No defense in the NFL struggled as badly down the stretch as the Philadelphia Eagles' unit did to end the 2023 season.
Poor play calls, poor tackling, and an inept pass rush all mixed for not just dropping six of their final seven games, but resulted in the complete overhaul of the defensive coaching staff.
Now, instead of having a Vic Fangio disciple to teach the scheme, the Eagles brought in Fangio himself to build this unit from the ground up. Luckily for the former Bears and 49ers defensive mastermind, there are still plenty of quality playmakers on the unit heading into 2024.
Not all of them played well last season, but five names could be on the path to a big year next year with the help of their new defensive leader.
CB James Bradberry
When we look at certain Eagles players who had a big drop-off from the Super Bowl team in 2022, James Bradberry is the first person that comes to mind.
An All-Pro who helped the Eagles top the league in pass defense the year prior, Bradberry was targeted more than any other Eagles corner in 2023. His struggles have been well documented - he was easily the group's worst player.
That was with Sean Desai coaching and following the removal of Dennard Wilson. Now, in a more favorable scheme with proper coaching, Bradberry might be able to get back to his prime 2022 form.
That is if Philly doesn't move on from him first.
DE Josh Sweat
Through his first five seasons, Josh Sweat improved his sack total in every single season. That's what made his 2023 drop-off so startling.
From an 11-sack Pro Bowl season to just six-and-a-half a year later?
Sweat's future may be in doubt due to his contract, but the Eagles would be foolish to let a 26-year-old dynamic player walk. He still has plenty left in the tank and should be given the benefit of the doubt - at least going into 2024.
LB Nakobe Dean
For the Fangio quarters defense to work, there needs to be strong linebacker play. While there will be questions surrounding who will play opposite him, Nakobe Dean needs to have a big year in 2024.
He's dealt with injuries that have gotten in the way during his first few years in the league, but a quarters defense should be able to set him up for success in a big way.
Remember, before last season, he looked good in short spurts of playing time in his rookie year. While last year's defense got away from their true principles, that won't happen under the new DC.
DT Jordan Davis
The run-stuffing dynamo from Georgia hasn't had the kind of success many envisioned for him when he was taken in the first round of the 2022 draft.
All that being said, Fangio's strong interior coaching should allow not only linebackers to play better than they did last season, but take some pressure off Davis as he becomes the face of the tackle group now.
His sack totals are low, but there's still a role for him that could be extremely important in 2024.
EDGE Nolan Smith
Most fans understood that while Nolan Smith was drafted in the first round last year, his chances of being an every-down defender to start were going to be slim.
As the team continued to struggle, and Smith made small impacts in games, fans began to become impatient with the Georgia product.
Smith may have tallied just a single sack last season, but he could be in line for more playing time now that the Eagles are transitioning back to the full Fangio style of play.
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