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The Eagles may not be better, but they're definitely different

Regardless of how you felt about Andy Reid as a coach and talent evaluator, the former Eagles coach used to say two things that were undeniably true: Every year is different and We'll see.

Chip Kelly (left) and Howie Roseman, then the general manager,at training camp in 2013. (David Maialetti/Staff Photographer)
Chip Kelly (left) and Howie Roseman, then the general manager,at training camp in 2013. (David Maialetti/Staff Photographer)Read more

Regardless of how you felt about Andy Reid as a coach and talent evaluator, the former Eagles coach used to say two things that were undeniably true: Every year is different and We'll see.

Big Red is long gone, but those truths have never been more evident than during Chip Kelly's first offseason as the Eagles' chief executive of final decisions.

No offseason in Eagles history has ever been more different than the one Kelly has orchestrated. Few men would be bold enough to pull the pin on a grenade that obliterated 36 percent of his opening-day starters, including his quarterback, his leading receiver, and a three-time Pro Bowl running back. But Nick Foles, Jeremy Maclin, and LeSean McCoy are all in new places, and Kelly has plugged in a long list of new faces.

That tells us this: The coach did not think anything close to status quo was going to get the Eagles beyond the 10-6 records that raised expectations in his first season and questions in his second one. He wanted and needed something different, and the process started with his promotion.

"We finished with 10 wins the last two seasons, and that's not good enough," Kelly said Saturday after the conclusion of the draft. "We're always going to be striving to make this a better team and a better organization."

There are still things that can be done, and a trade of inside linebacker Mychal Kendricks seems to be the most likely among them. The bulk of the work, however, is completed, and the only question that matters is the same one we ask every year at this time: Are the Eagles better?

Reid would say, "We'll see." Kelly offered a similar answer.

"Honestly, I don't know, nor do I think it matters," he said. "I think what matters is when we put that team on the field in September, because there are a lot of things that can happen between now and then."

There are some years, however, when you just know that a team is better. You add Terrell Owens and Jevon Kearse to a roster that has made three straight trips to the NFC championship game, and you can be sure you will be better. Add Randy Moss and Wes Welker to your receiving corps and you can be positive that Tom Brady is going to have a career year.

The Eagles did not make those kinds of additions. All Kelly did for sure was get different, and the cost of doing so was prohibitive in terms of players and cash.

Is Sam Bradford an upgrade from Nick Foles? You can debate it all you want, but the proof will come on the field. The draft-pick part of the equation cannot be debated. The Rams got fourth- and second-round picks in the deal. The Eagles got a fifth-rounder from the Rams. That can change based on Bradford's playing time, but if the Eagles get a higher pick because Bradford is not playing, the trade will be considered a failure for Kelly.

Is DeMarco Murray an upgrade from McCoy? He's definitely different, but not necessarily better.

It's impossible to make the argument that Kelly has upgraded at wide receiver even if you like the first-round pick of Southern Cal's Nelson Agholor, and I like it a lot. It is hard to believe, however, that he'll be better than Maclin upon immediate arrival, and I'm not sure free-agent addition Miles Austin is going to have much of an impact.

The biggest question heading into this offseason was the offensive line, and it remained one after the Eagles went through a second straight draft without selecting a lineman. The belief inside the NovaCare Complex is that Kelly's brilliant offensive mind will allow all the new pieces to come together quickly, but that becomes more difficult if there are breakdowns up front.

Kelly's greatest challenge in his first season as director of final decisions was upgrading the defense in general and the secondary in particular. He steered most of his resources in that direction.

Despite making just 17 career starts, Byron Maxwell was paid like a four-time Pro Bowler to become a starter at cornerback. By the end of last season, the Eagles were rail thin at inside linebacker, and now, with the trade addition of Kiko Alonso and the third-round selection of Jordan Hicks, they have a surplus at the position.

Three of Kelly's six draft picks were for defensive backs because he believes the Eagles need to develop their own players at that position. Walter Thurmond was also signed for $3.25 million, a hefty price for a guy who missed 14 games last season. Brandon Boykin might argue that he could have filled the role at outside cornerback if only given the chance. It is more likely that he'll be moved to another team.

It's well documented that many of the Eagles' additions - most notably Bradford and Alonso - have extensive and risky injury histories, but Kelly decided the gamble on them was better than standing pat.

Will it work?

We'll see.