Fact or Fiction for Philadelphia Eagles' Biggest Offseason Question Marks

To say 2015 marked a tumultuous offseason for the Philadelphia Eagles would be a bit of an understatement.

In all, the offense and defense project to field as many as 12 new starters in the season ahead, which is about as major a shakeup as you'll typically see from a franchise coming off back-to-back 10-win seasons.

Naturally, with so much upheaval, questions have been swirling as to whether or not the team has improved as a whole. In some cases, we're not even certain if the Eagles got better or worse at a specific position or area.

Let's try to set the record right straight here. Ahead, we look at some of the biggest question marks the Eagles are still facing after this wild and turbulent offseason, and whether or not those concerns are actually valid by labeling each one as either "fact" or "fiction."

Feel free to play along or offer some of your own.

Fact: Eagles Defense Has Become a Strength

Stephen Brashear/Associated Press

A case could very easily be made that the Eagles already claimed one of the better front sevens in the NFL. Philadelphia's defense held opposing rushers to 3.7 yards per carry last season (tied for fourth in the league), while also racking up 49 sacks (tied for second).

Now that the unit is sporting some semblance of talent in the secondary as well, Philly's defense won't be merely improved in 2015. It should actually hold its own, and then some.

The Eagles made a huge splash as soon as free agency kicked off, signing Seattle Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell to a massive multiyear contract to hopefully solidify one half of the field. The club spent three picks on corners in the draft as well, including a second-round selection on Utah product Eric Rowe, who will compete with veteran Nolan Carroll for the other starting job.

Finally, the Birds also signed former Seahawk and New York Giant Walter Thurmond. Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News suggests he is making a strong bid to line up at safety alongside Malcolm Jenkins.

Ordinarily, three new starters in the defensive backfield might give fans pause. When said defensive backfield ranked 32nd and 31st against the pass in consecutive seasons, however, it's difficult not to see the upside behind the many changes.

The Eagles further bolstered their front seven as well, trading for interior linebacker and 2013 PFWA Defensive Rookie of the Year Kiko Alonso from the Buffalo Bills.

Overall, if the secondary is even closer to average than one of the worst groups in the league, Philadelphia's defense won't be holding the team back any longer.

Fiction: Eagles Offense Lacking Weapons

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

How many teams could withstand losing a Pro Bowl running back and wide receiver in the same offseason? That's exactly what happened to the Eagles' fifth-ranked offense this year, with the trade of running back LeSean McCoy to the Bills and the exodus of Jeremy Maclin in free agency.

But don't cry for Philadelphia just yet.

Not only does it appear the front office managed to replace both McCoy and Maclin—if not improve at their respective positions—there was plenty of talent left over even after the stars' departures.

The Eagles signed not one but two Pro Bowl backs to replace McCoy, including the NFL's reigning rushing champion in DeMarco Murray from the Dallas Cowboys. Murray joins newly added Ryan Mathews from the San Diego Chargers to form a bruising rushing tandem.

They'll team with deadly change-of-pace back Darren Sproles to comprise arguably the best backfield in the league.

At wideout, the Birds invested the 20th overall draft pick in Nelson Agholor out of USC, who was one of the most productive receivers in college football in 2014, finishing in the top 10 in the nation in receptions (seventh), yards (ninth) and touchdowns (tied for seventh).

He joins last year's second- and third-round selections Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff as the nucleus of a young, talented group of pass-catchers.

Those additions don't even account for emerging tight end Zach Ertz, whom Sproles recently told Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com is on the verge of becoming a "superstar."

Throw capable veterans such as wide receivers Miles Austin and Riley Cooper as well as tight end Brent Celek in the mix, and there is no shortage of firepower in the Eagles offense.

Fact: Eagles Need Sam Bradford Healthy

Tom Gannam/Associated Press

Even the most optimistic observers are wary of Sam Bradford because of both his injury history and subpar numbers.

Bradford is recovering from a second torn ACL just 10 months after the first, and as of minicamp, he still wasn't a full participant in practice for the Eagles, per Brandon Lee Gowton for Bleeding Green Nation. The fifth-year veteran's 18-30-1 record as an NFL starter and career 79.3 passer rating don't instill a great deal of confidence, either.

