A year ago, one of the most explosive players in the NFL was let go of in DeSean Jackson. Jackson was coming off a career year where he had over 1300 yards receiving and nine touchdowns. However, this was a year ago and many thought that it was just a matter of money and the Eagles would be able to move on next year.
This year, Chip Kelly has gotten rid of one of the best running backs in the league, LeSean McCoy and the team’s best receiver, Jeremy Maclin, while retaining some questionable pieces as well. McCoy is coming off a year where he ran for over 1300 yards while splitting playtime with another great running back, Darren Sproles. However, those who support Kelly’s decision of the blockbuster trade in McCoy for Kiko Alonso will tell you that McCoy was a an aging, over the hill running back. An aging running back who just came off a 1300-yard season? Who did Kelly get to replace McCoy? Frank Gore, a 32-year-old running back that is coming off a solid season, but is six years older than McCoy and has had many more carries in his career. Signing Gore to replace McCoy was a questionable move, period, but the deal he got was for three years. This means Gore will be with the Eagles until he’s 35, and there aren’t any running backs these days that last that to that age.
The next questionable move Kelly made this offseason was letting Maclin go to Kansas City. Maclin was the top receiver on a Eagles team that had questionable quarterback play for much of the season. Maclin has been known to be injury prone, but had a full season last year, and a career one at that. It doesn’t make sense to let your best receiver go in Jackson one year, and then let go of Maclin the next.
Not only have there been questionable releases by Kelly, but there have been questionable acquisitions as well. McCoy is set to make $8,000,000 a year with the Bills, a price that Kelly found too high. However, the Eagles sign backup quarterback, Mark Sanchez, to the same price? That’s ridiculous. Sanchez has had a very up and down career as a quarterback, but to say that he’s worth more as a backup quarterback than one of the best backs in the league
What did the Eagles acquire for McCoy? Alonso. Alonso is coming off his second ACL surgery in his career, an injury that is very tough to come back from. It just doesn’t make any sense to bring an injury prone linebacker for such a huge part of a team’s offense. Then to say that you can’t bring your top receiver back either, but can afford a backup QB for a hefty price tag? Kelly has clearly lost his marbles and is too into his system. In order to win in the NFL one has to have a great system, plus great players.
Whatever the case, Kelly is going to be on the hot seat this season after being given such power. If he wins, everyone will see him as a genius. However, if he loses, Eagles fans won’t have to think twice on whom to point the finger towards.