Philadelphia Eagles franchise records that could be broken during the 2023 season
Could the Philadelphia Eagles break their franchise's single-season sack record set in 2022?
In 2022, Philadelphia led the NFL with 70 total sacks. This was the most in franchise history and just two shy of the NFL record set by the Chicago Bears in 1984.
Two studs joined the defensive roster thanks to the most recent selection meeting. Everyone is excited about the new defensive coordinator, Sean Desai. It will be tough. Many believe it's impossible, but we aren't quite ready to state the Eagles can't add three more sacks to their 2022 total when the coming regular season wraps.
Adding defensive tackle Jalen Carter and edge rusher Nolan Smith in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft gives the Eagles some reinforcements after losing defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to the San Fransisco 49ers during the free agency frenzy. Hargrave was one of four members of the Eagles roster to notch ten or more sacks in 2022. That's an NFL record.
Carter and Smith were teammates at Georgia University on a team that featured one of the best defenses college football has ever seen. They join former Bulldogs teammates, 2022 first-round pick Jordan Davis and 2022 third-round choice Nakobe Dean. Carter, Davis, and Smith combined for 24.5 sacks during their time with the Bulldogs.
Speaking of first-round picks, Derek Barnett will return to the Eagles in 2023 after missing all but the first game because of a torn ACL he suffered in Week 1 of the 2022 season in a game versus the Detroit Lions. While Barnett has only notched 21.5 sacks in 65 career games, 2023 is a contract year and his seventh in the NFL. That should motivate him to make his dent on the stat sheet.
Graham, Cox, Carter, Smith, Davis, and Barnett all have help. Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat played the most downs of any edge rushers on the Eagles' roster in 2022. They combined for 27 sacks on the season. This is potentially one of the most dominant defensive fronts the league has ever seen.
Dare we say it? The 2023 Philadelphia Eagles' pass rush has the potential to break the franchise record and the NFL's record to punctuate another phenomenal season.