2015 Team Preview: Philadelphia Eagles

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Updated on July 16, 2015 1:53PM EST

STATE OF THE FRANCHISE

The Eagles started strong last season, winning nine of 12 games to take control of the NFC East. Things fell apart for the team once the calendar flipped to December though, as the team dropped three straight games. Ultimately, division-rival Dallas took the 2014 NFC East crown, while Philadelphia's 10-6 record wasn't even good enough for a wild card spot.

While coach Chip Kelly is known for a creative and quarterback-friendly offense, ironically, part of the Eagles' problem down the stretch can be directly tied to their signal-caller, as Mark Sanchez struggled to move the ball, while posting just a 4:5 TD:INT ratio during the aforementioned three-game slide in December. To Sanchez's credit, he actually put up nice numbers during a four-game stint in November, after starter Nick Foles suffered a season-ending collarbone injury, but Sanchez' mediocre play late in the year was a big reason the Eagles missed the playoffs.

Not sold on Foles, the quarterback position was overhauled by Philadelphia in another eventful offseason engineered by the trade-happy Kelly, as Foles was dealt to the Rams for oft-injured Sam Bradford, who is coming off another torn ACL. Following the move, the team's passing game has some question marks heading into 2015 and not just at the quarterback position. The team's top receiver from last year, Jeremy Maclin, was not re-signed, although rookie receiver Nelson Agholor and second-year wideout Jordan Matthews should be productive enough in Kelly's up-tempo offense.

Meanwhile, the Eagles' running

STATE OF THE FRANCHISE

Meanwhile, the Eagles' running game was drastically re-tooled this offseason, with the team abruptly sending star back LeSean McCoy to the Bills in exchange for linebacker Kiko Alonso, filling a need on defense. To replace McCoy in the backfield, the Eagles made a major splash in free agency by signing 2014 NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray from the Cowboys. On top of that, the team added former first-round pick Ryan Mathews, giving the team a potent name brand 1-2 punch at the position, with Darren Sproles returning to provide a dynamic pass-catching element to a deep and talented backfield.

On the other side of the ball, the defense, particularly the secondary, was a disaster last season. In fact, the Eagles were second-most generous in passing yards allowed (264.9 yards per game) and surrendered 25 points per contest. This comes one year after Philadelphia finished dead last in the NFL in pass defense. Thus, underachieving cornerbacks Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher were let go by the team, replaced for the upcoming season with Byron Maxwell and Walter Thurmond, both of whom were key contributors for the Seahawks during their Super Bowl run in 2013.

OFFSEASON MOVES

Key Acquisitions

DeMarco Murray – RB, Cowboys
Coming off a career year with Dallas, the 27-year-old is a productive and physical runner who should fit Chip Kelly's running game perfectly.

Sam Bradford – QB, Rams
The former No. 1 overall pick is still viewed as a quarterback with some upside despite a history of knee injuries, including last year's torn ACL.

Nelson Agholor – WR, USC (ROUND 1, 20th overall)
The 6-0, 198-pounder possesses great quickness with nice moves in the open field, plus he's a dangerous punt returner.

Ryan Mathews – RB, Chargers
Battled a variety of knee and ankle ailments in San Diego but can be very effective when healthy.

Miles Austin – WR, Browns
Played relatively well in 12 games for Cleveland before a kidney injury ended his 2014 season.

Key Losses

LeSean McCoy – RB, Bills
Failed to produce his usual big numbers in 2014 and was traded to Buffalo, paving the way in Philly for a one-two punch of Murray and Mathews.

Jeremy Maclin – WR, Chiefs
Posted career numbers (85/1318/10) under a one-year contract but then signed for big money to be reunited with coach Andy Reid in Kansas City.

Nick Foles – QB, Rams
He was lost for the season after suffering a serious collarbone injury in Week 9, but his play last year was erratic before that point.

TEAM NOTES

THE PHILADELPHIA DUCKS?
Looking at the list of players on the Eagles, one might think Chip Kelly is still coaching for the University of Oregon. In fact, there are eight former Oregon Ducks on Philadelphia's roster – the most from any one school on any current NFL roster – with all eight players being acquired since Kelly was hired in 2013. The unconventional head coach clearly has a comfort level with his former college players and even ones he recruited. Philly's 2015 first-round pick Nelson Agholor was offered a scholarship to Oregon. Kelly is also making waves in regard to other roster decisions. Since receiving the authority to oversee the team's player personnel department in January of 2015, Kelly has traded away key pieces of the offense like Nick Foles and LeSean McCoy, while parting ways with high-quality performers such as wideout Jeremy Maclin and linebacker Trent Cole.

BRADFORD ON BOARD
Sam Bradford has torn his ACL twice in the last two years, missing 25 of the last 32 games, but despite his injury history, Chip Kelly curiously sought out the former Heisman Trophy winner in a trade that sent Nick Foles to the Rams this offseason. Besides not being able to stay healthy (he's played a full 16-game schedule just twice in five years), Bradford has been something of a disappointment on the field, posting only a 59:38 TD:INT ratio in 49 career games. Known for intelligence, mobility, accuracy and a quick release, Bradford does appear to have some of the tools/intangibles that Kelly requires to run his high-tempo offense, however. It remains to be seen what Bradford has left to offer, after suffering through so many injuries throughout his college and pro career, but Kelly has shown a knack for making different types of QBs look good.

WILL THE YOUNG WIDEOUTS PRODUCE?
The Eagles had a deep and talented set of wide receivers just a few years ago, but popular, experienced and skilled players such as DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin have been let go. Thus, a golden opportunity exists for second-year wideout Jordan Matthews, who showed flashes of brilliance in his rookie season. Matthews will have new competition for passing targets this coming season, after the team selected Nelson Agholor in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Interestingly, Agholor is nearly identical to Maclin in terms of size and speed, although the Eagles believe that Agholor is versatile enough to play either in the slot or on the outside. With Philadelphia's unsettled QB situation and a variety of uninspiring or raw wideouts already on the roster (Riley Cooper, Miles Austin and Josh Huff), the pressure will be on both Matthews and Agholor to produce.

VALUE METER

Rising: Tight End Zach Ertz – who caught 58 passes last season – has worked to improve his blocking, which should lead to added snaps (and targets) this season.

Declining:Darren Sproles had just 40 catches last season, his lowest total since 2008, and there won't be many carries for him, with both DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews in the fold.

Sleeper:Nelson Agholor should earn major playing time immediately and profiles similarly to Jeremy Maclin, with a nice blend of quickness, speed and after-the-catch ability.

Supersleeper:Ryan Mathews' value took a hit on the surface, but DeMarco Murray could be a candidate to break down, after carrying the ball a whopping 392 times in 2014.

IDP WATCH

Kiko Alonso – LB
Returning from last July's torn ACL, he should give the Eagles' defense a huge boost.

Mychal Kendricks – LB
Missed four games last year with a calf injury, but still produced 83 tackles, four sacks and three forced fumbles.

Connor Barwin – LB
Set a career high with 14.5 sacks in 2014, but had just eight combined sacks over the previous two seasons.