There are undoubtedly some high expectations for the Philadelphia Eagles this season. The Eagles currently have the best record in the entire NFL, and they came extremely close to winning their second Super Bowl in franchise history against the Kansas City Chiefs back in February.
The Eagles are definitely in a "championship window" but if they don't win, the window might close and the team may have to reset after the season.
If the Eagles fail to win it all, which players (or coaches) could be on the move? Which key members of this team currently would be on their way out the door after the season?
Let's take a look at five names that could be gone after the year if the Eagles don't win it all.
1. Brandon Graham, EDGE
Brandon Graham has become something of an ageless wonder for the Philadelphia Eagles. He was with the team during their first Super Bowl run back in 2017, and that was Graham's eighth NFL season. He helped the Eagles reach the pinnacle then, and he's done his best to get them back in another Super Bowl window, especially last year when he had a career-high 11.0 sacks (the only double-digit sack season of his career).
Now in his 14th season, Graham is pushing 36 years of age and already has a Super Bowl ring in his collection. All good things must come to an end and if the Eagles fail to win it in 2023 (or even if they do win it), it's reasonable to think this could be Graham's last run at it.
2. Jason Kelce, Center
This would be a tough one for Philadelphia Eagles fans (and NFL fans, in general) to swallow. There have been rumors of Jason Kelce potentially considering retirement and the Eagles have obviously done their part to draft and plan in advance of whenever he does decide to hang up the cleats. Like Brandon Graham, Jason Kelce was part of the Eagles team that won the Super Bowl in the 2017-18 season.
He's got a ring, and he came dangerously close to getting one over his brother and the Chiefs last year. If the Eagles don't win the Super Bowl this season, I could definitely see Jason Kelce deciding to call it a career and he would undoubtedly be able to be proud of being a perennial All-Pro selection, Pro Bowl selection, and Super Bowl champ.
3. Sean Desai, defensive coordinator
It felt like the Philadelphia Eagles sort of settled at defensive coordinator in the 2023 offseason. It wasn't a great year to need a defensive coordinator overall, but Sean Desai wasn't a terrible pick. I think there were a lot of teams vying for Vic Fangio, who got an offer he couldn't refuse from Miami. Whether or not the Eagles were in a bidding war for Fangio is unknown, but they went after a Fangio disciple in Sean Desai.
Philadelphia's defense ranks 20th in points allowed this season, they're 30th in 3rd down defense, and 29th in red zone defense.
If they don't win the Super Bowl, you can almost hear the fans calling for Desai's head and I think the Eagles will recognize the need for a potential change at that spot.
4. Julio Jones, WR
You have to love or at least respect Philadelphia Eagles GM Howie Roseman. Anyone who has ever played or grew up playing the Madden video games always assembled their rosters similar to the way Roseman does it in real life.
He's not afraid to make any trade, he's not afraid to call up any veteran, and he's certainly been one of the NFL's most aggressive trigger men when it comes to building his roster.
The addition of Julio Jones in 2023 was rather risk-free, but another sign that Roseman is never satisfied with status quo. Jones ended up catching a touchdown and you can call it the "difference" in a seven-point win over Washington earlier this season. But if the Eagles lose the Super Bowl this year (and likely even if they win it), this will probably be Jones's first and last year with the team.
5. Kevin Byard, Safety
The Philadelphia Eagles made a pre-trade deadline move with the Tennessee Titans to acquire perennial All-Pro safety Kevin Byard, and Byard is still looking for his first interception as an Eagle.
Although Byard's family has been longtime Eagles fans, it's possible that a loss in the Super Bowl (or even a win) could spell the end of the veteran's run with Philadelphia. This move could very well just be a rental for this season.
Byard is due a base salary of $9.6 million next season with a cap hit over $14 million. Win or lose in the Super Bowl, his contract is going to need to be re-worked barring a huge run of interceptions or something crazy.
In other Eagles news: