Wed, Mar 10, 2021
By Jim Vassallo (Veri.bet Writer)
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. And, they have fallen hard. It has been three years since the Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl LII and the franchise has taken a hard right turn in the quarterback position.
Former starter Carson Wentz, who helped put the Eagles in a position to contend during their Super Bowl-winning season, is no longer with the team. Wentz was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in the middle of February for a couple of draft picks. Wentz is being reunited with his former Offensive Coordinator, Frank Reich, who is now the Colts head coach.
With Wentz no longer entrenched under center in Philadelphia, the Eagles will seemingly hand the reigns over to second-year player Jalen Hurts. Hurts was taken by the Eagles in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Hurts took over for Wentz late in the 2020 season with Wentz struggling mightily. At the time, it seemed as if the relationship between Wentz, head coach Doug Pederson, and the Eagles front office was fractured beyond repair.
Then, just two weeks after the season ended, there were rumors that Wentz and the Eagles could make things work after Pederson was relieved of his duties and Nick Sirianni was hired to replace him.
However, Wentz was shipped to Indianapolis not too long after Sirianni was introduced as the franchise’s 21st head coach. Now, Sirianni has been tasked with turning Hurts into a proven starting quarterback in the NFL.
Not long after Wentz was traded, rumors began to swirl that the Eagles would trade up in the 2021 NFL Draft to take another quarterback. Those rumors were quickly put to bed when Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie made it publicly known that he wants the coaching staff to focus on Hurts as the starter heading into the new season.
With Hurts seemingly entrenched as the new starter, what does this mean for the rest of the NFC East? Where do the Eagles stand in the division?
The Dallas Cowboys seem to be the clear-cut favorite heading into the 2021 season after locking up their quarterback, Dak Prescott, to a long-term contract. Prescott is coming off a shortened 2020 season due to injury but is scheduled to be ready for Week 1.
The Eagles are clearly in rebuilding mode even after resigning long-time center Jason Kelce to a new contract a few days ago. The team has cut loose veteran wide receiver DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery will be released when the new league year begins on March 17.
The Eagles offensive line was in disarray last year and might not be any clearer in 2021 as rumors have begun to circulate that veteran offensive lineman Brandon Brooks will be traded. Add tight end, Zach Ertz, to the trade rumor carousel and Hurts might be looking at a completely new offensive lineup in front of him to begin 2021.
The Eagles are likely headed for a season in the cellar of the NFC East, leaving bettors to take a long look at their options for division favorite before kickoff this coming fall.
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