The Next Step

The Philadelphia Eagles will be counting on different faces to step up in the upcoming season.

On the latest episode of “Inside The Birds,” Adam Caplan and Geoff Mosher identified breakout candidates for 2024.

GETTY IMAGES: The Philadelphia Eagles will look for DT Jalen Carter to reach his Pro Bowl potential in 2024

Jalen Carter

Geoff Mosher: “This is a guy who is not supposed to need some great defensive coordinator or a great d-line scheme to be able to win. He has so much amazing talent that we saw at times early last year that you know with the coaching, scheme, and experience he has, Jalen Carter could be a Pro Bowl or All-Pro type player as soon as this year.”

Adam Caplan: “He did not play well in the final quarter of the season…I choose to believe Clint Hurtt is going to take him to the next level. With Fletcher Cox gone, he has to know it is on him now. They are expecting him to play almost every snap.”

Cam Jurgens

Mosher: “Here is a guy who is going to be the starting center on an offensive line that has three Pro Bowl talents on it already. With Jeff Stoutland and his track record of developing guys, you feel pretty good that if he can learn the nuance that comes with this position that Jason Kelce mastered, he can really solidify himself as a center for the Eagles for years to come.”

Caplan: “What we have heard is he has been much better at traffic sorting…he is super athletic, has good size for his position, is really smart, moves well, his flexibility is really good.”

Nolan Smith

Caplan: “They don’t have anyone like Nolan Smith who is that quick up the field. He could be in obvious pass rush situations. I see him being effective in his role.”

Mosher: “You have the idea of a swiss army knife with him, it just needs to be recognized. He has to get stronger and show that he can handle that.”

Zack Baun

Mosher: “This guy could wind up being just a special teamer that we never hear of, or really fulfilling the vision they have of him.”

Caplan: “He has been a part-time player and backup in his first four years with the Saints. As we have said for years now, coaches love when you can play from an inside linebacker and be able to rush. From what we have heard, they are happy with what this guy did [during the offseason].”

– Benjamin Paul is a staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.