This is an almost impossible team to properly predict. The Philadelphia Eagles grew tired of the Chip Kelly circus so they fired him after last season. They then spent the offseason ridding themselves of the players that Kelly acquired. First up, they traded Kiko Alonzo and the terrible contract of Byron Maxwell to Miami for the ability to jump up to pick number eight in the draft. DeMarco Murray was shown the door and traded to Tennessee. Two major contracts off the books. To replace Maxwell Rodney McLeod was signed from St. Louis, and guard Brandon Brooks was signed to a 4 year $40 million deal to shore up the offensive line. Both were overpaid, but neither come close to being the craziest thing that happened in the offseason.
They traded what for who? The Eagles wanted to jump up to number two and made Cleveland an offer they could not refuse. Philadelphia shipped the # 8 overall pick, their third round pick, a fourth rounder, a first round pick in 2017 AND a second round pick in 2018 to the Browns for the #2 overall pick. With that pick, the Eagles selected quarterback Carson Wentz from North Dakota State University. NDSU is the current five time defending FCS National champions. So the Eagles traded the house for a division II quarterback who threw for 1,651 yards last year. Nobody knows what to make of him. He almost has to be considered a project.
Even Ryan Fitzpatrick was embarrassed by this After Wentz was drafted, incumbent quarterback Sam Bradford demanded to be traded. Unfortunately for Sam A) he stinks and nobody wanted him and B) he had just signed a two year extension for 22 million dollars, making him untradeable. The “standoff” ended when the Eagles did nothing and Bradford reported to camp with his tail between his legs. Bradford is currently first on the Eagles depth chart at quarterback anyway, ahead of both Wentz and Chase Daniel.
Lane Johnson’s suspension is huge News just broke yesterday that Lane Johnson is facing a 10 game suspension for PED’s. Johnson signed a big extension in the offseason and was a huge part of the Eagles plans. While the skill players get all the attention, NFL games are won in the trenches, and not having Johnson on the line is going to seriously hamper the Eagles offense in 2016.
Fantasy Focus The offense is going to be different this year, making the Eagles a little tougher to predict. All signs point to Wentz starting eventually, but you weren’t going to draft Sam Bradford anyway. Ryan Matthews can’t stay healthy. Darren Sproles isn’t what he used to be. Nelson Agholor was a bust last season and is a total gamble this year. That leaves Jordan Matthews, who is already hurt. Matthews is the best fantasy option in Philadelphia, but about the 30th best option in the NFL. I would avoid Philly at all costs when drafting your players you want to count on every week.
Prediction This is a total transitional season. A soft early schedule could have the fans excited but the wheels will fall off by the middle of the season forcing the Eagles to go to Wentz, which will be an experience. 4-12