Three key storylines
1) Hurts’ newest offensive scheme
Sean Mannion is the latest offensive coordinator for the Eagles and Jalen Hurts, who truly found offensive bliss in 2022, his second and final season with Shane Steichen. Since then, Hurts has had a different offensive coordinator in each season. Even with Kellen Moore during a Super Bowl-winning 2024 campaign, Philadelphia’s passing game ebbed and flowed while running back Saquon Barkley largely fueled the offense. Drama was more prevalent last season than offensive chemistry, as the passing game ranked 23rd in yards and the sputtering running attack diminished from the previous season’s dominance. Hurts had a career-best 25 touchdown passes but snapped a four-season streak of double-digit rushing scores, finishing with eight. Last year’s offense was far too predictable and stagnated on a seemingly weekly basis, held to 20 points or less in 10 games, including a dismal 23-19 playoff loss to the 49ers. With O-line guru Jeff Stoutland no longer coaching a group that was really the heartbeat of both of the Eagles’ Super Bowl squads under Nick Sirianni, the offense is undergoing more change than the annual alterations everyone’s accustomed to. A.J. Brown is gone, traded to the Patriots in an offseason storyline that lingered for months. All eyes are on Hurts, whose past accomplishments don’t seem to hold too much weight with a feisty fanbase that believes its strong roster should be vying for Lombardi Trophies every year.
2) New-look wide receivers
After four seasons, two Super Bowl appearances and one Lombardi Trophy, A.J. Brown has departed Philadelphia. While Brown’s disharmony commanded the headlines, he topped 1,000 yards receiving in each of his four years with the team. DeVonta Smith is now the unquestioned top target, but GM Howie Roseman restocked the WR room with a trade for Dontayvion Wicks, the signing of veteran speedster Marquise Brown and — in the most exciting move — the first-round selection of Makai Lemon. Don’t sleep on second-round tight end Eli Stowers, either. The John Mackey Award winner from Vanderbilt could line up all over the field as a 6-foot-4 matchup nightmare. Dallas Goedert is back, likely for one final season, and Smith, one of the more underrated wideouts around, adds to the familiarity. Overall, though, there is a freshness to the group that will need to come together in the summer but could liven up an all-too-often static offense from a season ago.
3) What becomes of Carter?
Jalen Carter seems to be on the brink of becoming perhaps the league’s elite defensive tackle. Hence, he’s seeking a seismic extension, which has led to trade speculation. How it all plays out is sure to be headline fodder, and it wouldn’t feel right to be without some melodrama in Philly. Furthermore, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is back, and losing Carter would be a magnificent blow. A potential boon will be the additions of cornerback Tariq Woolen and pass rusher Jonathan Greenard. No matter the pedigree, not all players fit into Fangio’s scheme (see: Bryce Huff, Jalen Ramsey, Jevon Holland, etc.). Woolen is a physically gifted cover man who made his share of questionable plays with the Seahawks. It will be interesting seeing how the newbies fit into Fangio’s scheme, but the prevailing matter at hand for the defense is Carter’s future.
