5 Philadelphia Eagles Players with Most to Prove in 2017
The Philadelphia Eagles have put themselves in a position where they can contend in 2017, but that won't happen without a number of key individuals stepping up their games.
The Eagles' roster has undergone a pretty noticeable facelift as general manager Howie Roseman tries to build a championship-caliber team that can surround Carson Wentz for years to come.
Underperformers have been phased out, while impact additions have been made to put the Eagles on an upward trajectory for 2017 and beyond.
As returning players step into bigger roles, others will try to rebound from poor seasons and new members will aim to prove their worth. There are a lot more than five players who need to prove something in 2017.
Let's identify five players on whom the spotlight will shine brightest throughout the season, for better or worse.
WR Alshon Jeffery
1 of 5
Above any existing player, Alshon Jeffery immediately became the Eagle with most to prove when he signed a one-year, $9.5 million contract that is not-so-quietly a season-long audition to become Wentz's No. 1 target for years to come.
Jeffery's ability to change games on the perimeter is well-established already. However, he'll need to show he can not only stay healthy but prove the issues that led to a four-game suspension at the end of 2016 are behind him.
The Eagles' receiving room looked a mess before the signings of Jeffery and Torrey Smith, but an infusion of both veteran skill and young talent leaves no more excuses. Not only does Wentz have a good weaponry at his disposal, but Jeffery has threats around him to avoid constant double-teams.
The onus falls on Jeffery to show he's the answer to the No. 1 wideout conundrum that has plagued Philly for the last couple of seasons. If he does, expect him to remain in gang green for the long haul.
DE Derek Barnett
2 of 5
Derek Barnett made good on his long-time comparisons to the legend Reggie White at the University of Tennessee, where he broke the Minister of Defense's school sack record.
Making good on those comparisons in Philadelphia will be quite a bit tougher. The similarities between Barnett and White—whether it's in production of style of play—will always stick out, and now Barnett is tasked with rising above those comparisons and becoming the Eagles' new stud on the edge.
As much as the Eagles needed cornerbacks in the draft, they couldn't pass on Barnett after employing a weak pass rush in 2016. He joins Brandon Graham as Philly's most dangerous defensive ends, and that will come with an expectation of immediate production.
Barnett's role should be pretty large off the bat. While rookie growing pains are inevitable, there won't be a huge margin for error among fans if he doesn't impress quickly.
RB Wendell Smallwood
3 of 5
The Eagles could have taken their offense to a new level by either drafting or signing a top running back this offseason, but they have opted to go for more of a by-committee approach. None of the backs slated to be in that committee have more pressure on them than Wendell Smallwood.
A mid-round draft pick in 2016, Smallwood's role increased gradually as a rookie, although he only finished with 77 carries, 312 yards and one touchdown. With Ryan Mathews on the outs, Smallwood has a chance to emerge as the No. 1 back.
The Eagles are going to spread the ball out in the backfield between LeGarrette Blount and rookie Donnel Pumphrey, but Smallwood appears to be the most complete back of the three.
While Blount assumes the short-yardage role and Pumphrey emerges as more of a scat back, Smallwood has the best chance to be the primary first-down option.
But while that may be the case entering training camp, the Eagles won't hesitate to explore their options in Pumphrey and potentially even rookie free-agent signing Corey Clement if Smallwood isn't getting it done.
The window of opportunity for running backs in the NFL is a small one, and Smallwood will need to take advantage of his in 2017.
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DE Vinny Curry
4 of 5
Most of the Eagles' big-money contracts lock up critical members of the team that act as centerpieces, but defensive end Vinny Curry may be the lone exception.
Curry is the team's fifth-highest paid player for the 2017 season, according to Over The Cap. The Eagles signed him to a big extension over the 2016 offseason, but he regressed considerably and only produced 2.5 sacks.
Curry revealed to SportsRadio 94 WIP that he suffered an MCL injury early in the season that significantly impacted his play, but that doesn't mean Eagles fans will give him a pass for his huge dip in production on the heels of becoming one of the team's best paid players.
The drafting of Barnett and signing of Chris Long appeared to be clear signs that the Eagles aren't expecting Curry to ever prove he's worth the contract they signed him to.
For a team still in a precarious cap situation, the Curry contract will loom large over the next offseason if he doesn't impress in 2017 and become a difference-maker again.
CB Jalen Mills
5 of 5
The Eagles desperately needed top young talent at the cornerback position this offseason and got it, drafting Sidney Jones and Rasul Douglas. But the onus is still on the returning players to provide immediate production.
That will prove even more critical with Jones still recovering from Achilles surgery. Among the players who the Eagles need to step up in his place, none have more pressure on them than Jalen Mills.
Mills got plenty of experience in his rookie season throughout 2016, but most of it came in the slot where the undersize corner projects to play in the future. However, head coach Doug Pederson revealed to Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer that Brooks appears to be the starting slot corner as of now.
That leaves Mills as a likely starter while Jones recovers, meaning that Patrick Robinson and rookie Douglas will also duke it out for starting spots in Week 1.
Mills impressed as a rookie, but he will have much more on his plate in 2017 and needs to prove he's up to the task.
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