It’s good news, bad news for Eagles as they head to Super Bowl 2023

PHILADELPHIA — Eagles coaches, players, front office executives and support staff celebrated their 31-7 win over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game in the Lincoln Financial Field locker room on Sunday night: As players wore their conference championship shirts and hats, smoke from their victory cigars hung in the air.

The Eagles, who have a shot to win their second NFL championship in the past five years, will face the Kansas City Chiefs and Andy Reid, the Eagles’ former head coach, in Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12. But that final game of a storybook season brings some sobering thoughts.

Good news: The Eagles still have two first-round draft picks

Even if they win the Super Bowl, the Eagles will have two first-round selections and four picks in the top 100 of the April draft. General manager Howie Roseman — who has cleverly built this roster with a blend of veterans and youth — could turn those first-rounders into fresh talent for the NFC champions … or trade them for even more draft selections. In short, the rich will get richer. Most Super Bowl teams don’t have high draft picks in their pockets.

Bad news: Those picks will replace several free agents

Don’t get too attached to this season’s heroes. According to Over the Cap, the Eagles have 18 players who will be free agents next season, including eight defensive starters. The team will re-sign a few but most — like cornerback James Bradberry and midseason additions Linval Joseph and Ndamukong Suh — will move on. Some might retire. The Eagles, who will need cap space to sign quarterback Jalen Hurts to a long-term deal, will use team-friendly, cost-effective contracts for drafted players.

Good news: Jalen Hurts is a franchise quarterback

Hurts, a surprising second-round pick in 2020, has developed into a dual-threat quarterback who can attack defenses with his arm and legs — and an unflabbable leader. The MVP candidate, who threw for 3,701 yards and tossed only six interceptions, was responsible for 35 total touchdowns in the regular season, despite missing two games with a shoulder injury. He will be seen as the second-best quarterback in the Super Bowl, but he has been solid in the postseason.

Bad news: It will take a lot of cap space to sign him

Hurts has earned an extension and could become the next $40 million-per-year-quarterback. Nine quarterbacks currently average that annual salary, with Bengals’ Joe Burrow and Chargers’ Justin Herbert eligible for extensions and similar deals this offseason.

The Eagles were able to assemble the current Super Bowl roster because Hurts is still on his rookie deal, which pays him just $1,082,744 and ranks 47th among NFL quarterbacks. His base salary will increase to a paltry $4.2M in 2023, but the Eagles need to sign him ASAP because he is eligible to become a free agent in 2024. Even if the salary cap rises substantially, Hurts will take all of it, and the Eagles will look a lot different next year.

Good news: Miles Sanders had two TDs against the Niners

The running back has had the best season of his career, rushing for 1,269 yards in the regular season — the first thousand-yard season of his career. And he has shaken off a troublesome knee to rush for 132 yards and two touchdowns in the two playoff games. With Kenny Gainwell, he gives the Eagles a chance to control the ball against the Chiefs.

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Bad news: Sanders could earn a lucrative deal elsewhere

While free-agent running backs have not enjoyed massive contracts lately, Sanders will enter free agency with other feature backs — Raiders’ Josh Jacobs, Giants’ Saquon Barkley and Cowboys’ Tony Pollard. And, of course, there will be a new crop of running backs available in the draft. Sanders, who turns 26 on May 1, will have his future decided by the market and possibly other running backs. If Barkley gives the Giants a hometown discount, and the Cowboys hold onto Pollard, there could be a strong market for Sanders.

Good news: Coaches steered the Eagles to a Super Bowl

Head coach Nick Sirianni and his staff took advantage of a running quarterback with explosive weapons — wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, tight end Dallas Goedert and Sanders — and the best pass rush in the league to win the NFC’s top seed and leverage that into a Super Bowl run. The Eagles — who outscored their two playoff opponents, 69-14 — finished third in offense and second in defense.

Bad news: Some of them will be poached

With the Carolina Panthers hiring former Colts head coach Frank Reich, a couple of coaches on the Eagles staff could be recruited to join him. Reich had passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo on his staff when he was with the Indianapolis Colts, and Patullo would be an intriguing candidate for offensive coordinator. Quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson, who has been instrumental in Hurts’ development, could be ready to make the jump to coordinator, too.

Good news: Eagles have a talented group of DBs for the Chiefs

Cornerback Darius Slay was named to the inaugural NFLPA All-Pro team, and fellow CB James Bradberry was named to the AP All-Pro team, while Avonte Maddox — back from a toe injury — limited the effectiveness of slot receivers and helped in the run game. Granted, the Niners had quarterback problems, but the secondary held explosive 49ers wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk to four catches for 43 yards on Sunday.

Bad news: James Bradberry is going to get paid

Edge rushers and cornerbacks are two of the most sought-after positions in free agency, and it’s likely a team will throw a lot of money at Bradberry, who signed a one-year deal after being cut by the Giants in a salary-cap move. Bradberry had three interceptions and was among the league leaders with 17 passes defensed. He allowed a quarterback rating of 48.4 when thrown at this season. The Eagles will have a shot to sign him, but Bradberry, after betting on himself, will want to reap the full benefits of the market.

Good news: Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, and Jason Kelce will play in another Super Bowl

The team captains — still playing at a high level in their 30s — have been core members of the Eagles for more than a decade. They teamed to win the first Super Bowl in franchise history, and now, with a group of youngsters around them, have guided the Eagles back to the Super Bowl.

Bad news: It could be the last time they wear an Eagles uniform

Kelce has been contemplating retirement for three seasons and this is likely his last. On Sunday, Brandon Graham’s wife might have divulged a secret during an on-field interview when she mentioned that the win over the Niners could be her husband’s final game at Lincoln Financial Field.

Kelce would be going out in a historic way — facing his brother, Travis, in the Super Bowl. But, if the Eagles win, he will get the chance to say goodbye in another fiery speech on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum in another wild costume.

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Chris Franklin may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com.

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