Picking just one disappointing player on the 2015 Philadelphia Eagles is a near-impossible task; it’s been a collective, joint effort by the offense, defense, and special teams for this team to underachieve as much as it has. Preseason Super Bowl aspirations ranging from Joe Banner to Adam Schefter to a great majority of this fanbase have fallen drastically short, to the point that it would be a surprise to see this team even stumble into the postseason.
You can blame Chip Kelly all you want – and trust me, he’s the most responsible of everyone for taking a top-tier organization and running it into the ground (and he’ll get his own section at the bottom of this article). But he’s not alone in failing to meet expectations. A look at this team’s roster and list of highest-paid players shows most of its expected stars have been letdowns, particularly the 10+ players highlighted below.
Honorable Mention: Marcus Smith
There aren’t enough spots on this list to include every Philadelphia Eagles bust, but Marcus Smith looks likely to go down in history as one of the all-time worst draft picks in franchise history. It’s year two of Smith’s NFL career, and he doesn’t have a tackle. Per Pro Football Reference, 773 NFL players have recorded a tackle this season, but Smith’s name still isn’t on the list.
10. Mark Sanchez
It wasn’t difficult to surmise that Mark Sanchez would play a role on this year’s team; after all, starting quarterback Sam Bradford was chronically injured in St. Louis and had missed the last 25 regular-season games of his five-year tenure with the Rams.
Last year, Sanchez filled in for Nick Foles for eight starts, winning four and posting a higher passer rating (88.4 to 81.4) than his counterpart. In fact, Sanchez set the single-season franchise record for completion percentage (64.1), providing highlights like the 45-21 Monday night win over Carolina and the Thanksgiving Day rout of the Dallas Cowboys.
So it’s not like Sanchez is an inexperienced rookie; that’s why his backbreaking interception in the final minutes against Miami was so disheartening. Sanchez got the start this past week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was downright awful. He threw three interceptions, posting a 67.2 passer rating. For the season, his 65.7 passer rating ranks 46th among 48 quarterbacks with at least 40 attempts. The only two quarterbacks to rate lower are Ryan Mallett and Jimmy Clausen, neither of whom is currently in the NFL.
9. Eric Rowe
The Philadelphia Eagles’ second-round pick has flown largely under the radar this season, and that’s not a good thing. Eric Rowe is the prototypical Chip Kelly defensive back – he’s a corner with long arms and could probably play safety if needed.
The problem is Rowe can’t get on the field, losing snaps to veteran journeyman E.J. Biggers of all people. Rowe had a chance to win the nickel job this preseason, especially after the coaching staff traded away Brandon Boykin to Pittsburgh. Rowe failed to win that, and Kelly was forced to move regular free safety Malcolm Jenkins to nickel back and play Chris Maragos at safety. Rowe’s opportunities have been everywhere – he had a chance to earn a starting safety spot but that went to Walter Thurmond and he could have been the nickel back but that is now manned by Biggers.
8. Zach Ertz
For the second straight year, Zach Ertz seemed to be on the verge of a breakout season, but it just hasn’t happened. He’s 14th among tight ends in receptions (38) and yards (394), and he still hasn’t scored a touchdown in 2015.
That’s a major disappointment, considering Chip Kelly liked him enough in the 2013 NFL draft to take him at the top of the second round, even when tight end wasn’t considered a pressing need. Recently, it’s even been the veteran Brent Celek who has been Mark Sanchez’s go-to guy in the passing game.
7. DeMarco Murray
DeMarco Murray has rebounded from an absolutely treacherous two-game start, and he’s actually eighth in rushing yards (468) since Week 5, averaging a solid 4.18 yards per carry. He’s also been a capable receiver out of the backfield, totaling 39 catches for the season already.
But his brutal debut with the Philadelphia Eagles still stings, and he’s been a far cry from the league rushing champion of 2014. Was Chip Kelly foolish to pay $40 million to Murray, with close to half of that guaranteed? It certainly seems so, as Murray has failed to duplicate his success outside of Dallas. Kelly has also gotten much better production (although he won’t admit it) from his backup running back, Ryan Mathews.
6. Nelson Agholor
This is the second straight season the Philadelphia Eagles have gotten no production from their first-round pick, and that’s what lands them near the bottom of this list. While 2014 pick Marcus Smith was seen as a reach when the Eagles drafted him, 2015 first-round wideout Nelson Agholor was supposed to be an immediate contributor.
Agholor had every opportunity to vie for a starting spot in a depleted receiving corps, and he hasn’t been able to do so. As a result, the Eagles have been forced to play Miles Austin and Riley Cooper as regular outside receivers next to slot man Jordan Matthews. Meanwhile, Agholor has accumulated just 14 receptions for 148 yards and no touchdowns in seven games, also missing three contests due to injury.
5. Kiko Alonso
Remember Chip Kelly’s offseason trade of LeSean McCoy for Kiko Alonso? Here we are in late November, and Alonso has suited up for just five games, starting none, and registering 10 tackles, no sacks, and just one big play – that one-handed interception he had in the end zone in Week 1.
