‘Where It All Begins’

The Eagles are back at it Tuesday, kicking off the OTA portion of offseason workouts. While the true test awaits in training camp in July, Offseason Team Activities is where it all begins.

It’s where rookies get their feet wet and players pegged for larger roles prepare for what’s ahead. It’s also where coaches appointed to new roles, like offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, get to work with their personnel and, in some cases, begin to build relationships.

GETTY IMAGES: Third-year CB Eli Ricks is one of several DBs who’ll have a chance to prove they deserve more time in Vic Fangio’s defense, or a spot on the 53.

I’ve excluded the trenches from this exercise due to the nature of OTAs (or else there’d have been several), but here are 8 Eagles I’ll be keeping an eye on during the sessions.

WR Danny Gray

Gray, a 2022 third-round pick of the 49ers, spent the entire 2024 season on the Eagles’ practice squad. Working on the scout team, the 26-year-old would give the starting secondary fits and runs a blistering 4.33 to boot. The passing game will be pronounced in this setting, which is where guys like Gray can thrive. He also has continuity with receivers coach Aaron Moorehead, along with some of the quarterbacks, working in his favor. Oh, and Gray has the confidence needed that should keep him in the mix for a final slot on the depth chart.

“I’m gonna throw this out there right now … if I was here at the beginning of camp, it would have been a no-brainer I’m on the 53,” Gray said when we spoke last season. “I’m gonna tell you that right now.

“Like, not with arrogance, but because I know what I bring to the table. I know how hard I work. And I know I stand out in whatever I do. I know what I bring. So, yeah, if I was here earlier, there’s no doubt.”

S Drew Mukuba

Mukuba joins an Eagles safety room light on experience, where his primary challenger for a starting role will be third-year pro Sydney Brown. The early favorite should be Mukuba, who possesses the acumen to grasp the complexities of coordinator Vic Fangio’s system and centerfield ranginess, in addition to ball skills likely to keep opposing quarterbacks on high alert.

His size (5-foot-11, 190 pounds) will be a concern to some, given the physical nature with which he plays, but Gardner-Johnson made it work last season playing at a similar size. The reality is that OTAs tend to highlight pass-catchers and defensive backs, so I’ll be dialed in on Mukuba’s instincts and ability to process, which could go a long way in ensuring the team doesn’t enter the Justin Simmons sweepstakes.

CB Eli Ricks

The 23-year-old Ricks didn’t factor all that much into the Eagles’ 2024 equation, appearing in only seven games after accruing a tick over 300 defensive snaps as a rookie. There simply wasn’t a role for Ricks, an outside corner by trade who occupied the final slot as his position. When it came to special teams, the Eagles clearly believed Kelee Ringo and Avonte Maddox offered greater value.

Still, there’s a premium on lengthy and youthful 6-foot-2 cover men with experience and versatility, and it’s worth highlighting that despite the frequent roster toggling throughout the season, Ricks’ status on the 53 was never impacted. Forged by fire as a rookie, Ricks saw the game through a different lens in 2024. He’s likely vying for the role once held by Isaiah Rodgers, but I’m curious to see if Ricks exhibits the same playmaking ability and swagger he showcased at LSU and Alabama following a season of inactivity and now that he’s versed in Fangio’s defense.

CB Kelee Ringo

Ringo, a 2023 fourth-round pick, enters his third season with the Eagles. The Georgia product has appeared in all 34 regular season contests as well as the postseason, though his role last season was largely limited to special teams, which resulted in an appearance on the Pro Bowl ballot and garnered him an All-Pro vote. Ringo has played sparingly on defense, totaling a combined 311 snaps over his first two seasons. The 22-year-old, an OTA standout last May, currently finds himself as the front-runner to start on the outside opposite Quinyon Mitchell, but he’ll need to stave off veteran Adoree’ Jackson and prove to Fangio he can be assignment- and technique-sound. I thought last summer that Ringo was a touch too handsy defending receivers. While the Eagles would presumably love nothing more than for Ringo to earn the job, the ball is in his court.

GETTY IMAGES: With some improvements this spring, second-year RB Will Shipley could win the RB2 job at training camp.

RB Will Shipley

Buried behind Saquon Barkley and Kenny Gainwell last season, Shipley was limited to only 65 offensive snaps through the regular season. His game day duties centered on special teams, where he held the role of personal protector on punt and served as a core contributor.

Circumstances have now changed, with Gainwell fleeing in free agency for the Steelers. Veteran A.J. Dillon was signed, but the 27-year-old missed the entire 2024 season with a neck injury and it remains to be seen how he returns. There’s also the question of just how Dillon fits, with Shipley being the better option when spelling Barkley due to his explosiveness, quickness and superior pass-catching ability. The only area that could halt Shipley’s climb in the pecking order is pass protection, a facet in which he revealed would be an offseason focus. Based on how he’s wired, I think Shipley hits the ground running in OTAs, using it as a springboard.

WR Ainias Smith

No longer a fresh-faced draftee, Smith will likely have to make more of a positive impression this time around if he’s to stick around. Last summer, Smith grappled with inconsistency and seemed a bit wide-eyed. To his credit, though, the Texas A&M product rebounded in time and did just enough to hang on and claim a roster spot. Exuding positivity, likability and a palpable sense of optimism, it became evident in the months that followed that the game had slowed down for Smith, who appeared in seven games (one start) as a rookie, accumulating 41 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions.

The depth behind A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Jahan Dotson raises questions, but Smith, a predominant inside receiver but also offering punt return ability, will have a chance to carve out a role.

GETTY IMAGES: Second-year LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. was a special teams standout asa. rookie but looks to undertake a larger role in 2025.

LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio didn’t exactly conceal his endorsement of Trotter Jr. late last season on the heels of Nakobe Dean’s season-ending injury. Sure, the inspired play for veteran Oren Burks relegated Trotter Jr. to a special teams role, but that Fangio seemingly would have been comfortable deploying the rookie if needed shouldn’t go unnoticed.

Trotter Jr., who last season logged 104 defensive snaps, atones for his slighter frame and lack of overwhelming athleticism with an exceptionally high football IQ and instincts. In other words, he’s a fundamentally sound player who’s dependable. Due to a temporary shortage at off-ball linebacker, however, Trotter Jr. will be asked to undertake a larger role. I’ll be monitoring how he handles it.

FB Ben VanSumeren

Now donning the No. 43 and exclusively listed as a fullback, it’s evident that VanSumeren, a third-year pro, is part of the Eagles’ 2025 plans. One of the best athletes on the Eagles, VanSumeren moves from linebacker to fullback, but there are several areas of his game that translate, including physicality, tenacity, athleticism and instincts.

For perspective, VanSumeren spent time in the running back room at Michigan before becoming a linebacker at Michigan State. He also, as a senior at Garber High School in Essexville, Mich., set a regular-season state receiving record, so his receiving prowess shouldn’t be questioned. In addition to being deployed in a new offense, there’s also the health aspect that inspires curiosity, with VanSumeren suffering a season-ending knee injury in practice back in November. Still, working in VanSumeren’s favor, along with his versatility and team-first mentality, is that he’s the Eagles’ most impactful special teams contributor.

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