Offensive player named Eagles biggest X-factor for 2024

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

How Jurgens performs in that role will go a long way towards determining how successful the Eagles offense will be in 2024. As a result, Jurgens was recently named Philadelphia's biggest X-factor for 2024 by Pro Football Focus.

Jurgens is entering his third season as a member of the Eagles, and he projects to 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.

Here's what PFF had to say about Jurgens as the X-factor for Philly:

"Four of the Eagles’ five offensive line starters return, but one will be switching positions. Cam Jurgens has long been thought of as the heir to Jason Kelce at center, and after a year in which he started at right guard, he will return to his natural position. A smooth transition for Jurgens would ensure that the Eagles continue to carry an elite unit up front."

Applying lessons learned from Kelce

Jurgens learned a lot from playing alongside Kelce during the past two seasons, and he plans to apply those lessons from the legend on the field.

"It was very valuable," Jurgens said of getting the opportunity to learn from Kelce. "I learned so much playing behind him my first year, and then this last year getting to play guard, playing beside him. Every single day, there is something to learn, so it was fun being in that room and being in that environment."

Jurgens obviously has some big shoes to fill in 2024. but if he can apply the lessons he learned from Kelce and be anywhere near as effective as his predecessor at the position, it would be a major win for Philadelphia.