The Eagles surprised many with their decision to stick with Jalen Hurts in 2021 but it worked. They finished the season 9-8 and were excellent down the stretch, winning seven of their last nine games. With head coach Nick Sirianni entering his second year with the team and a number of big offseason additions this looks set to be an exciting team in 2022.
Offseason additions and losses
Offseason additions don’t get much bigger than A.J. Brown. The Eagles traded one of their first round picks for the former Titans receiver, immediately giving their receiving corps a huge boost. They subsequently signed him to a lucrative four-year, $100 million extension. They also bolstered their defense with edge rusher Haason Reddick on a three-year, $45 million deal and former Giants corner James Bradberry on a one-year, $7.25 million deal. There were also several key extensions, including Fletcher Cox, Derek Barnett, and Jason Kelce.
When it came to departures, there weren’t many big names leaving Philadelphia this offseason. Brandon Brooks retired after playing less than 100 snaps over the past two seasons. They also said goodbye to several 2021 defensive starters, including linebacker Alex Singleton, cornerback Steven Nelson, and safety Rodney McLeod.
2022 NFL Draft
| Pick | Player |
| 1.13 | Jordan Davis – IDL, Georgia |
| 2.51 | Cam Jurgens – IOL, Nebraska |
| 3.83 | Nakobe Dean – LB, Georgia |
| 6.181 | Kyron Johnson – LB, Kansas |
| 6.198 | Grant Calcaterra – TE, SMU |
This was a small draft class, but a very solid one. It is even better when you account for the fact that one of their first round picks brought them A.J. Brown. Jordan Davis at No. 13 overall did feel a tad rich given the concerns around his stamina and pass rush impact, but the Eagles have landed themselves a monster against the run. Cam Jurgens comes in to be Jason Kelce’s long-term replacement and in Nakobe Dean they got one of the steals of the draft, assuming the medical concerns check out. They tried their luck with another high upside player carrying medical concerns in Grant Calcaterra, who has the potential to be a solid pass catching weapon.
Offense
There’s an awful lot to like about Philadelphia’s offense in 2022 and it starts in the trenches. The offensive line ranked fourth in both PFF composite grade and adjusted line yards last season. Jordan Mailata took his game to the next level at left tackle and on the right side there is the ever-reliable Lane Johnson. Center Jason Kelce signed an extension to keep him in Philly for his 12th season and they have multiple capable starters at guard.
The skill positions players are also incredibly impressive. Just two seasons ago this was a wide receiver room led by Greg Ward and Travis Fulgham. Those two have since been swapped out for A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith. Brown is the only receiver in the NFL to average 2.5+ yards per route run in each of the last three seasons, whilst Smith was one of four rookies to lead their teams in receptions, yards, and touchdowns last season. The fact the team also has one of the league’s best tight ends in Dallas Goedert gives them multiple ways to win in the passing game.
The one big question mark facing this team is their quarterback play. Jalen Hurts did enough last season to keep the starting job, but he wasn’t as comfortable as a passer as you would like. Whilst he managed to finish 10th in big-time throw rate, he finished 22nd in adjusted completion rate and had the longest time to throw of any starter. He also looked wildly out of his depth against Tampa Bay in the playoffs. Philadelphia’s success this season rests entirely on whether or not Hurts can take the next step in his development.
Defense
The Eagles’ defense wasn’t always reliable under Jonathan Gannon last year, but he started to lay the foundations of a talented unit. They epitomised the philosophy of “bend, don’t break”, allowing the fifth lowest explosive run rate and the lowest explosive pass rate in the NFL. Their ability to that again in 2022 has been aided by the addition of James Bradberry, who will pair nicely with Darius Slay to give them an excellent starting duo.
The problem for Philadelphia last season was getting sacks, ranked 31st with just 29. That shouldn’t be an issue in 2022. The acquisition of Jordan Davis is hugely important and will force offenses to allocate extra resources to the former Bulldog, giving edge rushers and blitzers more opportunities for one-on-one matchups. In Nakobe Dean they acquired an excellent blitzing linebacker who worked well with Davis in college. They also landed a quality pass rusher in Haason Reddick and have Brandon Graham back from injury. Don’t be surprised to see a big turnaround in 2022.
The concern with this unit is not a lack of talent in the starting lineup, but limited depth. This is particularly apparent in the secondary. The backup boundary corners behind Slay and Bradberry are Zech McPhearson and Tay Gowan. Both are second year pros and played less than 250 snaps combined in 2021. Avonte Maddox struggled mightily in the slot last year, but there are few other options the Eagles can chose from if he continues to struggle in 2022.
Prediction
The Eagles have a hugely talented roster. Outside of quarterback they have one of the most complete offensive units in football, and if Jalen Hurts can take the next step this team could surprise a few people. They have everything in place to really challenge Dallas for the division title and could easily be a playoff team once again in 2022.
