3 underrated Eagles players who could make a massive impact next season

With the likes of Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown and new addition Saquon Barkley on the roster, the Philadelphia Eagles have no shortage of star power. But, not all important players are stars, and the Eagles also have a plethora of key contributors who don't receive too much national attention. But, just because they're not popping up in headlines all over doesn't mean they aren't appreciated, especially by the fans in Philadelphia.

With that said, here's a look at three underrated Eagles players who could make a massive impact next season.

Parris Campbell, Wide receiver

Let's face it. When it comes to the wide receiver spot in Philadelphia, two players -- A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith -- are going to get the bulk of attention from opposing defenses and media members alike. And deservedly so. However, the Eagles are going to need some other players to step up and catch passes this season, and that's where new addition Parris Campbell comes in.

Campbell isn't a guy who is going to put up huge numbers with Brown and Smith getting the majority of looks, but that could also work in his favor at times if he's able to take advantage of the attention being focused elsewhere.

Look for Campbell to come up with a couple of random big plays throughout the season. After all, the Eagles are a team that likes to test the deep ball, and Campbell had 51 and 49-yard receptions as a member of the Colts.

Nolan Smith, Linebacker

Nolan Smith isn't as much underrated as he is inexperienced, but either way, he could be in line for a breakout season in 2024. The Eagles selected Smith in the first round (30th overall) of the draft last year, but his action was limited as a rookie.

Smith appeared in all 17 games for the Eagles last season, but he only played 16 percent of all available defensive snaps. He actually saw more action on special teams where he played 55 percent of all available snaps. In all, Smith recorded 18 total tackles and a sack as a rookie. Those numbers will likely increased during Smith's second season, as his role is expected to increase.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is obviously a fan of Smith, and he recently admitted that the young linebacker probably should have played more last season.

“In retrospect, just seeing him certainly in the playoff game, one of the guys who played well in the playoff game, maybe giving him a little bit more time during the year and experience, we talked about that,” Roseman said of Smith at the NFL combine last month.

“He's got all the right tools in his body. He's got the right mentality. And at the same time, he's got to go out and show it.”

Given those comments, it seems very likely that Smith will see an increased workload in 2024, and if he is able to seize the opportunity, he could potentially establish himself as an important piece of Philadelphia's defense moving forward.

Cam Jurgens, Center

No one will ever replace the recently retired Jason Kelce in the hearts and minds of Eagles fans, but it will likely be up to Cam Jurgens to physically replace him on Philadelphia's offensive line.

Jurgens is entering his third season as a member of the Eagles, and he will likely have a much larger role than he has in the past. Jurgens played just three percent of available offensive snaps as a rookie. That number jumped up to 89 percent last season, as he started 11 games on the line for Philly in '23. That experience should help if he makes the full-time shift to center moving forward.

For what it's worth, Kelce has been very complimentary of Jurgens in the past, even going as far as saying that Jurgens could ultimately be even better as a center than he was.

"I think the world of Cam Jurgens," Kelce said last summer. "I think he has the potential to be better than I have ever been as a center with the skill set he has. He's incredibly athletic, very, very strong, he's got long arms, he finishes plays, he's a hard worker. Pretty much everything you want to see you saw in him."

Jurgens isn't a household name outside of Philadelphia, but if he can maximize the potential that Kelce sees in him, that will change.