HERE ARE YOUR 2017 EAGLES STARTERS!
So, let;s take stock of the Eagles and who will probably fill their starting postions:
OFFENSE
QB: Carson Wentz: The front office feels like it has a franchise quarterback in the second-year pro out of North Dakota State.
RB: LeGarrette Blount (above): Darren Sproles, Wendell Smallwood and rookie Donnel Pumphrey fill out the field.
WR: Alshon Jeffery: The big offseason acquisition, Jeffery gives Wentz a legitimate №1 option when healthy.
LT: Jason Peters: The Eagles are hoping to squeeze at least one more good year out of the potential Hall-of-Famer, who is now 35.
LG: Isaac Seumalo: Veterans Allen Barbre and Stefen Wisniewski will push him.
C: Jason Kelce: Despite plenty of trade chatter, Kelce remains on the team. Assuming it stays that way, he should begin the year as the starter.
RG: Brandon Brooks: A 2016 free-agent pickup, Brooks battled some anxiety issues but had a strong showing overall last year.
RT: Lane Johnson: The Eagles went 5–1 with Johnson in the lineup last year and 2–8 during his 10-game suspension.
TE: Zach Ertz: Wentz began clicking with Ertz down the stretch last season.
WR: Jordan Matthews: The slot receiver position still belongs to Matthews, who is entering the last year of his rookie deal.
WR: Torrey Smith: The veteran speed receiver is looking to get back to the production levels of his Baltimore days after a couple of rough seasons in San Francisco.
DEFENSE (4–3)
DE: Brandon Graham: He had a team-high 30 hurries and 14 tackles for loss to go with 5.5 sacks last year.
DT: Fletcher Cox: The two-time Pro Bowler paced the team with 6.5 sacks in 2016.
DT: Tim Jernigan: Acquired in a trade with the Ravens, Jernigan will fill the hole left by Bennie Logan, who signed with the Chiefs.
DE: Derek Barnett: The first-round pick out of Tennessee will have to fend off Vinny Curry and Chris Long for the starting job. We’ll say he does.
LB: Nigel Bradham: He still has a couple of legal issues pending, but he was effective in Jim Schwartz’s scheme last year.
MLB: Jordan Hicks: This could be the season when the young difference-maker out of Texas starts getting some national recognition.
LB: Mychal Kendricks: The trade chatter around Kendricks this offseason had substance. It’s a situation still worth monitoring.
CB: Jalen Mills: The second-year pro has a good shot at securing a significant role, particularly given the shaky state of the corner position.
FS: Malcolm Jenkins: He has emerged as a team leader and has been one of the better safeties in the league since signing with the Eagles in 2014.
SS: Rodney McLeod: There were some bright moments and also some lapses in McLeod’s first year with the Eagles.
CB: Ron Brooks: He’s coming off a ruptured quad tendon. Assuming he’s able to make it back, he can hold down the fort while Sidney Jones heals and fellow rookie Rasul Douglas gets his bearings.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Caleb Sturgis: Made a career-high 85 percent of his kicks last year.
P: Donnie Jones: A reliable, consistent punter. No need to change.
KR: Wendell Smallwood: Returned a kick 86 yards for a touchdown as a rookie and averaged 29 yards per return overall.
PR: Darren Sproles: He will put up a few more highlights before retiring.
