GLENDALE, Ariz. − There is little time to relax. The Eagles’ offseason began Monday, just hours after their 38-35 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
In the next four weeks, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman will have to make some critical decisions that could determine if the Eagles have a chance to return to the Super Bowl next season.
“There will be time to talk through all of that, but I know we’ve got a good nucleus of guys back to continue to build on,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “There was a lot of good football this year. We did a lot of good things. As a team, this one stings. This one hurts. We will no doubt get better from it.”
Here, then, are 7 offseason questions facing the Eagles:
1. How will Eagles replace top 2 assistants?
Within the next few days, offensive coordinator Shane Steichen will be announced as the Indianapolis Colts new head coach, according to NFL Network reports. And defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon reportedly interviewed Monday for the Arizona Cardinals head coaching job.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has mentioned often that the continuity on the coaching staff was critical to his success.
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It’s a rite of passage for a Super Bowl team to lose some coaches for better opportunities, and Sirianni said last month that he has prepared for that eventuality.
The easiest, and best, candidate to take over for Steichen as offensive coordinator is quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson. Johnson played for Hurts’ father in high school and has known Hurts since he was 4 years old. The two have a close relationship.
If Gannon leaves, the likely in-house candidate is defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson.
But that will lead to openings at their positions that the Eagles will have to fill. And it’s likely that Steichen and/or Gannon will take a few assistants as well, creating even more openings.
2. Is Jason Kelce retiring?
Kelce, the Eagles’ perennial All-Pro center, has contemplated retirement in each of the last four offseasons. He will consider it again. But this time, he might actually do it.
After all, Kelce made it back to the Super Bowl, and he got to do it by going against his brother, Travis. The Eagles also drafted Kelce’s replacement in Cam Jurgens last spring, with Kelce’s endorsement.
On a personal level, Kelce is 35 years old. He has two young daughters, and his wife Kylie is due any day now with their third.
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Naturally, Kelce was asked after the game if he’s returning for a 13th season?
“I’m not saying that yet. We’ll see,” he said.
But his decision could lead to a chain reaction on the offensive line.
If Kelce returns, it’s likely that right guard Isaac Seumalo, who’s eligible for free agency, won’t. So Jurgens would then replace Seumalo. If Kelce retires, then Jurgens would take over at center.
3. Jalen Hurts’ new contract
We all know it’s coming. Hurts is entering the final year of his rookie contract. For 2023, that means he will count just $1.9 million against the salary cap.
But it’s very likely that the Eagles will try hard to sign Hurts to a contract extension worth somewhere in the $50 million per year range. Hurts is only 24 years old, and he proved over and over against this season that he is the present and future of the franchise.
By signing Hurts this offseason, the Eagles can spread out the money to count more against the cap this season, while not preventing the Eagles from having salary cap space to make decisions about their own free agents, or even chase free agents from other teams.
4. Is Miles Sanders gone?
By all accounts, Sanders had a career year with 1,269 yards rushing. But Sanders will be a free agent, and it sure seems like the Eagles are ready to move on.
Sanders had an awful game Sunday, with 7 carries for 16 yards. He lost a yard on the first play of the game, and injured his wrist as he fumbled the ball out of bounds. Sanders was seen in the locker room afterward with a splint on his wrist.
Sanders’ production had diminished during the final games of the regular season and in the playoffs. He hasn’t had 100 yards or more in a game since Dec. 11 against the Giants, a span of eight games.
During that time, Kenny Gainwell and Boston Scott have each seen more touches. It should be noted that neither Gainwell (21 yards on 7 carries) nor Scott (8 yards on 3) played well against the Chiefs.
But the Eagles do have four picks in the first three rounds of the draft, and it’s quite possible they could take a running back there rather than paying to keep Sanders.
5. James Bradberry or Chauncey Gardner-Johnson?
It could very well come down to which defensive back the Eagles can afford to keep.
Last spring, Bradberry had little choice but to accept a one-year, prove-it type deal from the Eagles after the Giants released him. He’ll want to get paid after being selected to the Pro Bowl.
So will Gardner-Johnson, who is 25 years old and hitting free agency for the first time. He tied for the NFL lead in interceptions with 6 despite missing five games with a lacerated kidney.
It’s hard to fathom the Eagles signing both to long-term deals averaging more than $10 million per season.
“For the most part, I’m just trying to be in the moment, not really trying to think about free agency right now,” Bradberry said. “I’m just sad that we lost.”
6. A reunion with Fletch and BG?
Defensive linemen Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham are the longest-tenured Eagles on defense.
If they want to finish their careers as Eagles, they will likely have to take less money to return. Cox already did this last year when the Eagles released him, then signed him three days later, to reduce the salary cap hit.
Will Cox want to do it again? Or Graham?
Either way, the Eagles will have to bolster their defensive line in the draft, very likely with their first of two first-round picks at No. 10.
7. Are Jordan Davis, Nakobe Dean ready to play?
According to KC Sports Net, the Eagles had the fewest snaps among the rookie class during the season. The Chiefs, meanwhile, ranked seventh, and the six teams above the Chiefs all missed the playoffs.
In the Super Bowl, first-round pick Jordan Davis, a defensive tackle, played 10 snaps, or 18%. Jurgens didn’t play at all. And third-round pick Nakobe Dean, a linebacker, played only on special teams.
That will change next season. The Eagles will have four free agents at defensive tackle, Jurgens will replace either Kelce or Seumalo, and Dean will replace either T.J. Edwards or Kyzir White, both of whom are eligible for free agency.
“This offseason, I’m going to work to be the best I can be to get this team to another level,” Dean said. “It’s a blessing to make it (to the Super Bowl) in my first year. I don’t plan to wait another 6 or 7 years in this league before I make it to another.”
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
