2024 Philadelphia Eagles training camp preview
PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Eagles open 2024 training camp with players reporting Tuesday at the NovaCare Complex in South Philly. Here's a closer look at a few storylines:
Biggest question: Have the cracks been repaired following a late-season collapse?
A 10-1 start in 2023 gave way to a 1-6 implosion down the stretch, leading to staff changes and myriad questions about the state of affairs inside the building. The defense went from leaky to dysfunctional when Sean Desai was demoted in favor of Matt Patricia as playcaller. Offensively, the visions of Jalen Hurts, offensive coordinator Brian Johnson and coach Nick Sirianni failed to mesh -- a major factor in why the unit underperformed.
Sirianni was retained but finds himself squarely on the hot seat and with less influence on offense. Kellen Moore, who replaced Johnson, is now at the controls while Vic Fangio was brought in to stabilize the defense. Players are optimistic about the direction Moore and Fangio have taken their respective sides of the ball. It generally takes time for new schemes to take hold but the Eagles will be anxious to speed up that timeline as they set out to prove that the issues from a year ago are behind them.
The most compelling position battle: Cornerback.
The Eagles have a number of intriguing options for the starting spot opposite Darius Slay. Following a 2023 campaign in which the defense finished second-to-last in both passing touchdowns (35) and passing yards allowed (253 YPG), they used their first two picks in April's draft on defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. While both could make a push for CB2 during training camp, second-year player Kelee Ringo and veteran Isaiah Rodgers got the bulk of the work with the first team this spring. Former All-Pro James Bradberry is still on the team but the coaching staff plans to work him in at safety and there's some question as to whether he'll even be on the final 53-man roster after struggling last season. The corner room is younger and more talented overall from a year ago. Now it's time to see who rises to the top.
Most impactful offseason addition: RB Saquon Barkley.
A case could be made for safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, whose swagger and playmaking prowess were missed when he left Philly for the Detroit Lions last season. But it's impossible to ignore the signing of Barkley to a three-year, $37.75 million free agent contract in March. Teaming him with Hurts, receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert, the Eagles have assembled maybe the most talented skill position group in franchise history.
Given that Barkley has never been surrounded by this many good players -- or operated behind an offensive line of this caliber -- his time in Philadelphia is dripping with possibility. Translating the potential on paper to reality is no slam dunk -- Barkley needs to avoid injury and drop-off in Year 7, and Moore will be challenged with keeping all the star players involved and satiated -- but the offense can be taken to new heights if everything clicks.
The player with the most to prove: Center Cam Jurgens is a strong candidate, seeing as he was selected in the second round of the 2022 draft to be Jason Kelce's heir apparent and now must fill the sizable shoes of the future Hall of Famer. But defensive tackle Jordan Davis tops the list. The Eagles used the No. 13 overall pick that same year on Davis, believing he had the tools to develop into a difference-making three-down player in the middle of the defense. His production to this point has fallen short of those expectations, in part because his conditioning has left something to be desired. With Fletcher Cox retiring, Davis and his old counterpart at Georgia, Jalen Carter, will need to pick up the slack.