Yet the fact of the matter is if Philadelphia is to have any chance of fielding a legitimate Super Bowl contender in 2015, it likely has to be with Bradford at the helm. After all, who else is up for the job?

Mark Sanchez has designs on winning the starting job at training camp this year, but we saw what he was all about in nine games last season. While improved from his time with the New York Jets, it was not enough. Meanwhile, Tim Tebow would be fortunate to even make the 53-man roster.

That means it's likely Bradford or bust for the Birds in '15, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

There's a reason Eagles head coach Chip Kelly dealt Nick Foles and draft compensation to the St. Louis Rams for the former No. 1 overall pick. Don't let the stats fool you. Bradford never had much of a supporting cast in St. Louis in terms of weapons, protection or even stability in the coaching staff.

What he does possess, however, is a strong arm and a tendency to make smart, quick decisions with the football.

It's a little scary to think Philly is relying on a quarterback who's played just seven games in the last two years, yet the prospect still sounds a lot better than the alternatives. If the Eagles are to mount a deep playoff run this January, it will almost certainly be with a resurgent Bradford under center.

Fiction: Eagles Thin at Outside Linebacker

Michael Perez/Associated Press

Regular readers may be aware that I've frequently listed outside linebacker depth as one of the Eagles' top concerns heading into 2015.

The starting tandem of Connor Barwin and Brandon Graham has a chance to be one of the better duos in the league. Unfortunately, there's just little in the way of established talent behind them.

But every once in a while, an unexpected wrinkle pops up that changes the way we look at the depth chart. That happened at the Eagles' final minicamp last week, where Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com reported the club has been experimenting with defensive end Vinny Curry at linebacker.

The move makes sense for a number of reasons.

Curry is a tad undersized for an end in a 3-4 defense and Philadelphia is deep up front, a combination of factors which limited the former second-round pick to just 32 percent of the defense's snaps last seasons, according to Football Outsiders.

Despite such limited playing time, Curry finished second on the team with a whopping 9.0 sacks.

If Curry can play outside linebacker, it would accomplish two things.

First, it's a way to get one of the most outstanding pass-rushers in the NFL on the field more often. Second, it would improve depth, as Curry may be one of the few players on the roster who could replace Graham in the pass rush-heavy "predator" role if the starter were out for any reason.

In addition to Curry's sudden transition, Philadelphia should expect contributions from 2014 first-round pick Marcus Smith, while the defense also gets promising Travis Long back from injured reserve.

Add in the host of interior linebackers who could shift outside situationally, and I must admit, perhaps the depth isn't as shallow as I thought.

Fact: Eagles' Offensive Line Was Weakened

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Chip Kelly can claim the release of Evan Mathis was about money all he wants, but that's clearly a half-truth. Otherwise, the cut would've happened much earlier in the offseason.

Regardless, one aspect of the situation is very simple: The Eagles got worse along the offensive line with Mathis' release.

Philadelphia already had to replace right guard Todd Herremans this offseason. Granted, Herremans was already playing at a replacement level anyway, but it means promoting a backup (likely Matt Tobin) from depth that's struggled in the past.

With Mathis' departure, now two backups will step into starting roles, further eating into the team's depth. That may be a bigger issue than you think when you consider the line has had trouble staying healthy in two of the past three seasons.

And let's face it, there's almost no way journeyman Allen Barbre will be nearly as effective as two-time Pro Bowler Mathis at left guard—no matter how many of the guys on the team try to convince themselves of it.

The depth was questionable to begin with. The unit as a whole has taken a step back.

Add in the fact that left tackle Jason Peters is 33 and coming off a down season—at least by the All-Pro's standards—not to mention the Eagles haven't drafted an offensive lineman since 2013, and there's plenty of cause for concern.

Does this mean Philadelphia couldn't field one of the better offensive fronts in the NFL in 2015?

Let's not panic. Peters is still capable of playing at high level, as are center Jason Kelce and right tackle Lane Johnson. There is plenty to like here.

With that said, Kelly may have opened his offense up to some serious issues by cutting Mathis over a simple contract squabble. Whether you agree or disagree with the decision, there's no honest way you can suggest the Eagles are better off on the football field.