This article is part of our Team Previews series.
Philadelphia Eagles 
Just three years removed from winning Super Bowl LII in February 2018, the Eagles jettisoned the coach (Doug Pederson) who led them there. Nick Sirianni steps in with a second-year signal-caller in Jalen Hurts to help right the ship after a 4-11-1 finish to the 2020 season.
Offseason Moves
Key Acquisitions
- DeVonta Smith – WR (Rd. 1, No. 10 – Alabama)
Reigning Heisman winner jumps to the top of the depth chart.
- Kerryon Johnson – RB (from Lions)
After producing in 2018, he lost sway in the Lions backfield.
- Joe Flacco – QB (from Jets)
Certainly won't start but provides a veteran mentor for Jalen Hurts.
- Zech McPhearson – CB (Rd. 4, No. 123 – Texas Tech)
All-Big 12 first-teamer has an opportunity to make an immediate impact.
Key Losses
- Carson Wentz – QB (to Colts)
Gets a fresh start, opening the way for Hurts under center.
- DeSean Jackson – WR (to Rams)
His release means Smith and Jalen Reagor can seize starting roles.
- Alshon Jeffery – WR (FA)
The team finally is rid of the 32-year-old's bloated contract.
- Jalen Mills – S (to Patriots)
Swapped out for Anthony Harris at free safety.
A Look Under the Hood
Head Coach: Nick Sirianni (Year 1)
Offensive Coordinator: Shane Steichen (Year 1) - West Coast Offense
Defensive Coordinator: Jonathan Gannon (Year 1) - 4-3 scheme
2021 Vegas Projected Wins: 7 (T-25th)
2020 Record: 4-11-1
2020 Points Scored: 334 (26th)
2020 Points Allowed: 418 (20th)
2020 Point Differential: -84 (27th)
2020 Run-Play Rate: 37.8 percent (25th)
2020 Offensive Snaps: 1,066 (6th)
2020 PFF O-Line Ranking: No. 19
Projected 2021 Depth Chart
QB: Jalen Hurts / Joe Flacco / Nick Mullens
RB: Miles Sanders / Boston Scott / Kerryon Johnson / Kenneth Gainwell
WR1: DeVonta Smith / Greg Ward
WR2: Jalen Reagor / John Hightower / J.J. Arcega-Whiteside
WR3: Travis Fulgham / Quez Watkins
TE1: Dallas Goedert
TE2: Zach Ertz / Richard Rodgers
O-Line: LT Andre Dillard / LG Isaac Seumalo / C Jason Kelce / RG Brandon Brooks / RT Lane Johnson (RotoWire Rank: No. 13)
Kicker: Jake Elliott
Top Storylines
An Offense Built Around Hurts
The Eagles moved on from coach Doug Pederson and quarterback Carson Wentz after last season, leaving a number of unknowns. New coach Nick Sirianni has stressed that everyone must compete for roles, including 2020 second-round pick Jalen Hurts.
Nevertheless, it's a virtual lock that Philadelphia heads into the season with Hurts under center. The team made only minor investments in the position – 36-year-old Joe Flacco and three-year pro Nick Mullens – and also traded up in the first round of the draft for wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who was targeted by Hurts in college.
As for Sirianni's philosophy, he adapts play calling to his personnel to create mismatches with defenses. In his previous post as Colts offensive coordinator, he worked with a range of different quarterbacks, from Andrew Luck to Jacoby Brissett to Philip Rivers. Sirianni frequently used 12 personnel, which would be good news for tight ends Dallas Goedert and Zach Ertz – if the latter sticks around. Boston Scott could benefit, too, as Sirianni likes to use receiving backs in the slot.
Finally, Sirianni prefers to get the ball to his playmakers close to the line of scrimmage and let them run after the catch. Not only should this help Hurts' completion percentage, but it also projects to be a boon to a quick-twitch player like second-year receiver Jalen Reagor.
Playmakers Abound
In addition to rookie wideout DeVonta Smith, the Eagles have set up Jalen Hurts with a number of playmakers. Jalen Reagor battled injuries and ineffective quarterback play as a rookie last season, but he's a first-round receiver himself. Avenues should open for Reagor with Smith on the roster, and both have clear paths to the starting lineup. Travis Fulgham, Philly's leader in receiving in 2020, also returns, as does Greg Ward. Behind that quartet of wide receivers, 2020 late-round draft picks Quez Watkins and John Hightower will vie with 2019 second-rounder J.J. Arcega-Whiteside for perhaps one roster spot.
In the backfield, Miles Sanders is the unquestioned No. 1, but his health is a concern after he missed time last year. With Sanders and the mobile Hurts, the Eagles' run-pass breakdown may tilt toward the former, which not only would boost the duo's potential, but also the potential of change-of-pace back Boston Scott, and perhaps Kerryon Johnson and 2021 fifth-round pick Kenneth Gainwell.
