Philadelphia Eagles: Grading the Strength of Every Position Unit Before Camp

The Philadelphia Eagles made a ton of changes this offseason. Now that training camp approaches, the question shifts from whether such an overhaul was wise or necessary to did the roster actually get better or worse?

There's really only one way to find out. Well, we can wait until the Eagles actually take the field, but the regular season is still nearly two months away. Or, we can comb through the Birds roster one position at a time and grade each unit.

Naturally we chose the latter. Ahead is a brief overview of each position with a letter grade on the expected quality of the unit. A's are obviously the best, F's are terrible, and the grades reflect how the author feels the groups might compare to the rest of the league.

Fortunately for the Eagles, they did quite well. Maybe Chip Kelly isn't crazy after all...or is he?

Quarterback

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Obviously the quarterback position is a bit of a mystery. Sam Bradford is coming off of back-to-back torn ACLs and his body of work with the St. Louis Rams isn't very promising to begin with.

Then again, we are talking about a 27-year-old former No. 1 overall draft pick. Bradford is immediately surrounded by more talent in Philadelphia than he ever was in St. Louis, and if he can stay healthy should enjoy a career year.

At least the Eagles made a move. Chip Kelly knew Nick Foles wasn't his guy, so the head coach is trying something different.

Meanwhile, Mark Sanchez is one of the best, if not the best, backup signal-callers in the league. And when 2013 fourth-round pick Matt Barkley is battling Tim Tebow for the emergency spot, that's some depth. 

Grade: B-

Running Back

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

I dare you to find a better group of running backs in the NFL. DeMarco Murray is the NFL's reigning rushing champion. Ryan Mathews is a two-time 1,000-yard rusher. Darren Sproles is an X-factor. All three have been to the Pro Bowl.

The only concern here is whether Murray will be the same after touching the football nearly 500 times for the Dallas Cowboys last season, and whether the injury-prone Mathews can stay healthy in general. Yet with so many quality backs to share the load, everybody should be able to stay fresh.

Grade: A

Wide Receiver and Tight End

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Yes, the Eagles did lose Pro Bowl wide receiver Jeremy Maclin in free agency. However, it's not as if they weren't prepared.

In 2014, Philadelphia used second- and third-round draft picks on Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff. This year, they spent the 20th overall selection on Nelson Agholor out of USC. Plus, in 2013, the Birds invested a second-rounder on tight end Zach Ertz.

The team is loaded with quality, young pass-catchers. Matthews and Ertz were second and third on the team in receptions and receiving yards this past season, and Agholor is expected to make an immediate impact. The Eagles even signed two-time Pro Bowler Miles Austin for good measure.

Depth and plenty of potential. Maclin will be missed but the Eagles should more than get by.

Grade: B+

Offensive Line

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

The good news is the Eagles have a Hall of Fame presence at left tackle in Jason Peters. The offense has an emerging All-Pro at center in Jason Kelce. And 2013 fourth overall draft pick Lane Johnson is a budding star at right tackle.

The bad news is the Eagles are replacing not one but two guards on the offensive line, and doing so essentially from their own existing, previously disappointing depth.

Journeyman Allen Barbre takes over for two-time Pro Bowler Evan Mathis at left guard. A competition will determine the starter at right, currently set between reserves Andrew Gardner and Matt Tobin, and possibly John Moffitt, who was recently signed out of retirement.

Add in the fact that Peters is 33 and not coming off of his best season and there are some serious concerns here.

Grade: B-

Defensive Line

Chris Szagola/Associated Press

The Eagles have one of the best three-man fronts in pro football. Fletcher Cox is flat-out unblockable at times. Nose tackle Bennie Logan is strong in run support. And there's an excellent platoon at the opposite defensive end, where Cedric Thornton plays on running downs and Vinny Curry enters the game in obvious passing situations.

Cox belongs in the Pro Bowl—he was named second-team All-Pro last season—and Curry might too with a bigger role, as he racked up nine sacks in 2014 while playing roughly one-third of the defensive snaps. Depth is a bit of a question, but it's an outstanding group overall. 

Grade: A

Linebacker

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

You can't mention Eagles linebackers without talking about the incredible depth the team has assembled on the interior. This offseason they extended DeMeco Ryans' contract, traded for Kiko Alonso, spent a third-round pick on Jordan Hicks out of Texas, signed Brad Jones, returned Najee Goode off of injured reserve and, oh yeah, Mychal Kendricks is still here, too.

The Eagles also managed to re-sign Brandon Graham to pair with newly minted Pro Bowler Connor Barwin on the outside. It's Graham's first opportunity to start since going 13th overall in the 2010 draft, but they're expected to form one of the better pass-rushing tandems in the NFL.

The only real question is depth on the outside, where 2014 first-round pick Marcus Smith might be the first guy off the bench after barely playing his rookie season.

Grade: A-

Secondary

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Well, one thing's for sure: Philadelphia's secondary can't get any worse. Can it?

The Eagles were ranked 32nd and 31st against the pass the past two seasons, so big changes were in order. Gone are Cary Williams, Bradley Fletcher and Nate Allen. In their place enter Byron Maxwell, Walter Thurmond and a bunch of rookies.

Maxwell comes over from the Seattle Seahawks and should solidify one of the cornerback spots. The opposite side is open to competition, currently being held down by veteran Nolan Carroll, although the hope is second-rounder Eric Rowe out of Utah can win the job. Brandon Boykin should reprise his usual role in the slot.

At safety, Thurmond joins Malcolm Jenkins, who is a perfect fit for Philly. As for Thurmond, he's transitioning over from corner, so there's no way of knowing how that experiment will turn out. Regardless, he seems to have the job virtually nailed down.

Overall, the group as far more talent. Still, it looks very much like a work in progress. 

Grade: C+

Specialists

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The Eagles couldn't ask for a better group of specialists. Kicker Cody Parkey, long snapper Jon Dorenbos and return man Darren Sproles all received invites to the Pro Bowl last year for their work on special teams. Punter Donnie Jones is the only one who's never been, which is criminal.

The unit was flat-out dominant last season, and with Kelly's emphasis on special teams should continue to be a force moving forward. 

Grade: A+