The Philadelphia Eagles may have lost some star power over the past few years, but no one would arguethere's plenty left. The next offseason won't be without more losses, and neither will any that follow.
Change will come, and Howie Roseman and company have seen plenty of it. Still, there's always a plan. Philadelphia's vice president/general manager always has a plan to keep his team competitive. Public perception states Roseman's approval rating continues to soar. The Eagles are a class organization, and ESPN's Ben Solak still believes they're one of the NFL's more entertaining teams.
In his annual NFL watchability rankings, Solak placed Philadelphia 15th overall, putting the Eagles squarely in the league's top half when it comes to teams worth
tuning in for or dedicating a second screen to on Sundays. The ranking wasn't built solely on wins and losses. Solak's criteria included big-play potential, star power, competitive games, and avoiding the kind of bad football that makes viewers change the channel.
"When have the Nick Sirianni-led Eagles not been dramatic? When they're good, running back Saquon Barkley has score-from-anywhere potential. Quarterback Jalen Hurts has a beautiful deep ball along the sideline, and receiver DeVonta Smith is a more-than-capable beneficiary of A.J. Brown's departure."
In other words, Philadelphia keeps checking plenty of boxes. Solak also highlighted a defense loaded with recognizable stars, including Jalen Carter, Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and Zack Baun. The most interesting part of his evaluation may have been what he said about the Eagles when things aren't going well. According to him, Philadelphia remains compelling even during rough stretches because drama tends to follow the organization.
He specifically referenced the possibility of tense sideline interactions involving Hurts and Sirianni as the Eagles adjust to Sean Mannion's new offense. Whether Eagles fans appreciate that characterization is another discussion entirely. Still, it's difficult to argue with the broader point. Few teams generate more conversation than Philadelphia. Between Hurts, Sirianni, Barkley, Smith, Carter, and one of the NFL's most recognizable fan bases, the Eagles rarely operate quietly.
Perhaps the only surprise is that Solak stopped at No. 15. If Sean Mannion's offense clicks, if the defense performs as expected, and if the Eagles remain in the middle of another playoff race, Philadelphia could easily prove more entertaining than half the teams ranked ahead of them.
Then again, Eagles fans have never needed a national ranking to know their team usually finds a way to keep things interesting. Win or lose, the NFL's most passionate fan base is certain to find their way in front of a television set on game days, as the Eagles remain one of the league's top draws.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles land at No. 15 in ESPN's NFL watchability rankings
