7 Bold Pre-Training Camp Predictions for Philadelphia Eagles
Any team will see unexpected developments throughout the course of an NFL season, and the Philadelphia Eagles could have a lot more than most teams as they incorporate major changes at a wealth of positions.
The roster overhaul after the disastrous Chip Kelly era obviously began an offseason ago with the drafting of Carson Wentz and the disposal of some bad fits on big contracts. But it hit warp speed right after the 2016 season, with the front office making clear, decisive moves to improve the roster beginning in free agency and continuing through the draft.
With so many new pieces to look forward to in 2017, most Eagles fans have already crafted their expectations for key newcomers along with an idea of how positional battles and roster trimming will conclude. But not everything will go according to plan.
For a team still trying to find its identity on the field, there should be plenty of surprises, some positive and some negative. Let's highlight seven bold predictions for the next six-plus months, from training-camp shockers to unexpected production and plenty in between.
Derek Barnett Will Surpass 10 Sacks, Win DROY
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First-round draft pick Derek Barnett is poised to offer an immediate solution to the Eagles' second-biggest defensive issue from last season, and all signs point to a breakout 2017 campaign for the rookie.
The Eagles have as much talent up front defensively as any interior in football, with Fletcher Cox swallowing up blockers and the emergent Timmy Jernigan having the potential to be even an upgrade from recently departed Bennie Logan. What they lacked in 2016 was a presence on the edge, with Brandon Graham doing it all on his own and only producing 5.5 sacks.
Barnett surpassing 10 sacks is quite lofty, as only 16 players reached the plateau in 2016, but it's a very reachable number for him. Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa reached the number in just 12 games as a rookie and made his debut at 21 years old, just like Barnett will. Both possess a unique combination of size, speed and technique that allow for a seamless transition to the league.
As for Defensive Rookie of the Year, Barnett was the sixth defender taken in the draft but is unquestionably in the best position roster-wise to thrive early. No other top-flight rookie defensive player is joining a unit quite as vaunted as the Eagles defense, and that will be to Barnett's benefit off the bat.
Mychal Kendricks Will Be Traded
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On one hand, a trade before Week 1 involving linebacker Mychal Kendricks would be far from shocking. On the other, he's been considered a prime trade option for a majority of his Eagles career, and each passing day seems to indicate the lack of a market for him.
Whether teams are willing to offer what the Eagles want for Kendricks or not, consider the growing fact that Kendricks is practically a useless player in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's scheme. He played in less than 27 percent of defensive snaps in 2016 despite playing in 15 games, per Pro Football Reference. Kendricks barely made an impact on the field, amassing just 23 solo tackles.
The Eagles lack depth at linebacker, the one need this offseason that the team largely failed to address, and that's apparently made Philly reluctant to lose Kendricks for less than he's worth. There's an understandable worry that he'll be offloaded for little to nothing, only to become an impact player in a 3-4 scheme that better fits him.
But that can't haunt Philly into retaining a player whose presence at a mismatched position could hurt the team. Teams that run a 3-4 and are looking for blitzing depth on the heels of training camp will inevitably come calling, and the Eagles should do what it takes to get a deal done.
Donnel Pumphrey Will Lead Eagles RBs in Touches
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The Eagles go into 2017 with a backfield that provides plenty to look forward to with optimism, but no back in the mix has more potential to explode than rookie Donnel Pumphrey.
The similarities to veteran Darren Sproles have excited Eagles fans who hope Pumphrey can offer anything close to what Sproles has over his lengthy NFL career. Being pegged as a long-term replacement to a still very productive player, though, often leads to an underwhelming rookie campaign.
That won't be the case for Pumphrey. He enters an Eagles backfield with everything to prove, and him riding the bench for a majority of the year would require LeGarrette Blount to become a more complete back and for Wendell Smallwood to really break out.
Pumphrey's size (5'9", 170 pounds) has always been a knock on him, and he'll be more motivated than ever at the NFL level to show he still possesses the strength and wiggle to be a between-the-tackles back. He'll show that early on, forcing his way into the rotation and staying there.
And of course, Pumphrey's versatility and speed make him a prime threat for catching passes out of the backfield. In this West Coast offense, the ball will be in Pumphrey's hands often, and he'll combine for the most overall touches among backs.
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Alshon Jeffery Will Start All 16 Games
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Alshon Jeffery entered the offseason as easily the best wide receiver in the free-agent class. So why did he only emerge with a one-year deal full of show-me incentives?
Well, you know why.
