Philadelphia Eagles' Biggest Remaining Offseason Question Marks
The Philadelphia Eagles have attacked this offseason with a purpose and clearly improved the roster entering 2017, but a number of questions remain that need to be answered by Week 1.
Going into the second year under head coach Doug Pederson and behind emerging quarterback Carson Wentz, the Eagles show plenty of promise as a true NFC East contender. The front office masterfully filled some key holes on both sides of the ball, pointing toward a championship culture in the future that could take shape in 2017.
With that said, fans have yet to see how the additions will line up on the field and whether they'll become difference-makers. A few positions of weakness still remain, along with a couple of unwanted contracts, leaving the Eagles with some key items on their to-do list before they open the regular season in Washington.
Let's take a close look at each.
What's the Deal with LB Mychal Kendricks?
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Most Eagles fans expected to have a clear-cut answer to the conundrum they faced at weak-side linebacker by this point in the offsesason. Along with it would come clarity on the future of Mychal Kendricks.
Neither has happened, and the only assurances we've gotten on Kendricks is Pederson's two-word assertion of "I do" when asked by Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice whether he expects him on the roster in September.
Before that, the only indication we got of his future with the Eagles was the measly 27 percent of snaps he appeared in on defense in 2016, per Pro Football Reference. Considering he started eight games and appeared on the field at that low of a clip gives every indication he's not a part of the future plans.
However, the Eagles have not only have failed to trade or release him but also failed to bring in a capable replacement to start at weak-side linebacker. With Jordan Hicks and Nigel Bradham filling the other two linebacker spots well, that's a noticeable spot of weakness on an Philadelphia front seven that doesn't have any other weak spots.
If the Eagles can't find a suitable trade partner for Kendricks, that's one thing. But failing to find a replacement who better fits the system and can play meaningful snaps borders on negligent.
Free-agent veteran DeAndre Levy is still out there, has previously played for defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and fits the system well. Taking him in on a small veteran contract could end up being a huge move.
Where Does Jason Kelce's Future Lie?
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Center Jason Kelce's $6.2 million cap hit, per Over the Cap, marks not so quietly as one of the least attractive contracts on the Eagles' books. Speculation on his potential exit reached fever pitch when the team re-signed Stefen Wisniewski to a multiyear extension with starter's money.
Outside of a speculative report from CSN Philly's Dave Zangaro, which floated the potential of a trade to the New Orleans Saints for Mark Ingram, nothing has materialized on the Kelce trade front, with Eagles fans being left in the dark as to his future.
Kelce always appeared to be a potential cap casualty before Philadelphia made savvy moves to open up the desired cap space, but that doesn't mean he's still a good investment with Wisniewski ready and waiting in the wings. That being said, right tackle Lane Johnson is talking up the Eagles offensive line as potentially the best in the NFL, per Matt Lombardo of NJ Advance Media, and one would think he's including Kelce as a part of that unit.
The 29-year-old still figures into Philadelphia's plans for 2017, but the writing is on the wall for his departure sooner rather than later.
Cornerbacks: Great! Now What?
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Eagles fans got their wish during the NFL draft, even if it didn't come in Round 1. Two talented rookie corners are officially in the fold, but how exactly will it shake out in Week 1 and beyond?
Here's what we do know: Prized selection Sidney Jones is recovering from Achilles surgery and won't be ready to start the 2017 season, if he can return at all. Nolan Carroll and Leodis McKelvin are gone, leaving both starting cornerback slots open.
West Virginia's Rasul Douglas has impressed in OTAs, according to Penn Live's Aaron Kasinitz, but rolling out a rookie to start Week 1 at cornerback is a difficult decision. There's little in terms of other established players to choose from, with second-year corner Jalen Mills joining veterans Patrick Robinson and Ron Brooks among the potential starters out of the gates.
It's easy to envision a long-term future with both Jones and Douglas holding down their respective sides of the field, but the growing pains and lack of depth could continue to cause problems early in 2017 unless two or three guys step up.
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What Will Be the Pecking Order at Receiver?
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The Eagles made it a priority to bolster the arsenal Wentz has to work with this offseason. Now comes the task of piecing it together on the field to produce a high-caliber unit.
The only Philadelphia receiver with an obvious role is Alshon Jeffery, the former Chicago Bear who signed a one-year contract to be Wentz's No. 1 wideout and prove he's worthy of keeping that role for many years. Beyond that, it's anybody's guess.
We know fellow free-agent signing Torrey Smith will feature in deep-ball situations and that Jordan Matthews will get most of his burn in the slot. Take them out of the equation, and you have Nelson Agholor, Dorial Green-Beckham, Bryce Treggs and rookies Mack Hollins and Shelton Gibson battling for two or three roster spots.
It's still hard to tell whether the draft selections were to put Agholor and Green-Beckham on notice or whether it's just healthy competition and building depth. We'll find out the plans for those players throughout training camp and whether they can help themselves with strong play in the lead-up to the regular season.
Who, Exactly, Is the No. 1 Back?
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While open for criticism, it's easy to see how the Eagles' new-look backfield complements itself with three backs who each brings a different skill to the table. What's not easy to see is who gets the first carry of the season.
With Ryan Mathews seemingly on his way out, the No. 1 job is up for grabs, and second-year back Wendell Smallwood is the likely replacement. But the Eagles added a similarly versatile back in fourth-round pick Donnel Pumphrey while also infusing burly veteran LeGarrette Blount into the group.
In theory, all three of those backs should get a fair workload given that Smallwood's speed, Pumphrey's shiftiness and Blount's force each brings its own benefits. But there has to be a No. 1. There has to be that guy who lines up in the backfield on the opening series and gets a bigger share of the critical carries.
Conventional wisdom would indicate that's a battle largely between Smallwood and Blount, but it's still too early to tell exactly how it will shake out.
Have the Eagles Truly Closed the Gap on Dallas?
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The Dallas Cowboys will always be the one team Philadelphia compares itself to, and that put 2016 into a tough perspective, as the Cowboys marched to the NFC's best record while the Eagles sputtered to 7-9.
Have they made progress in pulling themselves closer to Dallas, unquestionably the biggest competition in contending for the NFC East title in 2017?
The short answer: Without a doubt. The long answer: They have on paper, but it's going to take time for some of the pieces to fall into place.
The Eagles saw the help that surrounded rookie quarterback Dak Prescott on offense, and graciously gave Wentz some assistance of his own in landing Jeffery and Smith. But he doesn't have an Ezekiel Elliott in his backfield, and Philly is banking on a three-headed core of backs to negate that disadvantage.
With that said, the Cowboys have always had issues in pass coverage, and that should bubble to the surface more in 2017 after losing Morris Claiborne. With the Eagles bolstering their receiving corps, Wentz can take advantage of that in a way he couldn't as a rookie.
The cornerback room needs to come together, and Wentz's help on offense needs to materialize, but if those things happen, there's no doubt Philadelphia is well equipped to fight Dallas for the NFC East in 2017.
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