The Philadelphia Eagles are enjoying a season full of positive momentum—a refreshing turnaround from their late-season struggles in 2023.
Currently standing at 10-2 and riding an impressive eight-game winning streak heading into a Week 14 home matchup against the Carolina Panthers, the Eagles are the hottest team in the NFL. A closer examination of their success reveals a combination of savvy financial decisions and smart personnel moves, offering a blueprint for future offseasons.
Key Offseason Moves That Paid Off
The Eagles’ offseason strategy yielded impressive results. They signed running back and MVP candidate Saquon Barkley to a 3-year, $37.75 million deal, which now appears to be a major bargain. Another shrewd move was bringing in inside linebacker Zack Baun on a one-year, $1.6 million contract, and he’s emerged as the team’s leading tackler.
Their success extended into the 2024 NFL Draft, where they secured two cornerback stars in back-to-back picks—Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean—who have become integral players in the league’s top-ranked defense.
With roughly $32 million in projected salary cap space for 2025, the Eagles could create additional flexibility by trading backup quarterback Kenny Pickett and targeting a replacement in the later rounds of the 2025 draft.
Rethinking the Backup QB Role
For a team led by an elite quarterback like Jalen Hurts, the typical approach is to have a backup who mirrors the starter’s skill set—something Kenny Pickett offers. However, moving on from Pickett, who carries a $2.6 million cap hit in 2025, could save the team $1.6 million if they use one of their three fifth-round picks in the 2025 draft to select a cheaper alternative.
The 2024 draft highlighted the disparity between early-round quarterback contracts and those selected later. For instance
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