The NFL's 5 Most Improved Offenses Entering 2017
Philadelphia Eagles
Carson Wentz's rookie season is generally viewed as a success, and it should be. His rookie year Passing NEP per drop back of 0.06 is better than what Andrew Luck did as a first-year player, although Luck is grossly overrated. Regardless, Wentz's 2016 numbers put him in a nice spot when we stack him up against other rookies quarterbacks since 2000.
Rookie signal callers have been so bad lately that anytime one starts right away and isn't terrible, we have to take notice. Wentz definitely wasn't terrible last season, and he fared decently well in spite of a rather ugly wide receiver corps. Jordan Matthews, who is a fine player, saw 117 targets, but Dorial Green-Beckham (74) and Nelson Agholor (69) shouldn't be teaming up for 143 targets.
The addition of Alshon Jeffery will fix that. The Philadelphia Eagles signed Jeffery to a one-year deal this offseason, and he has a chance to fill a lot of needs for the Eagles. Not only should he bump Matthews from an iffy No. 1 receiver to a pretty good No. 2 wideout, but with J-Matt in the slot, Philly had a massive hole at outside receiver.
While last season was something of a wasted year for Jeffery, he still hauled in 52 catches for 821 yards and 2 scores across 12 games. The year prior, in 2015, he ranked 13th in Reception NEP per target. Jeffery has missed 9 games over the last two years, but the former Chicago Bear played in all 16 games in both 2013 and 2014.
Jeffery and Matthews are a nice tandem at receiver, and the Eagles also have an emerging Zach Ertz at tight end to go with Darren Sproles, maybe the best pass-catching running back in NFL history. The Eagles recently signed LeGarrette Blount, as well, a bruising runner who should serve as a nice compliment to Sproles.
Philadelphia's ground game was fine in 2016, finishing 12th in schedule-adjusted Rushing NEP per play. It was the passing game -- which sat 23rd in Passing NEP per play and 27th in net yards gained per pass attempt -- that needed a lift, and Jeffery should provide just that.