East Repeat?

As the Philadelphia Eagles enter the 2023 season looking for a return to the Super Bowl, the revamped Birds will have to go through a competitive NFC East, where a team has not won the division twice in a row since Andy Reid’s squad in 2004.

On the final edition of the “Inside The Birds” NFC East preview, Greg Cosell joined Adam Caplan and Geoff Mosher to discuss the biggest factors that will determine the Eagles’ chances to win the division once again.

The Philadelphia Eagles are counting on new starters on defense such as Nakobe Dean to fill in for departed free agents

Jalen Hurts

Greg Cosell: “The run game element Hurts brings is so critical to what the Eagles do and how it impacts defenses. When you have a quarterback that is in the gun 99% of the snaps with an offset back, that dictates how the defense has to line up. You need a body for Jalen Hurts. It allows the Eagles pass game to become more effective because they know how the defense must line up. It allows the pass game to be incredibly efficient without being incredibly detailed.”

Slot Receiver

Cosell: “The reports are they were happy with Quez Watkins this offseason. Olamide Zaccheaus is a very interesting guy. He’s small, quick, has vertical ability, not as explosive as Watkins but he’ll work better in the short to intermediate areas. I think that is a competition.”

Tyler Steen

Cosell: “I liked Tyler Steen’s tape a lot as a left tackle out of Alabama. It was the arm length that made people feel he is not a [NFL] tackle. I personally think he is going to win the right guard job. His size and movement, stylistically, there is some similarities to Brandon Brooks. It’s not a one-to-one, but I think this kid could be a really good guard.”

Jordan Davis

Cosell: “The question is when they go to a nickel front, is Jordan Davis part of that on a regular basis? His development has to be such that he becomes part of that… It comes down to how many snaps he can play.” 

Linebackers

Cosell: “They are counting on Nakobe Dean to step right in and be a good player. (Nicholas) Morrow has been a good player in this league. He is an athletic guy, he’s almost built like a safety just like Kyzir White. But those are still question marks.”

James Bradberry

Cosell: “I think Bradberry can be beat over the top. Bradberry is a really savy, smart player who understands concepts. He is really good in zone, knows how to read routes. But he is not a transition, change-of-direction, turn and run guy.”

– Benjamin Paul is a staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.