With the roster set, expectations rising by the minute, and the season opener in clear view, it’s time for a new campaign in Philadelphia.

And this one arrives with the most promise in years. Hope of a division title feels realistic. Dreams of a January run are not hard to conjure up. But questions remain about a young quarterback and coaching staff.

Are the Eagles for real? Was last year’s run to the playoffs the opening of a championship window or just a fluke vs. bad teams? What’s realistic to expect with the spotlight now back on this franchise?

I’ll get the ball rolling with 22 takes on the 2022 Eagles.

1. Jalen Hurts will play well enough to secure his hold on the Eagles starting quarterback spot for the 2023 season, leading to us debating his long-term contract.

Get ready for another season of “is or isn’t he the guy?!” in Philadelphia. I’m a believer in Hurts. He’ll improve, lead the Eagles into January and be looked at as a top 12-to-15 quarterback in the sport going forward after this season ends. Will it be perfect? Far from it. But Hurts will do what he’s done every year since his freshman season at Alabama: Improve. Something like, say, 33 total touchdowns, 4,425 total yards, 97.1 passer rating and double-digit wins feels doable for the 24-year-old.

2. Hurts’ durability, not ability, is my biggest concern about his future.

Hurts has to make a choice, and it’ll help dictate his long-term viability in this league: Develop his game like Cam Newton or Russell Wilson.

If Hurts continues to run at the rate he has since entering the NFL (9.7 rushing attempts per start), he won’t last. Forget quarterbacks. Only 24 running backs in the league had more than 165 attempts last year, the number Hurts would reach in 2022 if he continues to average the same amount of carries per game. I’m all for Hurts using his legs. They are a weapon. But we’re talking about a player that’s now had multiple surgeries due to high-ankle sprains.

There’s a reason Newton and Wilson, two talented and athletic quarterbacks that entered the NFL over a decade ago, have seen their careers go in opposite directions. Newton’s body deteriorated after taking too many hits. The rushing yards and rushing touchdowns were incredible for a while, but shortened his shelf life as a true starter. Wilson, while not shy about running, has found a way to avoid hits for years.

It wasn’t Hurts’ fault when a Jets defender hit him late out of bounds in the preseason opener. But it was a reminder of the two diverging paths Hurts can go down as a player. If he continues to put himself in harm's way as often as he chooses to, there will be consequences.

3. I’m not sold on Nick Sirianni.

Sirianni deserves credit for turning last season around. At 2-5, I thought we were watching a one-and-done coach, and probably wasn’t alone in that thinking. But it’s going to take more for me to feel confident that Sirianni is closer to a Kyle Shanahan or Sean McVay than a Matt Nagy. Another slow start could sink what should be a promising season. It can’t happen, and Sirianni’s decision on light summer practices will be heavily scrutinized if it does.

4. This will be Jonathan Gannon's final year as Eagles defensive coordinator. Vic Fangio will take over one year from now.

I like Gannon. He’s smart. He’s sharp. I defended him against heavy criticism last season because he simply didn’t have enough above-average players to run out a very good defense. With three head coaching interviews under his belt, the NFL seemed to agree. But there will be no more excuses in 2022. Outside of Hurts, no one at the NovaCare Complex has more riding on 2022 results than Gannon. If he succeeds and puts together a good defense, Gannon will be  gone for a head coaching opportunity. If he fails, he’ll be fired. Either way, this will be his second and last year coaching this unit.

Fangio, the former Broncos head coach, who attended three Eagles practices this summer. will be running the defense one year from now.

5. This season reminds me of 2017.

Offseason additions. Young quarterback ready to take a leap. Questions about the coaching staff. Favorable schedule. Dallas is coming off a tumultuous offseason. A winnable conference. A late-summer trade to fill a need in the secondary. It’s eerily similar.

6. The Eagles have a better chance at the No. 1 seed in the NFC than you may think.

Los Angeles has one of the hardest schedules in the NFL, and will be without Von Miller and Odebll Beckham Jr., two stars that helped spur a Super Bowl run last winter. San Francisco has offensive line and quarterback questions. Green Bay is green at wide receiver, and always seems to come up small in January. The Bucs offensive line could be a mess, and Tom Brady doesn’t feel all-in any longer. Don’t be surprised if a 12-5 record is good enough for home field in the NFC.

7. We're watching the NFL's version of Moneyball.

The Eagles commitment to analytics is obvious, and this offseason’s restructuring of the front office under Howie Roseman continues to show it. Alec Halaby’s ascension to assistant general manager is the latest piece of the puzzle and part of the new wave of the NFL. My theory on why: The Eagles never again want to be beholden to a strong-willed head coach. The front office will design the roster, team and guide important, meaningful decisions on players, injuries, and snap counts. The coach is there to motivate, connect, put the plan in place, and be replaced when it’s time to flip the messaging. The NFL is becoming like baseball did 20 years ago, and the Eagles are just ahead of the curve.