At tight end, Dallas Goedert has swapped places with Zach Ertz at the top of the depth chart, a development that was aided by injuries to the eight-year pro last season. The Eagles may move on from Ertz before Week 1, and if that happens Goedert's target count likely would increase from the 5.8 per game he saw the past two years.
Rebuilding the Defense
Jonathan Gannon is the new defensive coordinator, following Nick Sirianni from Indianapolis, where he was the defensive backs coach. Gannon will be charged with revamping the 20th-ranked scoring defense from a year ago. A Mike Zimmer disciple, Gannon primarily has called plays within a 4-3 defense playing a Cover 2 zone behind it. However, like his new boss, Gannon adjusts game plans to his players.
Last season, the Colts had long, physical cornerbacks and ran a Cover 3 match scheme, which mixes zone and man in an effort to take away the deep ball and limit offenses to short plays. But the Eagles don't seem to have the size at corner to play that way. So, barring another acquisition, the defense likely will use more Cover 2, meaning opposing offenses will see a lot more zone than they did against Jim Schwartz' mostly man coverage in recent seasons.
Whether this group is more than a streaming option depends on whether the Eagles can plug holes in the secondary. GM Howie Roseman certainly tried by signing free safety Anthony Harris and spending six draft picks on that side of the ball. A newcomer like fourth-round corner Zech McPhearson will have a chance to step in, and 2020 fourth-rounder K'Von Wallace also should get an opportunity. Ultimately, this defense may not be a start-worthy unit week in and week out.
Barometer
⬆️ Rising: TE Dallas Goedert
The sleeper in this space a year ago, Goedert has a chance to shine this season, especially if the Eagles trade or release fellow tight end Zach Ertz. If that happens, Goedert has a path to stardom and should gobble up loads of targets.
⬇️ Falling: RB Kenneth Gainwell
A fifth-round pick of the Eagles in the 2021 draft, Gainwell had less competition to be the No. 3 back in Philly before Kerryon Johnson joined the squad. But the rookie's pass-catching skills still may come in handy.
😴 Sleeper: WR Jalen Reagor
DeSean Jackson? Gone. Alshon Jeffery? Gone. Neither player is in Reagor's way now. Coach Nick Sirianni's offense is suited to players like the former TCU standout, who is just a year removed from being a first-round pick.
🌟 Pivotal Player: Miles Sanders
Despite missing four contests in 2020, Sanders gained 49 more yards on the ground than he did in a full 16-game slate as a rookie. He regressed as a receiver, however, tallying less than half as many yards as he did one year prior. The main question surrounding him is whether he can hold up in his second campaign as the primary back.
Medical Tent
It was no surprise that Smith opened training camp with the first-team offense, given the draft capital the Eagles invested in him back in April. Shortly thereafter, though, the 2021 10th overall pick left practice on July 31 due to a leg injury, which later was clarified to be an MCL sprain. Smith's timetable to return is 2-to-3 weeks, or just enough to make it uncertain whether he'll be healthy enough to play during the preseason. If that happens, Philadelphia may not get an in-game look at the 22-year-old until its season opener in Atlanta.
McLeod suffered his second ACL tear in three seasons Week 14 last year, this time in his right knee. In this day and age, a typical recovery from the injury can take as little as nine months, putting McLeod on track to be ready for Week 1 – his stated goal all offseason. Given the Eagles' weaknesses at corner, having the 10-year vet back at full strength to start the season would be a huge boost to the secondary. Otherwise, they'll have to turn to a less-experienced option such as K'Von Wallace or Marcus Epps.
The Eagles offensive line has been a mess the last several seasons, and 2020 was no different. A big part of the reason was Dillard's torn bicep that caused the Eagles' starting left tackle to miss the entire campaign. Flash forward to 2021, and the 2019 first-round pick is healthy and was one of the standouts in June minicamp. Jordan Mailata struggled much of last year in place of the 25-year-old but did start to settle in towards the end of the season. Still, a healthier, stronger Dillard should get every chance to retake his starting job and ultimately shore up Philly's O-line.
Job Battle
Miles Sanders is the clear lead dog in the running game, but who takes the bulk of the remaining carries? Boston Scott held down the fort when Sanders missed time last season, serving as the Eagles' RB1 in the four games Sanders sat out.
However, the diminutive Scott may take a back seat to Kerryon Johnson this year if the latter can revert to form after struggling with injury and inefficiency the past couple years. The 24-year-old Johnson remains an excellent blocker and had statistical success as a rookie in 2018, putting up at least 85 total yards or a touchdown in seven of his 11 games that year.
Kenneth Gainwell joined the team in the fifth-round of this year's draft and brings intriguing pass-catching ability and speed out of Memphis. Jordan Howard is nominally in the mix, having returned to Philadelphia to make two appearances late last season after washing out in Miami.
But this competition likely boils down to Scott, Johnson and Gainwell. Johnson could fill in on at least early downs if Sanders again is absent for any reason, but the other two are more exciting options in the passing game.
