The Eagles are always one of the most aggressive teams in the offseason when it comes to improving their roster. General manager Howie Roseman knows how to acquire talent and he put together a master class this year in free agency and the draft.
Just how improved is the roster? And are oddsmakers sufficiently impressed in Pennsylvania sports betting circles?
PennStakes.com is here to analyze the roster.
Earlier this week, PennStakes.com took an in-depth look at the Steelers roster.
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What Do Odds on Eagles Say?
The Eagles made the playoffs last year but most Pennsylvania sports betting apps show oddsmakers are far from convinced they are the best team in the NFC East.
FanDuel Pennsylvania Sportsbook lists the Eagles at +3000 to win the Super Bowl, the 13th best odds in the NFL. FanDuel sees the Eagles tied with the Arizona Cardinals at +1400, sixth-best odds to win the NFC. And FanDuel favors the Dallas Cowboys (+125) to win the NFC East over the Eagles (+185), the Washington Commanders (+500) and the New York Giants.
Here is FanDuel’s top 10 and where the Eagles fit in.
Meanwhile, BetRivers Sportsbook Pennsylvania also has the Eagles ranked 13th (tied with Cleveland) in Super Bowl odds, again at +3000. BetRivers has the Cowboys (+125) favored over the Eagles (+190) in the NFC East, followed by the Commanders (+500) and Giants (+700).
Taking a Closer Look at the Roster
How does the roster for the Eagles compare to the rest of the NFL going into the year? In a recent ESPN story based on data from Pro Football Focus, writer Ben Linsey ranked all 32 rosters heading into the 2022 season. Philadelphia came in at No. 7, ahead of other playoff contenders such as the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals and San Francisco 49ers.
Much higher than how the oddsmakers see it.
So where does Philadelphia stand out compared to their peers? It’s easily in the trenches. You can make a case the Eagles have the best offensive and defensive lines in the NFL. And they added to both units early in the 2022 NFL Draft, selecting Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis and Nebraska center Cam Jurgens.
The second-string defensive line for the Eagles (Jordan Davis, Milton Williams, Derek Barnett and Josh Sweat) is better than most teams' No. 1 unit. (Figure that Haason Reddick is listed at LB but is, in essence, a first-string pass rusher.) They are incredibly deep on the defensive line and have bonafide stars rushing the passer. On the offensive line, they have arguably the best center in the league in Jason Kelce and maybe the best duo of tackles in the league in Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata. When the Eagles are all fully healthy, they match up well with any offensive line unit in the NFL.
But where the Eagles have really improved over the last two offseasons is in the skill position department. Devonta Smith had a fine rookie season, catching 64 passes for 916 yards. He figures to have a more significant role in the offense this year. The big addition was A.J. Brown, who the Eagles acquired in a trade from Tennessee. He is a bonafide No. 1 receiver who will allow Smith to operate in a complementary role. Together, they are among the best young wide receiver duos in the NFL.
Eagles Have Super Bowl Potential
The Eagles’ roster as a whole is as good as any team in the NFL. The only difference between them and a team like the Buffalo Bills, for example, is the quarterback position. Jalen Hurts improved in Year 2, but he still looks overwhelmed when the Eagles need him to win as a passer.
In the final 10 games of the 2021 season, Hurts averaged just 14.7 completions per game with a 58.8% completion percentage. That's just not going to be good enough to win in the playoffs, no matter how good the rest of the roster is for the Eagles.
But here is the good news for the Eagles: Their roster is outstanding, and Hurts did improve compared to his rookie season. If he can make a big leap in Year 3, this roster is good enough to get the Eagles to the Super Bowl. This team has no real weakness and their strength on the offensive and defensive lines can keep them competitive all year long. This is one of the best overall rosters and teams in the NFL entering the 2022 season.
