Let The Battles Begin

The Eagles reported to the NovaCare Complex on Tuesday and will take the practice field Wednesday morning at 10 a.m., marking the unofficial start of the 2024 season.

While every storyline has been explored here over the past couple months, to get you ready, we’ve outlined the primary position battles to hone in on:

Right guard

Second-year offensive lineman Tyler Steen is the odds-on favorite to seize the starting role occupied last season by Cam Jurgens. Steen, a converted tackle, now has a full year at the position — as well as working with offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland — which could give him the edge.

But it won’t be easy for Steen, who’ll be pushed by veteran Mekhi Becton, a former first-round pick of the New York Jets and now an intriguing reclamation project. Becton, a tackle by trade, experimented at left and right guard during spring practices.

No. 3 WR

The depth beyond starters A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith is troublesome, especially given the propensity of new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore leaning on 11 personnel. Sixth-year vet Parris Campbell has the inside track, but production eluded him last season and injuries have largely hindered his progress. For his part, however, Campbell showed well this spring.

There’s even more uncertainty when slotting in the remaining contenders. Britain Covey, a wide receiver by trade and among the leagues best punt returners, should be safe. Then there’s a slew of first and second-year players battling to make their mark, most notably Day 3 draftees Ainias Smith and Johnny Wilson, along with veteran speedster John Ross and second-year holdover Joseph Ngata.

If the competition is close, will the Eagles show deference to draft picks or go in another direction?

Tight end depth

Dallas Goedert, who has not played a full season since his rookie year in 2018, is positioned to have a career campaign. But taking injuries into account, the reserve roles become vital, even more so following the offseason departure of incumbent Jack Stoll.

Veteran C.J. Uzomah has appeared in over 100 games and offers a skill set that perhaps best complements Goedert, but at 31 years old and not far removed for consecutive seasons of nagging knee issues, it’s fair to wonder how much is left in the tank. Still, Uzomah enters with the edge.

Grant Calcaterra and Albert Okwuegbunam return and are likely vying for one spot. While Calcaterra impressed in the spring, I’m putting Okwuegbunam slightly above in the pecking order.

Acquired in a trade on cut down day last summer, Okwuegbunam now has a full offseason to acclimate, absorb the playbook and continuity with tight ends coach Jason Michael. He also carries more upside.

Linebacker

Free-agent addition Devin White headlines a marginally upgraded unit. But among the more interesting storylines is the competition between polarizing third-year pro Nakobe Dean and newcomer Zack Baun, an enigmatic free-agent signing who’s auditioning to undertake a more prominent role defensively than at any point in his career.

Baun, mostly a backup edge rusher during his time with the Saints, moved well and closed quickly during the spring sessions, operating exclusively with the first team. But the Eagles have invested time and draft capital in the 23-year-old Dean, now healthy following an injury plagued second season.

Dean, a cerebral player with instincts and playmaking potential, is likely to emerge.

Rounding out the unit could be between veteran Oren Burks and and second-year linebacker Ben VanSumeren. I’m giving the edge to the immensely athletic VanSumeren, who made notable strides as a rookie following his practice squad promotion. As I’ve mentioned before, keep an eye on him.

Cornerback

The Eagles have positioned themselves to be considerably improved in the defensive backfield, specifically at cornerback, where rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean , drafted in the first and second round, respectively highlight the youth movement.

And with embattled veteran James Bradberry moving to safety, one of the most relevant storylines to monitor will be who starts opposite Darius Slay. The favorite would be Mitchell, who looked every bit the part of a first-round pick in OTAs and minicamp, but you can’t discount the possibility of Isaiah Rodgers or Kelee Ringo riding their wave of momentum through the summer. All three will be in the running.

It’s also important to appreciate the constant deliberation that comes with determining the bottom of the depth chart, where previous contributors such as Avonte Maddox, Zech McPhearson, Eli Ricks and Josh Jobe will be vying for the remaining one of two slots. The same can be said for newcomer Tyler Hall, a predominant nickel player signed in March.

Special teams and versatility will factor heavily in the decision making.

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