8. Roseman is the most valuable sports figure in Philadelphia.

I’m serious. Roseman’s ability to procure talent, manage the cap, build a big-time front office, and keep the Eagles ahead of the analytics curve makes him invaluable to the franchise. Stop fretting over some missed draft picks and focus on the big picture: Roseman has the Eagles again looking like a true contender. He’s more valuable to his team than any other figure in this city, including Bryce Harper or Joel Embiid.

9. Week 1 will be tricky, and way more challenging than last year's win over the Lions.

Maybe it’s because I watched Hard Knocks. Maybe it’s because the Lions were scrappy, and a cover machine in the second half of last season. Maybe it’s because I’ve always been a Jared Goff guy. But I’m not feeling a blowout in Week 1. It’ll be tougher and more competitive than many think.

10. Week 6 vs. Dallas is the most important game of the season.

By my count, the Eagles have only beaten the Cowboys twice since winning the Super Bowl in Feb. 2018. Dallas has owned this series, now through multiple Eagles head coaches and quarterbacks. Hurts is 0-2 in his career vs. the Cowboys, with both losses coming in ugly fashion down in Dallas.

Fast-forward to Week 6. The Eagles could be 4-1 or 3-2, but likely not truly tested yet. When the Cowboys arrive for Sunday Night Football at Lincoln Financial Field, it’ll be a chance to put an early stake in the division. Considering the second meeting between these teams is the final leg of a three-game December road trip, this one is a must win if the Eagles are going to take the division. It’ll be hyped. The hype will be justified for the biggest game of Sirianni and Hurts’ NFL careers to date.

11. A.J. Brown is Anquan Boldin 2.0.

Boldin is one of the most physical after-catch runners we’ve ever seen at the wide receiver position. Brown has that kind of ability, but with more speed. Boldin changed offenses and attitudes the minute he walked into locker rooms. Not many wide receivers can do that. Brown will do the same in Philadelphia.

12. Trading for Brown was a great move, but passing on George Pickens could go down as an all-time "what if" moment.

Pickens will be a star in Pittsburgh. He was my favorite wide receiver in the draft. Would Pickens on a rookie contract (plus extra picks traded to the Titans for Brown/cap space for a mega wide receiver contract) have been a better outcome? Time will tell.

13. Dallas Goedert will have an all-time great tight end season.

Goedert will take his place among the top-five tight ends in the league. Last year, Goedert averaged nearly 15 yards per reception once Zach Ertz was out of the picture. Here’s a complete list of tight ends to average 15.0 yards per catch in a 70-plus catch season: Rob Gronkowski and George Kittle. That’s it. That’s the whole list. Goedert will join that list this year.

14. Jordan Davis is a force multiplier, and the most important player on the defense.

A rookie as the most important player on a high-profile defense? Yes. Davis isn’t just unique; he’s a unicorn. The NFL simply doesn’t have players at this size and this level of athleticism. Davis is a cross between Haloti Ngata and Vince Wilfork. He’ll make everyone better, and make Gannon’s job easier. The Eagles can dedicate more players into coverage because they’ll be able to control the run game with one less defender in the box. Davis wasn’t just worth trading up for; he’ll be one of the best players from the draft.

15. Josh Sweat will break out and become a full-fledged star.

All the additions on the Eagles defense can make you forget about Sweat’s development and pricey deal the team handed him before last season. I thought Sweat showed big improvement in the second half of last season, including generating pressure as a stand-up rusher. Sweat could benefit the most from having better players around him.

16. Cam Jurgens will be a starter somewhere on the offensive line before the season ends.

The second-round pick out of Nebraska is the real deal, and showed why the Eagles believe he’s the heir apparent to Jason Kelce at center. But the present often gets in the way of the future. If the Eagles have an injury across the interior, Jurgens will be first up. Think of him as this year’s Landon Dickerson.

17. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson will make the Pro Bowl.

The former Florida star and Saints swiss-army knife was the icing on the cake of an excellent Eagles offseason. He’ll be an impact player from the minute he steps on the field in midnight green.

18. DeVonta Smith will be the odd man out in the passing game production.

There’s only so many passes to go around, even if the Eagles veer more toward the passing game in 2022. Brown and Goedert will be Hurts’ top two targets. Smith will likely play nice, but as we saw when the ball didn’t go his way during a loss to the Giants last year, emotions can run high with wide receivers.

19. Holding on to Andre Dillard was a prescient move.

I know he’s hurt now, but offensive line depth is needed. Something tells me Dillard will play a role in this season, and help the Eagles win big games.

20. Carson Wentz and the Washington Commanders will be in the running for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft.

Wentz’s team has gone under its projected Vegas win total in five of his six years in the NFL. This will make it six of seven.

21. NFC East order of finish: 1. Eagles 2. Cowboys 3. Giants. 4 Commanders

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