Last year, the Eagles were seeing big contributions from their rookie class early in the season. DeVonta Smith had established himself as the top receiver on the team almost immediately, Landon Dickerson was settling in at guard, Kenneth Gainwell was an established role player on the offense and Milton Williams was rotating into the defensive line. This year, it’s a different story.
There is a simple reason why: the Eagles began a rebuilding process in the spring of 2021, so young players were bound to see big roles last season. And now that the team has gone from plucky startup to legit contender, it is no surprise that the dynamic has shifted on the roster where first year players are contributing less.