Break Out!

The Eagles underwent a maintenance offseason, allowing in-house free agents to walk and instead committing to — and building around — its young nucleus of talent.

The approach would appear to be rooted in logic, as well as a bit of projection, but even merely skimming the roster it’s easy to understand the bullishness, as several young Eagles will be positioned to use the 2024 season as a springboard toward a breakthrough.

But rostering talent is only part of the equation; further fueling the Eagles’ vision is that they also have the coaches and infrastructure in place to foster player development and ensure the trajectory continues to trend upward.

Here are my Eagles breakout candidates for this season, with a player listed for all three phases.

ITB PHOTO: Second-year RB Will Shipley showed he has good hands and some burst in a limited offensive role.

Offense: Will Shipley

With Kenny Gainwell, now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, no longer in the fold, Shipley finds himself in line to inherit those snaps as the Eagles’ No. 2 running back. Sure, the second-year pro will be pushed by veteran A.J. Dillon, but working in Shipley’s favor is organizational investment and a skill-set that ideally complements Saquon Barkley.

To expand, when Barkley needs to be spelled over the course of a game, replacing him with Dillon — a between-tackles bruiser — feels redundant. Shipley adds dynamism, open-field explosiveness and better pass-catching prowess than Dillon.

This projection is partly based on opportunity, but also because of what he can provide for an offense looking to evolve. He can hit the home run, create yards after the catch and serve as an effective outlet receiver. He’d add another dimension to an already prolific offense.

The only potential caveat thwarting my choice here would be pass protection, but as Shipley said in our final “Rookie Diary” episode, pass protection would be an area of focus. The Clemson product should turn some heads this season.

Defense: Jalyx Hunt

One would be hard-pressed to name one player on the Eagles’ roster who has experienced a progression as steady and rapid as Hunt. The Houston Christian alum was widely viewed as a redshirt rookie but factored into the pass-rush rotation by mid-season, appearing increasingly more confident with each rep, while also showcasing a more advanced pass-rush approach and a variance of moves in his bag of tricks. He was beating tackles off the edge and flashing improved hand usage and overall technique.

Numbers can be misleading, as Hunt made several plays that don’t necessarily reflect in the box score, though the 24-year-old did pick up 1.5 sacks in the postseason.

I’m banking on Hunt building on his rookie success and continuing to shape his craft. As the favorite to start opposite Nolan Smith, supporting my forecast is that the opportunities figure to be there for Hunt to warrant the “breakout” distinction.

Special Teams: Smael Mondon, Jr.

While Mondon Jr. served as a three-year starter at linebacker for the Bulldogs, he remained involved with special teams, accruing over 400 career third phase snaps.

The 6-foot-2, 224 pounder, when asked about special teams during his rookie minicamp availability, conveyed a sense of pride and enjoyment in taking on the added responsibility. That Mondon Jr. so willingly moonlighted on special teams despite shouldering a prominent defensive role highlights his selflessness, dedication and understanding the importance of special teams.

That mindset, coupled with Mondon Jr.’s closing speed and consistent open-field tackling suggests he’ll make his mark there early and find success.

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.