The Eagles are legitimate Super Bowl contenders, but they need these three players to raise their game if they want to lift the Lombardi Trophy.
Jalen Hurts nearly led the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory last season, but the team came up just short against the Chiefs in the biggest game of the year. Getting back to the Super Bowl is the clear goal for Nick Sirianni and his roster in 2023.
To accomplish that goal, Philadelphia must receive internal improvement from several players on the roster. Several veterans departed in free agency with big shoes to fill. That leaves an opportunity for young players to step up and prove their mettle.
The list of players who need to improve starts with an unproven linebacker who needs to become a tackling machine.
Eagles who need to take the next step: 3. Nakobe Dean
The Eagles invested a third-round draft pick on the former Georgia standout due to his high-end athleticism. It's safe to assume they hoped for more than four solo tackles in Dean's rookie campaign.
In fairness to Dean, T.J. Edwards limited him largely to a special teams role in 2022. Edwards' decision to leave for greener pastures in Chicago means Dean is slated to take over his starting linebacker spot in 2023.
Dean needs to soak up a healthy percentage of the tackles Edwards made from the second level of the defense. He also needs to put his speed to good use to help this defense force more turnovers. It may take him a few games to truly settle into the increased workload, but his ceiling is higher than Edwards. The Eagles need to make sure his potential turns into production if they want to make a deep postseason run.
Eagles who need to take the next step: 2. Terrell Edmunds
Letting C.J. Gardner-Johnson walk in free agency made financial sense for the Eagles' front office, but his departure leaves the team's defense without one of its most valuable playmakers from last season. Stealing Terrell Edmunds away from the Steelers was a nice pivot for Philadelphia, but they need the former first-rounder to have a career year to replace Johnson's production.
The odds are stacked against that happening for the athletic safety. He has been a steady performer during his time in the NFL, but he lacks the playmaking ability the Eagles got from Johnson. The more reasonable plan for the Eagles should be to let Edmunds steady the back line and allow other defenders to take more risks.
The reality that Johnson notched six interceptions last season while Edmunds failed to produce a single turnover perfectly illustrates the difference between the two players. It's possible the Eagles scheme will free Edmunds to take more chances but he's never going to become the playmaker that Gardner-Johnson is.
The pressure on Edmunds is also amplified because the Eagles will be breaking in a new starter at free safety as well. Marcus Epps wasn't a spectacular performer last year but he was a solid player in the back end. The combination of Edmunds and Reed Blankenship will be under a microscope all season long.
Eagles who need to take the next step: 1. D'Andre Swift
Miles Sanders was a key part of the Philadelphia attack last year but the Eagles, correctly, let him sign a big-money contract with the Panthers in free agency. Credit General Manager Howie Roseman and his front office for the shrewd decision to acquire D'Andre Swift to become the team's new starting running back.
The Lions' decision to let Swift leave is going to pay off handsomely for the Eagles. He averaged 5.5 yards per carry in Detroit last year and there's reason to believe that number could improve in Philadelphia. They have a creative offense that should create even more space for Swift to exploit on a variety of carries.
Swift could make an even larger impact on the Eagles' offense with his ability to be a high-quality pass catcher out of the backfield. That's something Sanders didn't do for Philadelphia last year. Swift has an opportunity to rack up receiving yards on short routes where Jalen Hurts puts pressure on opposing defenses with his scrambling ability.
Kenneth Gainwell will be a factor in the Eagles' backfield, but Swift has a chance to break out in a big way. Don't be surprised if the numbers he puts up in 2023 earn him All-Pro consideration in this electric offense.
