Over/Under: 10 Wins for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017?
The Philadelphia Eagles walked away from the 2016 season with seven wins. With the moves they made in the offseason, what can we expect in 2017?
GIven the circumstances last season, seven wins was actually a pretty respectable number for the Philadelphia Eagles. Their rookie quarterback, Carson Wentz was thrust into a starting role almost immediately and the roster was in need of a major shakeup. The Eagles underwent a serious transition in the 2017 off-season, but what does that mean for the upcoming regular season? Let’s find out…
The 2016 Season
The Eagles had about as much of an up and down season as any team could possibly have. They started off hot with a 3-0 start, dropped four of the next five, and finished the season 7-9. The good news was the team found their franchise quarterback, and players like linebacker Jordan Hicks and defensive end Brandon Graham showed that they could be significant pieces to build around.
The bad news was there were still glaring holes at positions such as wide receiver, cornerback, and running back. There were far too many dropped balls on offense, and the defense gave up way too many deep passes. Obviously, the team had a pretty clear picture of what needed to be done heading into the off-season.
Philadelphia Eagles
2017 Offseason
The Eagles entered the 2017 offseason with limited salary cap space. This didn’t stop them from “ballin’ on a budget.” They signed a number of big name players to one-year “prove it” deals and several others to deals that allow the Eagles to drop them after one year with a minimal cap hit. The team also restructured the contracts of other players to create a little breathing room.
In the 2017 NFL Draft, Philly addressed the serious needs they had at pass rusher and cornerback early. They, then, took players in the later rounds who were looked at as raw but had significant upside. All of these moves look great on paper, but what does it mean on the field?
Looking Ahead: 2017 Season
The Eagles already look dramatically different from last year. The team has a true number one running back (LeGarrette Blount) and number one receiver (Alshon Jeffery). They have a speedy wide receiver (Torrey Smith) that will keep defenses honest and reliable targets that can get open in the middle of the field (Jordan Matthews, Zach Ertz). That will help them to move the chains.
The defense should be significantly improved as well. Patrick Robinson was signed as an experienced veteran at the corner position to pair with Jalen Mills. Players such as Derek Barnett and Rasul Douglas look to make a major impact as rookies. Veterans Jordan Hicks, Brandon Graham, and Malcolm Jenkins will also look to build on impressive 2016 seasons.
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Final Analysis
There is no question that the Philadelphia Eagles are a better team than they were last year. With that being said, it is not unreasonable to believe that the team could walk away with nine wins in 2017. There are still some questions as to how well the new veterans will play and how rookies will adjust to the speed of the game, so fans may want to temper expectations. The NFC East should be a strong division this year. That will be a serious challenge for the team. Overall, the Eagles should be a very exciting team to watch this year and could be dark horses to snag a wild card spot. Let’s just hope these next four months go by quickly so we can find out.
Is it football season yet???
Side Note:
Happy Memorial Day everyone! Thank you to all of those who have fallen in service to our country. We would not have the opportunities that we have today without you. Also, thank you to those who have served and are currently serving. You all are the true heroes!