So many questions were raised about Jeffery's durability and dependability that the market never emerged as expected for the former Chicago Bear. The four-game suspension near the end of 2016 for PEDs raised obvious red flags, but he proved to be injury prone before that, playing in only nine games in 2015.
The reality is that Jeffery has missed 11 games over the last two seasons and played through countless more nursing an injury. But 2017 is his chance to show he can be counted on as a No. 1 wideout for a playoff team.
If he shows that, a huge payday is likely headed his way given his talents and the Eagles' desire to have a No. 1 guy for Wentz to throw to.
NFL seasons are a war of attrition, and there's no way of predicting who will go down, but Jeffery has tens of millions of reasons to stay on the field throughout all of 2017. Increased depth at receiver will keep the Eagles from pushing Jeffery to stay on the field for every offensive snap, and he'll be healthier because of it.
Nelson Agholor Will Finish Third in Receiving
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Given the way his 2016 season concluded, Nelson Agholor being an Eagle on Week 1 of the coming season felt like a bold prediction. But now he's had several months to get his mind right, and it's showing throughout team activities this offseason.
Agholor was the "standout star" of the Eagles' spring practices, according to Dave Zangaro of CSN Philly, and receivers coach Mike Groh lauded the third-year pro, saying: "He's shown up and made an impact at virtually every practice. Really excited about where he's at right now."
Eagles fans probably don't care about a few good practices after he became a drop artist on the field in 2016, but perhaps the Eagles were using him incorrectly. Jonny Page of Bleeding Green Nation reminded fans that Agholor wasn't truly considered an outside receiver during the draft process, noting that "plenty of draft guys saw him as a slot receiver only."
Of course, Jordan Matthews put up good numbers there in 2016, but he's been floated in trade rumors, most notably by Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports. Matthews has also missed offseason activities through injury, allowing Eagles coaches to see that Agholor perhaps could be the better slot guy.
Jeffery is all but assured to lead the team in receiving if he stays healthy, and tight end Zach Ertz figures to put up another one of his 800-plus-yard seasons. Beyond that, it's easy to see how Agholor could become a consistent threat and outproduce the likes of Torrey Smith, Matthews and the rookies if he locks down the slot.
Jason Kelce Will Lose His Starting Spot
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Everybody has been raving about the Eagles offensive line on the heels of Pro Football Focus naming them the best line in the league this week, but they're not short on question marks, and the prime one regards the long-time center.
Jason Kelce once earned his place as one of the best centers in the game, and he's compensated like it as the Eagles' 10th highest-paid player, per Over The Cap. But he didn't play like it in 2016, grading out at 27th among 38 rated NFL centers, according to Pro Football Focus.
Kelce has long overcome his slight frame to be a great center, but he's now 30 years old, and age could be limiting how he's been able to use his athleticism and leadership to overshadow a lack of brute force. Coincidentally, the Eagles' interior line is in fantastic shape, with veteran Stefen Wisniewski joining Isaac Seumalo and Chance Warmack as current backups who are more than capable of starting up front.
Most significantly, Seumalo got a lot of reps at first-team center throughout the Eagles' minicamp, per Matt Lombardo of NJ Advance Media, and that could offer some foreshadowing. Kelce still offers plenty of leadership and help to the young players, but he'll see his role phased out throughout the 2017 season.
Shelton Gibson Will Be a Preseason Cut
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After a couple of wildly optimistic predictions regarding Eagles rookies, now it's time to highlight a disappointing one.
The Eagles seemed to indicate a lack of faith in their young core of receivers when selecting not only North Carolina's Mack Hollins, but also Shelton Gibson out of West Virginia in the middle rounds of the 2017 draft.
As a 5'11", 190-pound speedster, Gibson appeared to be more of a special teams guy on the surface. But to lock down a 53-man roster spot, any receiver has to show value to the offense as well.
Gibson hasn't been doing himself any favors in his first chances to impress coaches. Jimmy Kempski of Philly Voice analyzed his play in spring practices:
"Seemingly every day, Gibson struggled with dropped passes, many of which occurred during individual drills with no defenders on the field. Gibson is coming from an unsophisticated offense at West Virginia, so he has some ground to make up in the pros mentally, but that has little to do with him dropping routine catches."
Dropped passes are undoubtedly a sore spot for Eagles coaches after a dismal 2016 season, and with a wealth of young receivers to choose from, Philly won't be intent on trotting out a youngster who struggles with them.
Behind Jeffery, Smith, Matthews, Agholor and Hollins, it's hard to see where Gibson fits in, and that's ignoring the presence of Dorial Green-Beckham, who's intent on showing he can be more than he advertised in 2016.
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