Best Record Eagles Continue to Rise in NFL

The 2022–23 Philadelphia Eagles surprised the world with their run to the Super Bowl. Led by former second-round pick Jalen Hurts, a vaunted defense, and one of the best wide receiving duos in the league in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia nearly brought home the second Lombardi Trophy in team history. 

Thanks to last season, the Eagles’ net worth is as high as ever. They’ve even added several players to help bring a championship home in 2023–24, and they’re now an NFL-best 8-1 after a win against the rival Dallas Cowboys. Here’s what you need to know. 

Eagles’ Net Worth

Philadelphia has always loved its football team. One of the oldest franchises in the league, the Eagles won three championships between 1945 and 1960 before entering a long wilderness period. Between 1961 and 1977, Philadelphia never reached the playoffs and only had a winning record twice. 

Aside from a surprising Super Bowl appearance in 1980, there wasn’t tremendous success between 1978 and 1993 before current owner Jeffrey Lurie bought the team in 1994. After hiring Andy Reid in 1999 and building a competitive NFL roster at the turn of the century, the Eagles’ fortunes began to change. 

Under Reid, the Eagles made the playoffs nine times in 14 seasons, reaching the NFC Championship game four times and the Super Bowl in 2004. Lurie had bought the team for $195 million, and as of 2023, the team’s value jumped to $5.8 billion, the 10th-most valuable team in football. That number will only continue to grow as the team adds more talent. 

Free Agent Signing Terrell Edmunds

The secondary that helped Philadelphia reach the Super Bowl was dealt a severe blow when safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson signed a one-year, $6.5 million contract with the Lions. They nearly lost Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay as well before signing him to a three-year, $42 million contract. 

Needing help in the secondary, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman signed former Steelers starting safety Terrell Edmunds, a solid player, to replace Gardner-Johnson. Edmunds logged 70 tackles last season in Pittsburg, along with two sacks. Unlike Gardner-Johnson, however, Edmunds doesn’t generate turnovers. 

Gardner-Johnson hauled in a league-leading six interceptions last season, while Edmunds has just five interceptions in his six seasons. 

Free Agent Signing Marcus Mariota

As the former second overall pick in the 2015 draft, Mariota spent two seasons backing up Derek Carr in Las Vegas before getting the opportunity to start again in Atlanta. The results were a mixed bag. He went 5-8 as the starter and averaged just 170 passing yards per game, the lowest number of his career. When he got benched for his rookie teammate Desmond Ridder, Mariota left the team. Head coach Arthur Smith noted that Mariota had been dealing with a knee injury but didn’t say that was why he was gone. 

Fast forward to 2023, and Mariota signed a one-year, $5 million deal to back up MVP candidate Jalen Hurts. While Mariota’s drama with the Falcons is surprising, he did attempt to set the record straight. Mariota looks like one of the best backup quarterbacks in the league in a new environment, perfectly equipped to fill in for Hurts if needed.

First-Round Draft Pick Jalen Carter

Entering the 2023 draft, Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter was a consensus top-5 draft prospect, ranked as high as #2 by sports analytics company Pro Football Focus (PFF). In fact, PFF says Carter was “neck and neck with Quinnen Williams” for the best defensive tackle prospect ever graded by the publication. However, his draft stock plummeted after he was involved in a fatal car crash celebrating Georgia’s national championship. He pleaded no contest to the charges against him for his involvement and received 12 months probation. 

The unfortunate circumstances allowed the Eagles to snatch him up with the ninth overall pick, with teams before Philadelphia not wanting to risk a pick on the lineman. Carter joined a defensive line that is already among the best in the league, featuring perennial Pro Bowler Fletcher Cox and star edge rushers Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat.

First-Round Draft Pick Nolan Smith

Philadelphia got another great value pick at #30, drafting linebacker Nolan Smith. The linebacker ranked #13 on PFF’s big board, but his lack of size at under 240 pounds as an edge rusher caused him to fall in the draft. Smith joined the strongest pass rush in the NFL, allowing him to occupy a backup role as he adapts to the NFL. So far this season, Smith has dealt with injuries — but will surely be a third-down pass rush specialist when healthy again. 

What Is Next for the Eagles?

The Eagles were already a dynamic franchise prior to 2022. Having won their first Super Bowl in 2017, Philadelphia is one of the most respected teams in the NFL. However, the improbable Super Bowl run in 2022–23 only improved the team’s net worth. Not only that, but a tremendous draft class makes one of the best defenses in football even better.