For the Philadelphia Eagles to contend for the playoffs this season, here are the five players who can help make that happen:
QB Carson Wentz: Nick Foles' heroics in the postseason? Unbelievable. But the best chance of the Eagles reaching those heights once again are with Wentz under center. The MVP candidate has been attacking his rehab hard and is confident he'll be back on the field in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons. If he can return to form, Philly has a legit shot to make a run at another Lombardi trophy.
DT Fletcher Cox: The defensive line has dealt with its share of injury and turnover this offseason, making Cox's presence all the more important. The three-time Pro Bowler had 5 1/2 sacks last year. More critical than the numbers is the attention that he commands along the interior, which opens up things for his teammates. He can be a game-wrecker, and will need to play at an elite level once again this season.
DE Brandon Graham: His strip-sack of Tom Brady in the closing moments of Super Bowl LII secured the win for Philly. Even more impressive is that he made that play while nursing a high ankle sprain and a strained hamstring. He had surgery on that ankle this offseason and spent a good portion of the spring in a walking boot. His hope is to be back during training camp. Graham paced the team with a career-high 9.5 sacks in 2017. The Eagles need him to be his relentless, disruptive self in order to for the defense to have a similar level of success as last season.
S Malcolm Jenkins: His leadership often gets the attention, and rightfully so, but Jenkins' on-field efforts are of significant importance as well. His versatility has been huge for defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who can deploy Jenkins in a traditional safety role, man him up on a tight end or throw him into the slot against a receiver and expect positive results. Jenkins, 30, is entering his 10th NFL season. There has been no drop-off in his game to this point. The Eagles are hoping that continues for at least another season.
RT Lane Johnson: He has turned into arguably the best right tackle in the game, and had his best season as a pro last year despite drawing a top-tier edge rusher just about every week. Johnson was a stabilizing force on one of the top offensive lines in football, a role that became all the more important when his counterpart, Jason Peters, was lost for the season. With Wentz working back from a season-ending knee injury, he'll need the peace of mind that comes with having Johnson there to protect him.