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Ranking the 15 Best Eagles Players Heading into the 2023 Season

By Devon Platana

Oct 30, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) on the field after game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) on the field after game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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7. DeVonta Smith

Sometimes, first-round selections struggle to live up to the hype surrounding them ahead of draft night. Fortunately, DeVonta Smith has crushed the Eagles’ expectations since he was taken 10th overall in 2021.

Despite a slow start to his sophomore season, Smith finished strong by ending the year with 95 receptions for 1,196 yards and 7 touchdowns. For reference, he tallied 31 more receptions, 280 more yards and 2 more TDs than he did as a rookie, taking a major step forward.

I’m licking my lips at the thought of what kind of damage Smith can do this fall. Between the regular season and playoffs, the 24-year-old has produced a 54-784-5 stat line in his last nine games.

That’s a pace for 102 receptions, 1,481 yards and 10 touchdowns during a 17-game schedule.

With another offseason under his belt, it could be time that we finally see prime Smith during the 2023 NFL season. If he can come close to producing as he did last year, the Eagles’ offense will be even more lethal.

6. Darius Slay

Darius Slay has been terrorizing quarterbacks ever since the Lions used the No. 36 pick at the 2013 Draft on him. Fortunately, he’s been doing the same for the Eagles over the last three seasons.

Slay has thrived in Philadelphia’s secondary, amassing 29 defended passes, 7 interceptions and 2 fumbles recovered for a pair of touchdowns over 48 games. Opposing QBs have only completed 58.5% of passes when targeting him over the last two years, playing a big role in his two Pro Bowl appearances over that time.

In fact, Slay has now made the Pro Bowl five times in the previous six seasons, further establishing himself as one of the best cornerbacks today.

One performance that solidified Slay’s place in Philly’s pecking order was when he shut down the Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson in Week 2, holding the NFL’s best wideout to just 48 yards and 6 catches on 12 targets. Your ‘Average Joe’ CB wouldn’t even come close to that performance.

As one of the league’s top shutdown cornerbacks, Slay possibly deserves a higher ranking.

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