To say Alonso has been a disappointment is an understatement. He’s been a season-long non-factor, missing half the games due to injuries and playing a very limited role in the others. He says his knee is 100 percent, so if that’s the case, why isn’t he making plays?
4. Jason Kelce
Something has happened to Jason Kelce this season. After playing at a Pro Bowl level his first two seasons under Chip Kelly, he has regressed badly this year. He’s still effective as a run blocker, but he’s leading his position in penalties and he’s committed multiple horrendous snaps.
That’s not the Kelce who emerged a few years ago as the most athletic run-blocking center in the NFL. This Kelce has looked constantly overmatched, grading in the middle of the pack per Pro Football Focus’s ratings, and not doing the Eagles any favors with their new $40 million runner, DeMarco Murray.
In Kelly’s first year with the Eagles, the rushing offense ranked sixth in the league (per Football Outsiders) in average yards gained per rush between the guards and center, averaging 4.29 per carry. This year, that number is down to 3.72, good for 22nd best in the NFL. Losing Evan Mathis certainly hasn’t helped, but Kelce’s uncharacteristically disappointing play hasn’t, either.
3. Byron Maxwell
Chip Kelly’s most expensive offseason transaction was Byron Maxwell, the fourth member of Seattle’s Legion of Boom secondary who was paid like he’s Darrelle Revis in his prime. Maxwell’s six-year, $63 million contract makes him the fourth-highest paid corner in the NFL (in terms of total contract value), behind Darrelle Revis ($70 million), Patrick Peterson ($70 million), and Joe Haden ($67.5 million).
Those three have combined for 12 Pro Bowls. Maxwell has never made a Pro Bowl; in fact, he had only started 17 games entering this season. Still, Kelly liked his athletic frame, long arms, and play in Seattle enough to believe he could be a true lockdown corner capable of neutralizing Odell Beckham, Jr. and Dez Bryant.
It’s safe to say Maxwell has underwhelmed thus far. He was lit up by Julio Jones in Week 1, and understandably, that happens to even the best of corners. But he’s been torched repeatedly this season. His numbers to date: a 72.5 completion percentage allowed, 10.6 yards per attempt, two touchdown passes, and one interception (off a deflection). His 111.6 passer rating allowed is more in line with late-career Nnamdi Asomugha than Richard Sherman or Peterson. In fact, that’s pretty close to what Asomugha allowed in 2012 (120.6).
2. Jordan Matthews
Chip Kelly liked Jordan Matthews so much that he traded up to acquire him in the second round in 2014. There’s a lot to like about Matthews, and following his 67/872/8 rookie season, many expected Matthews to take that next leap and earn a 2015 Pro Bowl selection.
Not only has Matthews failed to fulfill expectations, but he’s struggled with drops and flat out disappeared the last two games (just 34 receiving yards). Matthews’ season pace of just over 900 yards will beat his rookie mark, but his touchdown total is down, and he hasn’t been able to fulfill the role of true No. 1 wide receiver.
1. Sam Bradford
The hype surrounding Sam Bradford this preseason was through the roof. After all, Chip Kelly traded Nick Foles, a second-round pick, and a fourth-round pick for the former No. 1 overall pick, and Bradford played well enough in August that Philadelphia Eagles fans – myself included – legitimately believed this team was destined for greatness.
That’s what makes Bradford’s regular-season performance so disappointing. He’s tossed interceptions at an alarming rate, throwing 10 in 335 pass attempts, easily the highest interception rate (3.0) of his career. He’s rated 25th out of 34 qualifying passers in passer rating (82.4) and he’s 32nd in QBR (37.42).
And the injury bug, which plagued Bradford’s once-promising career in St. Louis, struck in Week 10, as Bradford suffered a separated shoulder and concussion on the same play. He subsequently missed the remainder of the Miami game and the following week’s loss to Tampa Bay. He may play against Detroit and he may not, but regardless, the Sam Bradford under center this season hasn’t been the player Kelly wanted him to be.
Chip Kelly
While Chip Kelly isn’t a player, how can he not be mentioned in here? He’s the one responsible for almost single-handedly tearing down a playoff-caliber team. Kelly demanded full control this offseason, got it, and went to work molding the Philadelphia Eagles into exactly what he wanted.
As it stands, he’s a much better coach than GM. It’s looking as if he overvalued nearly every new player he brought in. First-round pick Nelson Agholor can’t get on the field. Second-rounder Eric Rowe can’t, either. Kiko Alonso is a shell of the great linebacker from Buffalo. DeMarco Murray doesn’t fit this offense. Byron Maxwell can’t cover No.1 wide receivers. Evan Mathis is sorely missed. And most importantly, the man under center, Sam Bradford, is what he was in St. Louis – a middling, below-league average quarterback with a high injury rate.
Reports recently indicating Kelly is losing the locker room don’t bode well for his future in Philadelphia. While his contract runs through the 2017 season, it’s likely he is given one more year to right what he did wrong this year, or else owner Jeffery Lurie will have to look elsewhere rather than bring back a lame duck Kelly in his final season. Or maybe Kelly will make it easy on Lurie and simply bolt for whichever college job opens up.
