This is such a crucial time of the year, all of one week into the roster-building portion of 2023, and with all of the buzz there are certain elements required to build a team that has the ability to win deep into the postseason. Keen management of the salary cap, a strong eye for talent and fit into the culture and scheme of a franchise, vision not only for the here and now but also for the near future, and an accurate awareness of the market and how it is going to play out are particulars the Eagles have exhibited in the past and are certainly showing for the season ahead.
One week into the roster-building portion of 2023 … that’s all it’s been, folks. We have a lot of ballgame remaining. So, what do we know about the Eagles to this point? Let’s examine.
1. They’ve been able to retain some key veterans
Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman said weeks ago that there would be “change” from the 2022 NFC Championship team and he was correct. We’ll talk about that in a moment, but let’s look now at the players the Eagles kept – all of them key, all of them in specific roles, and all of them still playing at a high level.
Center Jason Kelce had one of his best seasons in 2022 and returns to anchor an offensive line that again should be among the best – I’m partial, so I think it’s the best, and so do many others – in the entire NFL. Defensive end Brandon Graham played fewer snaps and had terrific production last season and he returns to mix into the edge rotation. Keep him fresh and Graham will play with energy and as the Eagles welcome back Josh Sweat and Haason Reddick to come off the edge, they have something strong to work with here.
Fletcher Cox, who was not only a very productive player last season but also a leader on the defensive side of the ball, returns to play in a defensive tackle rotation that includes Milton Williams and second-year man Jordan Davis and some young players the Eagles are excited to see. Cox will be a part of that rotation, but he also has shown that he is willing to take younger players under his wing and help them grow, which is a big part of the culture that has led to so much success over the years in Philadelphia.
Signing cornerback James Bradberry to a three-year contract was immensely important, and then a few days later working out a contract extension with Darius Slay means the Eagles can keep continuity on the outside in coverage with Avonte Maddox inside in the nickel and then continue to…
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