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In further proof that there is no true offseason when it comes to NFL coverage, ESPN released post-draft 2014 NFL power rankings on Tuesday. I guess this could be considered a nice break for all of you who are already tired of the 2015 NFL mock drafts!
ESPN ranks the Eagles 9th overall. Coincidentally, that's also where the current 2015 Super Bowl odds have Philadelphia ranked. Seems reasonable enough. Here's the write-up:
The offense is looking pretty good, but is drafting fourth-rounder Jaylen Watkins enough to improve the pass defense? Philly allowed a league-worst 289.8 pass yards per game last year.
As I've pointed out many times by now, the Eagles did not actually have the worst pass defense in the league last year despite the stat ESPN touts here. That statistic is a volume number which doesn't account for how often the Eagles' defense was on the field last year. A more relevant number shows that the Eagles ranked 23rd in opponent yards per pass attempt. That's definitely still below average, but it's not like we're talking about a bottom five defense here.
Philadelphia was previously ranked 11th in ESPN's final 2013 power rankings, so the Eagles' offseason moves helped them move up two spots. Yay.
Five NFC teams ranked ahead of the Eagles include: Seahawks, 49ers, Packers, Saints, and Cardinals. I can see all of those except for the last one. Let's take a look around the NFC East:
19) Giants
Victor Cruz and Odell Beckham give Eli Manning some quality route runners for this year. He just has to hit them (NFL-worst 4.9 interception percentage in 2013).
The Giants arguably made some quality additions but is really is all about Eli.
22) Cowboys
Notre Dame allowed a sack on 1.8 percent of passing plays (attempts plus sacks) last year, third best in FBS. Zack Martin should plug in and play well right away.
The Cowboys have an improved offensive line. They also have an aging, injured quarterback and a bad defense that lost some of its' best players (DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher).
28) Washington
The trade to get RG III ultimately gave St. Louis Greg Robinson, Michael Brockers, Janoris Jenkins, Alec Ogletree and Zac Stacy (among others). Robinson's Rams hat hurt less after Morgan Moses fell, though.
I guess the DeSean Jackson addition didn't mean much to ESPN.