Enough Manpower?

At least on paper, the Eagles have ideally crafted the latest version of their roster, blending together youthful upside, proven commodities, and veteran leadership.

Howie Roseman, the team’s executive vice president of football operations, has constructed a team primed to contend with fellow NFC heavyweights, such as the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions.

The puzzle might not yet be assembled – that’ll happen later this summer – but the pieces appear to fit.

But like every team, the Eagles have some lean spots. The roster is continuously churning, however, and with training camp ahead, I took a look at three of the Eagles’ thinnest positions:

GETTY IMAGES: Can TE Albert Okwuegbunam find his role in the Eagles’ offense in his second season on the team?

Tight end

Starter Dallas Goedert hasn’t completed a full season since his rookie year, heightening the probability of having to rely on depth at some point.

Veteran C.J. Uzomah, who started 82 of 106 regular season games, is a capable fill-in on paper, but the 31-year-old has battled recent knee injuries. It’s fair to wonder how much he has left in the tank.

Also vying for roles are holdovers Grant Calcaterra and Albert Okwuegbunam.

Calcaterra, more of a pass-catcher, has had opportunities over the past two seasons to showcase he deserves more snaps, but failed to initiate much traction.

Okwuegbunam was a relative non-entity after joining the team via trade on cutdown day, appearing in only four games and garnering just one target, but now has nearly a full calendar year working with tight ends coach Jason Michael and has the greater upside.

My early edge would go to Okwuegbunam, but camp could determine whether or not the team scours the waiver wire later this summer.

ITB PHOTO: Fourth-year DT Milton Williams could be in for a breakout in the new defensive scheme.

Defensive tackle

Much will be expected from blue-chip starters Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, especially in light of the retirement of Fletcher Cox.

Carter has All-Pro upside in his second season, while Davis should turn in his best season under new coordinator Vic Fangio.

Add in Milton Williams, the fourth-year defender preparing to undertake a prominent role in a contract year. Williams appears primed for a breakout campaign and will be key in determining the success of this unit.

Further down the pecking order you’ll find fourth-year veteran Marlon Tuipulotu, a limited, albeit steady, player who has battled injuries the past couple seasons.

And it’s absolutely worth noting second-year pro Moro Ojomo only appeared in eight games (68 snaps) as a rookie. Ojomo is a player I’m expecting to take the next step and carve out a role – more here on Ojomo – but the Eagles uncharacteristically have far too much uncertainty at a position in which they historically value.

It would serve the Eagles well adding an experienced veteran to give them viable depth, akin to the Kentavius Street signing of last offseason.

GETTY IMAGES: The one-year extension he signed essentially guarantees Reed Blankenship being a starting safety in 2024.

Safety

Free-agent re-addition C.J. Gardner-Johnson and incumbent Reed Blankenship make for a balanced, playmaking pairing, but health will ultimately determine the strength of the Eagles’ safety room.

Both Gardner-Johnson and Blankenship have missed time over the past two seasons. Second-year safety Sydney Brown, returning from a late-season ACL injury, would have likely pushed Blankenship for a starting job. But even though Brown appears to be ahead of schedule and poised to contribute early, it’s difficult to project how quickly he’ll be able to make up for lost time in mastering Fangio’s system.

There will also be a pair of veteran cornerbacks who factor into the equation in Avonte Maddox and James Bradberry, but both players – particularly Bradberry – aren’t locks to make the team. Maddox has a solid shot, but I’m not sure how apt the team would be in making safety his primary focus.

Beyond the aforementioned, there’s 2023 holdovers Tristin McCollum and Mekhi Garner, each of which flashed in their limited defensive opportunities and excelled on special teams. Still, though, as bullish as I am on their upside, I’m not sure either is ready to vault up the depth chart.

As long as Justin Simmons remains a free-agent, his name will always be kicked around. Hard to see the Eagles opting to go that route, as they appear more than content with the starting tandem of Gardner-Johnson and Blankenship. If Simmons agreed to a hybrid sub role – like Corey Graham in 2017 – then sure. I’d have to imagine he’ll get a starting look somewhere.

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