Eagles’ Biggest Weaknesses Ahead of 2024 NFL Training Camp

The Philadelphia Eagles have done a lot of work to ensure a better finish to the 2024 season than the one they suffered in 2023. But even the best rosters in the league aren’t without a few holes.

The front office’s job is to put together a roster that can contend for a championship. Howie Roseman is one of the best in the league at that job, but even he understands that there’s a give and take in the endeavor.

Addressing a need somewhere often means sacrificing depth somewhere else.

So while the Eagle have made moves to improve the roster and fix the issues that plagued them in 2023, there are still a few position that could give them problems when the 2024 season gets underway.

They should keep an eye on these spots in training camp to determine if they need to make another move to address the position before the season gets started.

It feels like the linebacker position could make this list every year. It just hasn’t been a priority under Howie Roseman’s watch.

Last year, the Eagles took chances on veterans Zach Cunningham, Shaquille Leonard and Nicholas Morrow to fill in the gap.

Morrow signed with the Buffalo Bills while both Cunningham and Leonard remained unsigned. The Eagles are obviously not in a hurry to bring either of them back because they’ve already added some new blood to the room.

New defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will be working with Devin White and Zack Baun as new free agent additions. He’ll also hope to get a breakout season from Nakobe Dean. The former third-round pick played in five games with four starts last season before a foot injury put him on the injured reserve list in Week 9.

The arrival of a new defensive coordinator and Dean returning from injury could mean that this isn’t a weakness at all, but it is still one of the most unproven rooms on the roster. White was benched in Tampa Bay last season and Baun didn’t exactly light the world on fire in New Orleans.

As of right now, it’s a young room that could have untapped potential or become a complete liability. They’ll have to get a more clear picture in training camp.

Safety has been another chronic issue for the Eagles. Fortunately, they are bringing back one of their top answers at the position from the 2022 season. C.J. Gardner-Johnson is back after a one-year detour in Detroit.

That’s good news because it gives them flexibility to either play him at safety or slot cornerback. Either could quickly become a need based on health and which young players prove they are ready to be on the field.

But even if Gardner-Johnson locks down one starting spot then there’s going to be a battle at the other spot that could be a weakness.

Reed Blankenship and Sydney Brown both played big roles last season. However, that means a little less with Fangio coming in.

Blankenship gave up six touchdowns in coverage for an opposing passer rating of 99.9. Brown started six games as a rookie, but gave up a passer rating of 111.8.

James Bradberry is going to rep at the position and Mekhi Garner is a second-year player who could see a leap. If either of them turns out to be a solid third option then this is a weakness that the Eagles don’t have to to worry about.

Just like linebacker, they have options. It’s a matter of finding out if they are viable options in camp.

Part of the reason the 2022 Eagles defense was dominant was a deep roster of defensive linemen. The Eagles had the likes of Ndamukong Suh and Linval Joseph a the back of the rotation.

The veteran tandem playing a handful of snaps meant that the Eagles always had capable players making life miserable for offensive linemen.

That depth is going to be tested this year. Where the Eagles used to have Javon Hargrave and Fletcher Cox they now have Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter leading the way.

The two young Georgia alums are still coming into their own while Marlon Tuipulotu, Milton Williams, PJ Mustipher and Moro Ojomo round out the rotation.

It’s not a terrible group of interior defenders, it’s just not nearly as proven as groups they’ve had in the past. Williams is the most experienced of the group and he’s never played more than 46 percent of the snaps.

Given that all three needs highlighted here make up the spine of the defense, it’s going to be important for the Eagles young group of interior defenders to grow up quickly under Fangio.