Back To Elite?

The Eagles have an active few weeks ahead, with offseason workouts, rookie minicamp, OTAs, and mandatory minicamp all on the calendar.

Each phase is equally crucial in determining the roster hierarchy, coaching implementation and establishing a foothold going into training camp.

On defense, the Eagles continued their trend from free agency of rebuilding their defense, adding cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (first round), defensive back Cooper DeJean (second round) and edge rusher Jalyx Hunt (third round) for new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and his coaching staff.

On Wednesday, we projected the offensive depth chart.

Finishing up, we’ve forecasted the offensive depth chart headed into OTAs.

[Editor’s Note: Any reported undrafted free agent signings are excluded until officially confirmed.]

GETTY IMAGES: Newly extended WR A.J. Brown helps give the Eagles one of the game’s most prolific set of offensive weapons.

Quarterbacks

Jalen Hurts heads a room that now includes former Steelers first-rounder Kenny Pickett, second-year holdover Tanner McKee and free-agent addition Will Grier. While McKee garnered his share of praise and once appeared primed to contend for the No. 2 role in 2024, the Eagles instead opted to prioritize experience and upside, landing Pickett in March via trade.

Grier, a 2019 third-round pick of the Carolina Panthers, has bounced around the league. For the next few months, he’ll add another veteran voice to the quarterback room.

Running back

Beyond starter Saquon Barkley – signed to a mega-deal at the dawn of free agency – the pecking order appears to be relatively fluid, with fourth-year pro Kenny Gainwell and rookie Will Shipley vying for the top backup role.

While lacking explosion, Gainwell has established himself as a gritty, dependable runner whom the team places considerable trust in, specifically in two- and four-minute scenarios.

Shipley, far more sudden and dynamic by comparison, offers the ability to create mismatches as a pass-catcher, reeling in passes out of the backfield as well as the slot. Pass protection is likely to be the determining factor.

Another name to keep an eye on is Futures deal signee Tyrion Davis-Price, a former third-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2022, due to pedigree, limited tread on the tires and age (23). Davis-Price boasts a larger frame (6-1, 219), distinguishing himself from the crowded field of contenders.

Lew Nichols, 22, finished the 2023 season on the Eagles’ practice squad, so perhaps the continuity with running backs coach Jemal Singleton and full offseason aids his uphill climb. A former seventh-round pick of the Packers a season ago, the compactly built Nichols (5-10, 220) has some juice and power to his game.

Wide receiver

The Eagles stake claim to having one of – if not the – league’s top receiving tandem in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. But much of the offseason discussion, in terms of roster building at least, centered on the vacant No. 3 receiver/slot role, a complementary asset in which new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore involves into the passing game.

Veterans DeVante Parker and Parris Campbell were added via free agency as potential low-cost value signings, though I hardly feel strongly that both – or either – stick after cutdowns. Parker doesn’t offer much in terms of separation and has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, while Campbell, coming off the best season of his career, was largely ineffective last season with the Giants. For this exercise, I went with Campbell, due to his speed, ability to create yards after the catch and familiarity with Sirianni.

Deliberating the veteran pass-catcher tandem could ultimately prove to be a moot point, provided fifth-round rookie Ainias Smith performs to the level in camp that I believe he will. While expectations of a fifth-round pick should be tempered, there’s reason to believe Smith theoretically can offer a different dimension to the passing game. With his toughness, short-area quickness, spatial awareness and ability to manufacture yards after the catch, Smith fits the bill for what the Eagles need from that position. He also provides added value on special teams as a returner.

With his hulking frame and superhuman catch radius, 6-foot-7 rookie Johnny Wilson is tailor made to become this summer’s training camp darling. While I fully expect the former Florida State standout to thrive in 1-on-1s, red-zone situations and exhibition play, Wilson is more of a tools-laden project who would probably be best served as a back-end roster stash, so he can develop.

The Eagles boast one of the league’s premier punt returners in Britain Covey, who also moonlights as a wide receiver. While Covey didn’t have the opportunity to showcase his receiving chops last summer in training camp due to a lingering hamstring injury, he’ll get a look from the team in that capacity to maximize his versatility.

For what it’s worth, Covey showed well in his limited opportunities late last season. The Eagles recently added multiple players with positional and return viability, so tapping into Covey’s versatility will likely be a focal point.

Rounding out the back end of the depth chart are several intriguing candidates, notably second-year holdover Joseph Ngata and Futures deal signing Jacob Harris. Ngata garnered some early camp buzz last summer but underwhelmed during the preseason, specifically when it came to his releases and separating.

With a full season on the practice squad and offseason to fine tune, Ngata is one of the players I’ll be paying close attention to when the pads eventually come on.

The uber-athletic Harris, a former fourth-round pick who clocked a 4.39 at 6-foot-5, 211 pounds, has appeared in 18 games over the past three seasons.

Tight end

The Eagles have plenty of names behind Dallas Goedert, but depth is about quality, not quantity. And it remains to be seen just how the depth pieces fit into the equation.

Sure, veteran C.J. Uzomah, a late free-agent signing, offers experience and will be a tangible upgrade in run-blocking, but knee injuries have plagued Uzomah lately. Gauging how much the 31-year-old has left in the tank will go a long way in determining whether the position has been adequately furnished.

Slotting in next, virtually by default, is Calcaterra. But the third-year tight end is largely one-dimensional and has failed to capitalize on his opportunities in each of the past two seasons  when Goedert missed time. This feels like a make-or-break summer for Calcaterra.

The most intriguing of the reserves is Okwuegbunam, an athletic enigma, who signed a 1-year contract extension following a season in which he was a non-entity after coming over in a trade with the Broncos before the season. The extra year affords the Eagles an opportunity to take a long look at Okwuegbunam in a training camp setting.

Offensive line

When perusing the starting lineup, the main question mark is second-year pro Tyler Steen, a converted collegiate tackle who is slated to inherit the right guard spot from Cam Jurgens, who moves to center.

For all the pre-draft discourse surrounding the Eagles’ expected push to add an offensive lineman in the early rounds to challenge Steen, it’s what they didn’t do that caught my attention. The team didn’t add an interior lineman until late Day 3, presumably a testament to where they believe Steen is in terms of his development.

The roster building process never ceases, however, so it’s possible the position is revisited this summer. Still, it’ll be Steen’s job to lose.

The free-agent signing of veteran Matt Hennessy, a former Temple product, looks all the more crucial when compiling this depth chart. With the Falcons, Hennessy logged time at center and left guard, two positions in which he can provide depth. But his primary hat will likely be as a reserve center behind Jurgens, a position that also includes sixth-round rookie Dylan McMahon and journeyman Jason Poe.

The Hennessy signing might have registered as merely a footnote for some, but on paper, the addition could prove invaluable.

The Eagles recently made a splash in free agency, inking former first-round tackle Mekhi Becton to a one-year deal. Becton, 25, is expected to serve as a swing tackle, a role previously held by Jack Driscoll, who departed via free agency. Inside The Birds’ Geoff Mosher recently reported that the plan is to also try Becton at right guard. Becton is the perfect Jeff Stoutland reclamation project.

As far as rookies and developmental prospects are concerned, the addition of Michigan guard Trevor Keegan is one I believe will eventually pay dividends. A technician who is fundamentally sound and played at the highest level, Keegan is an old-school, physically imposing mauler who could fill the Sua Opeta role as a rookie.

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.