NFL power rankings: Training camp edition
By Brad Weiss
Philadelphia Eagles
, NFC East
The Philadelphia Eagles had some glaring weaknesses on their roster last season, including at the wide receiver position. While Jordan Matthews played well as a WR1, he is more suited to be lower on the depth chart, so the Eagles went out and got some reinforcements. Philadelphia brought in Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith to add depth to the unit, and that should give second-year quarterback Carson Wentz plenty of options in the passing game.
Staying with Wentz, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft had a solid season under center for the Eagles. With the original plan being for him to sit a year behind Sam Bradford, that all changed with Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater went down with a knee injury late in the preseason, and the Vikings traded for Bradford. That opened the door for Wentz, who showed some first year mistakes, but also showed he is a franchise quarterback.
With a first round pick in tow, the Eagles went out and got Derek Barnett from Tennessee, an incredible pass-rushing talent. Barnett broke former Eagles’ defensive end Reggie White’s career sack record at Tennessee, and hopefully he can bring the kind of pressure White did during his time with the Eagles. In the second round, the team grabbed Washington cornerback Sidney Jones, who could be a top corner if he comes back healthy from a torn Achilles tendon.
This team has the talent to be very good, but their division is loaded this season. The New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys both made the playoffs last season, and the Washington Redskins are one year removed from a division title. If Wentz takes the next step in 2017, they could be playoff bound, but we will have to see the chemistry between him and his new weapons first.