2015 NFL Future Rankings: Eagles Fall Seven Spots To 15th
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- On July 11th, 2014 ESPN Insider ranked the Eagles eighth on their NFL future power rankings. A year later, the Eagles find themselves 15th on the updated rankings list.
So why the seven-slot drop for the Birds? Two words, one guy: Chip Kelly.
"The key question is whether the Eagles were smart in handing over personnel power to [Chip] Kelly, a change that preceded and possibly enabled the decisions to trade away Nick Foles and LeSean McCoy while Jeremy Maclin left in free agency," ESPN's Mike Sando wrote.
The rankings list projects the success of all NFL teams over the next three seasons based on five categories—roster (30 percent), quarterback (20 percent), draft (15 percent), front office (15 percent), and coaching (20 percent).
Three of the five categories dipped for Eagles in 2015. With Sam Bradford replacing Nick Foles, quarterback went from 12th in 2014 to 22nd. Their non-QB roster went from fifth to 14th, and with Chip Kelly making personnel decisions the Eagles' front office went from 10th to 19th.
Coaching, according to the ranking, improved from ninth to sixth and their draft ranking stayed the same.
"Can [Bradford] stay healthy, can the revamped offensive line keep him upright, and can Chip scheme up the opponent week after week to help keep Bradford out of danger?" asked ESPN's Louis Riddick. "That's what we are all waiting to see."
The top-three teams on the list, from first to third, were the Green Bay Packers, the Seattle Seahawks, and the New England Patriots.
