Six Picked

With only a one-day mandatory minicamp standing between the Eagles and the annual idle stretch on the NFL calendar, the 90-man roster – aside from maybe a tweak or two – is all but set. It also indicates that training camp will soon loom large.

While training camp ushers in the dawn of a new season and generates excitement and anticipation for what’s ahead, the reality is that for many on the roster fringe, the monthlong process represents a narrow window of opportunity to make an impression.

Sure, there are plenty of players on the 90-man roster who need no introduction. Their status in the pecking order is generally established. But for countless others, many of which are not household names, it quantifies as the longest, most arduous job interview of their lives. And as is the case every summer, you can expect a handful of players to emerge from relative anonymity in their respective race for an elusive roster spot.

With that, here are six under-the-radar Eagles you should know ahead of training camp:

WR Danny Gray

Gray is beginning to generate moderate buzz, though the fourth-year receiver still isn’t exactly a universally known commodity. Boasting 4.33 speed, versatility and plenty of confidence, Gray is my early prediction for this year’s training camp darling. Selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the 105th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Gray was never quite able to find his footing. The SMU product played in only 13 games as a rookie, and a shoulder injury deprived Gray of his second season before spending the entirety of the 2024 season on the Eagles’ practice squad.

Working in the speedster’s favor this time around, however, is that Gray has familiarity with coaches and personnel. On the scout team last season, Gray was immersed in film study, often tasked with emulating the weekly opposition’s top receiver. Further supporting my choice is that Gray also gave the starting unit fits in practice.

Opportunity knocks this summer, as the fifth receiver spot remains unsettled. Gray will be in contention for the job with candidates such as second-year pro Ainias Smith and veteran Terrace Marshall.

GETTY IMAGES: Tight end E.J. Jenkins’ blocking prowess could help him edge the competition for a roster spot.

TE E.J. Jenkins

Jenkins played in eight games last season, reeling in his lone reception for seven yards and a touchdown. He accounted for 95 and 91 regular season snaps on offense and special teams, respectively. Jenkins also logged six offensive snaps and 19 special teams snaps in Super Bowl LIX. The 6-foot-6, 260-pound tight end, in my estimation, is the Eagles’ next-best blocker at the position behind Dallas Goedert. Jenkins is also growing into the position, as he functioned exclusively as a wide receiver at Saint Francis, South Carolina and Georgia Tech.

Sure, the Eagles signed Harrison Bryant and Kylen Granson in free agency, but I’d argue that because Jenkins is still developing as a tight end, he offers greater upside for a depth role. He can also help himself with his special teams acumen.

OL Darian Kinnard

This’ll be Kinnard’s second season of enrollment at Stoutland University, as he latched onto the 53-man roster last summer following a steady camp. The 25-year-old Kinnard last season served as a reserve tackle, though was active for only two games in what very much felt like a developmental year under Stoutland’s tutelage. In addition to tackle, Kinnard’s ability to kick inside and play guard offers added value, especially when viewing it from a game day perspective. Understandably, Kinnard is getting a bit lost in the mix, with the Eagles adding veterans Kendall Lamm and Matt Pryor in free agency and drafting Myles Hinton and  Cameron Williams. It’ll be an uphill climb, for sure, but it’s my understanding the Eagles like Kinnard. The roster holdover figures to remain in the conversation.

DT Gabe Hall

It wasn’t long ago that Hall was widely viewed as one of the top rookie free agents, but a rather uneventful camp ultimately left him on the outs. Hall did, however, manage to stick around on the practice squad, where he developed and learned under acclaimed defensive line coach Clint Hurtt. Now armed with experience and better understanding of coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense, Hall – who can play any position on the defensive line – shouldn’t be overlooked. Checking in with the 6-foot-6, 295-pound Hall late last season, he indicated how invaluable it was going up against Landon Dickerson every day. He also was quick to note that Dickerson decidedly got the better of him in those matchups. Hall’s primary challengers for a roster spot this time around include holdovers Thomas Booker IV and Byron Young.

GETTY IMAGES: The battle for the fourth safety spot is Tristin McCollum’s to lose.

S Tristin McCollum

It’s tough to fathom how someone who made the 53-man roster and was pressed into service on defense is flying under the radar, but here we are. McCollum doesn’t seem to garner the same intrigue of a Lewis Cine or Maxen Hook, but hearing Fangio on Tuesday include the fourth-year safety in the starting battle reflects how he’s viewed internally. The 26-year-old boasts high-level football intelligence and toughness. He’s also assignment sound, hardly subscribing to a feast-or-famine style of play. Discipline like that goes a long way with Fangio based on what we know. That McCollum seemingly endeared himself to multiple coaching staffs should also be noted.

McCollum, who appeared in 14 games (two starts), accounted for 250 defensive snaps and another 227 on special teams during the regular season. He was also active for all postseason contests. With Reed Blankenship, Drew Mukuba and Sydney Brown occupying three spots, the presumed final slot will be between McCollum, Cine and the next player on this list.

S Andre’ Sam

Like Hall last spring, Sam was also considered a strong post-draft signing. Sam, who in 2023 earned the distinction of being named LSU’s Defensive Player of the Year, had some positive moments in camp but was unable to crack the 53-man roster and spent the season on the Eagles’ practice squad. As an aside, while the vast majority of practice squad members have their lockers stationed in the auxiliary area in the middle of the locker room, Sam’s was positioned on the perimeter with those on the active roster.

The 26-year-old, elevated for one game last season, was prominently mentored by C.J. Gardner-Johnson, as the pair shared a big brother-little brother dynamic and trained together in the offseason at “The Lab Performance and Strength” in New Orleans. With a year of working with the coaching staff – coupled with Gardner-Johnson showing him the ropes – Sam already appears to be playing faster and with increased confidence. It’s also worth noting that defensive backs coach Christian Parker last season mentioned Sam on multiple occasions. The competition for fourth, and assumed final, safety spot in the pecking order is shaping up to be quite compelling.

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