First and second-year Eagles projected to start in 2023

Sean Desai has some weapons on the defensive side of the ball at his disposal, some we're still getting to know.

Several starters are gone from last year's Eagles defense. Javon Hargrave plays for the San Francisco 49ers now. C.J. Gardner-Johnson is in the Motor City with the Detroit Lions. T.J. Edwards is also gone (and so are Marcus Epps and Kyzir White).

T.J. and Kyzir ranked first and second in total tackles. That means a second-year Eagle entering his first season as a starter has huge shoes to fill.

Nakobe Dean, linebacker

Nakobe Dean enjoyed a redshirt season of sorts in 2022. He did most of his work on special teams and in garbage time during Week 13 and Week 14 blowout wins over the Tennessee Titans and the New York Giants.

He'll now wear the green dot on defense and serve as the play-caller. The questions are about whether or not he can be the playmaker at the NFL level that he was at the NCAA level as a member of the Georgia Bulldogs. We're pushing all our chips to the middle of the table and wagering that he will be.