsby (who flashed at occasions this yr however hasn’t been notably explosive in his profession), Will Shipley or another person, is one thing the Eagles ought to be interested by.
The wage cap
The Eagles are at present set to enter the offseason with $20.3 million in cap house, in line with Over the Cap. A number of necessary gamers are set to hit free company this offseason: Dallas Goedert, Reed Blankenship, Jaelan Phillips and Nakobe Dean are chief amongst them.
They are going to virtually actually restructure or lengthen a number of contracts to create extra room, they usually may add void years to different offers to unfold out cap hits much more. Gamers together with Goedert (on a brand new deal that replaces his void years), Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter may get new offers and avoid wasting cash in opposition to the cap, for instance. Plus, the contracts for Hurts, Johnson, Jordan Mailata, Smith, Barkley, Dickerson, Zack Baun and Cam Jurgens have already got minimal base salaries, however they might convert some choice bonuses to signing bonus and unfold a few of that cash out over the remaining years of their respective offers.
In line with Over the Cap, the Eagles can create between $99 million and $118 million in cap room with easy or most restructures. They virtually certainly will not restructure each doable deal that they will however they are going to seemingly lower ties with different gamers to create extra room, so they need to have loads of cash accessible to conduct their offseason enterprise.
