Heading into the 2024 season, these three Philadelphia Eagles players could be key contributors to a deep playoff run.
The Philadelphia Eagles and its players had an interesting 2023 season. It started with a scorching hot start, followed by a disastrous collapse at the end of the year. The offseason was also eventful for the Eagles, with several high-impact additions. However, it also saw two legends (Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox) of the franchise retire. The replacements for those players were already in place, but they will highlight today’s two of the three key players heading into the 2024 season.
Kelce and Cox left a significant hole in terms of a veteran presence. Teammates Jordan Mailata, Lane Johnson, and Brandon Graham will likely pick up most of that burden on the offensive and defensive lines. Meanwhile, the younger players will attempt to emulate some of their greatness on the field. It is a tall task, but the Eagles’ strategy of having Cox’s and Kelce’s successors play alongside and learn from them might pay off in a big way.
Three Key Players for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024
Cam Jurgens
The second-year player has quite the shoes to fill. Cam Jurgens will replace future Hall of Famer Jason Kelce, who retired this past offseason. If you forgot, Kelce helped the Eagles pick Jurgens himself with the 51st pick in the 2022 NFL draft.
Jurgens had an up-and-down second season with the Eagles. He sustained a foot injury in Week 4 against the Washington Commanders, the main cause of the up-and-down season. Jurgens started 11 games at right guard and took four snaps at center. However, it was clear that he was the next in line after Kelce hung up the cleats. Jurgens had a 63.0 PFF grade last year at guard, which was good for 31st overall.
The most important question regarding Jurgens is what will happen to the tush push? Will they keep it around, or will it be a thing of the past? Jalen Hurts recently said they are running a 95 percent new offense in Philadelphia. We can assume the tush push is in that five percent, right? Well, only time will tell, as Kelce was a massive part of the success of the tush push for the Eagles.
We know that Jurgens was a great pull-blocking center in college, a significant part of Kelce’s game, and a small part of what made him a folk hero in Philadelphia. It sure wasn’t showing up to the Super Bowl parade and giving that speech in a Mummers outfit or many other iconic things he did. Joking aside, this city and team will miss Kelce. We should all be happy if Jurgens can provide half of what Kelce did. That isn’t a slight to Jurgens; Kelce reinvented the center position because of what he could do, and Jurgens is the next generation of that player.
Darius Slay
We have discussed the Eagles’ secondary in detail before; now, we dive deeper into one of its members: Darius Slay. Slay took a step back this past year compared to years prior. In fairness, the entirety of the defense did as well. However, Slay’s age has to be a concern, as he is 33 years old and not getting any younger. He still has the skills to get the job done, but the scheme did not do anyone favors, including Slay. According to PFF, he gave up the most yards after catch since his second year in the league, along with the fourth-lowest defensive grade in his long career.
Slay will also enter this year with more than one job. To be a lockdown corner and mentor the two young corners on the roster. Specifically, Quinyon Mitchell. General manager Howie Roseman said he wants Mitchell to spend a lot of time with Slay. It is for good reason, as Slay has been a top corner since his second year in the league. There have been some ups and downs for Slay, but that is just normal in the NFL. Mitchell would learn from Slay as he is the future of that group, along with Cooper DeJean. That would be a wise choice for him.
Slay might also be the lone experienced veteran at corner after training camp if Avonte Maddox and James Bradberry don’t make the roster. There is a lot on Slay’s plate, but we have seen him step up countless times against other teams’ premier wide receivers. The only difference this time is that he will have two young, talented corners under his wing in the last year of his contract. This pass defense will go as Slay goes. I have faith the veteran corner will rebound in what you can consider a reboot of the defense.
Jordan Davis
Jordan Davis is entering a make-or-break year with the Eagles. Last year, Javon Hargrave departed the franchise, and this offseason, Fletcher Cox retired. The young defensive tackles, Davis and Jalen Carter, will have a large hole to fill in that defensive tackle room. They are the guys now, and with Vic Fangio now being the defensive coordinator, the scheme will change from a 4-3 to a 3-4. Davis will likely be the starting nose tackle in this defense. He has the physique to man at a reported playing weight of 350 pounds the past two seasons.
However, we have seen him slim down coming into camp. This is important because the Eagles rotated defensive linemen a lot under past defensive coordinators. If Fangio gets his way, there will be less of that this year.
Davis has completely changed his diet, cutting out cans of Arizona tea and being more active on his off days. He will still be a massive force on the field; he is just carrying the weight in a healthier way.
Davis is known as a run-stopper, but he improved his pass rush this past season. He registered four sacks after having none in his rookie season. If he can take that next leap with his healthier frame, the Eagles will have two unique talents at defensive tackle for the foreseeable future.
These three have the chance to significantly contribute to what could be another successful season and deep playoff run for the franchise. Coach Nick Sirianni is in a make-or-break year despite making the playoffs last year. The hopes are high for this upcoming season, but we, as fans, saw what could happen in an instant. However, I would be lying if I didn’t say this team has the potential to win it all this coming season.
