The Athletic has spoken: The Philadelphia Eagles are having the best offseason of any Super Bowl contender in the NFL.
In a comprehensive ranking of NFL offseasons, writer Ted Nguyen placed the Eagles at the top among teams with legitimate championship aspirations.
Defensive Dominance Continues
The Eagles finished fourth in pass defense DVOA last season despite having a glaring weakness at cornerback opposite rookie sensation Quinyon Mitchell. That weakness? Gone.
Philadelphia addressed the issue by acquiring Riq Woolen from Seattle, whom Nguyen describes as "one of the most athletic players at his position." While Woolen can have occasional technique lapses, he's "worlds better than what they had."
The pass rush also got a major boost with the acquisition of Jonathan Greenard from Minnesota. The Eagles already boasted one of the NFL's most dominant defensive lines, and adding Greenard's explosiveness only strengthens that unit.
"Defensively, they could be even better than they were last season," Nguyen wrote.
The A.J. Brown Replacement Plan
With A.J. Brown's departure seemingly inevitable via a post-June 1 trade, the Eagles took an unconventional approach to replacing his production.
Rather than targeting a similar outside receiver, Philadelphia drafted slot receiver Makai Lemon in the first round and tight end Eli Stowers in the second. Both players excel in the middle of the field where new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion is expected to emphasize play-action concepts.
A Defining Year for Hurts
The Athletic also noted the stakes for Jalen Hurts personally. This is his final year of guaranteed money, making his development as a passer crucial for upcoming contract negotiations.
The verdict: The Eagles didn't just have a good offseason. They had the best one among teams actually competing for a championship.
