NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
Let’s keep it real, the Philadelphia Eagles were entering the 2024 NFL season as a “what if” team. What if Kellen Moore can’t fix the offense? What if the young defensive players don’t hold up? What if Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts can’t coexist? What if they never recover from their late-season collapse? While that seems like a spot-on observation, everything changed for this team with one move.
This week, Howie Roseman pulled a rabbit out of the hat, yet again, and snagged WR Jahan Dotson from the Washington Commanders for picks and that set off parade plans on Broad St. in the City of Brotherly Love.
While Super Bowl goals talk came with the addition of Saquon Barkley this offseason, it’s clear the Eagles were short a piece. They needed a reliable 3rd receiver to take pressure off AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith. Dotson, while not Stefon Diggs is exactly what the Eagles offense required.
Selected 16th in 2022 by Washington, Dotson never lived up to his potential. So the question is, how will things be different for him in Philly? Simple. Those expectations are not the same. Dotson is expected to be the main cast’s understudy. He doesn’t need to reach 1000 yards and 10 TDs. He just needs to make plays when his number is called.
With his addition, Hurts has arguably one of the best group of pass catchers in the NFL. Yes, the defense must be improved but their one weakness was also resolved during free agency and the NFL Draft. They needed to retool and get a younger secondary and over the last two seasons, Roseman quietly did his job.
What’s left for them to overcome is the young guys up front. Can Cam Jurgens replace the Hall of Famer Jason Kelce? If he is at least 85% prepared, the offense will be a well-oiled machine. Then you take into account the young defensive players such as Jordan Davis, Nakobe Dean, Nolan Smith, and Jalen Carter. It’s time for them to showcase their potential or at least scratch the surface now that they will be full-time players. The training wheels are off.
With these players at their disposal, who will lead them? This is where the Eagles possibly made their biggest offseason moves with the firing and hiring of new offensive and defensive coordinators.
Moore will take over as Offensive Coordinator from Brian Johnson and spot duty by head coach Sirianni who had issues with Hurts last season. Moore is the guy now. If he can utilize each weapon as he did during his time with the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Chargers, the offense will be better than it was in 2022.
While the late seaosn collapse caused fingers to be pointed everywhere last season, the Eagles’ defense led by Sean Desai and then Matt Patricia was a big reason for the decline. Hopefully, Roseman proved he’s Houdini with the hiring of Vic Fangio. His aggressive style should bring back memories of what the defense was like during their Super Bowl season in ’22.
It’s Super Bowl or Bust for the 2024-25 Philadelphia Eagles. It always was for the team and fans but now the outside world is giving them their due. The addition of Dotson places them as clear favorites in the NFC. Yes, even over the San Francisco 49ers. One player can make a difference. A 3rd receiver was THE glaring hole entering the season. It’s no longer a “what if”, it now becomes a “must-do.”
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