Peeking Order

The Eagles released their first depth chart of the season Thursday ahead of Saturday’s preseason opener against the Ravens in Baltimore.

The preseason depth chart is usually just a rough draft, as many starters don’t even play in the preseason debut and several positions have multiple starters listed.

You can see the chart here:

Some observations about the depth chart:

* No real surprise on offense – oh, except for all five running backs listed, in alphabetical order by last name, as first-, second- and third-teamers, supposedly keeping in Nick Sirianni’s insistence of competition at this spot. The Eagles anticipated storylines that would result from listing a true pecking order, so this is how they hedged their bet. Gotta hand it to ’em. They can be crafty.

* Cam Jurgens is the starting right guard, with Tyler Steen listed as the top backup. Brett Toth remains the second-string center despite his snap issues during camp and despite the addition of veteran Josh Andrews, who’s actually listed behind Cameron Tom as dual third-teamers.

* Veteran wideout Greg Ward – I call him Wide Receiver Emeritus – is the second-string X receiver opposite Olamide Zaccheaus, with Britain Covey listed as second-team slot behind Quez Watkins. 

* Grant Calcaterra, who caught the attention of Clay Harbor, appears to be third string behind Dallas Goedert and Jack Stoll in 11 personnel formations…Ian Book and rookie Tanner McKee are listed as split third-team quarterbacks behind Jalen Hurts and Marcus Mariota.

ITB PHOTO: Eagles offensive linemen warm up during a training camp practice.

* On defense, the team hedged its bet again at linebacker, listing Christian Elliss and Nic Morrow as split starters alongside unquestioned starter Nakobe Dean.  Elliss and Morrow have rotated often with the first team during camp. It’ll be interesting to see if this chart changes in the coming weeks as newcomers Zach Cunningham and Myles Jack – are integrated. Cunningham is listed second team while Jack is on third team.

* Defensive line is somewhat interesting, with Fletcher Cox and Jordan Davis listed as the only first-team interior defensive linemen. Last year, the Eagles usually employed three interior linemen (Linval Joseph flanked by Cox and Javon Hargrave) when in their five-man front on first and second down. This chart has the ninth overall pick in the 2023 draft, Jalen Carter, listed on the second team while veteran DE Brandon Graham – a rotational pass rusher last season – is listed as one of two first-teams defensive ends along with Josh Sweat.

If this were actually what the Eagles were planning for the regular season, it would more resemble the line deployment of 2021, when then-DC Jonathan Gannon started Cox and Hargrave in the middle, Sweat and Derek Barnett at defensive end, and Genard Avery in the on-ball linebacker spot as the fifth defender in a five-man front.

* DE Tarron Jackson is listed on second team, along with the split combo of strong-side linebackers/edge defenders Nolan Smith and Patrick Johnson. The third team features rookie DT Moro Ojomo along with veteran free-agent signing DT Kentavius Street, third-year DT Marlon Tuipulotu, NT Noah Elliss and EDGE Janarius Robinson.

* Terrell Edmunds and K’von Wallace are listed as split starters alongside Reed Blankenship, which has been consistent with how the coaches have rotated safeties at camp. Blankenship is clearly headed for a starter role while Edmunds and Wallace are competing to start. From what we understand, it’s Edmunds’ job to lose.

* Josh Jobe and rookie, fourth-rounder Kelee Ringo are listed as second-team outside corners, with free-agent signing Greedy Williams and Josiah Scott on third team along with Mario Goodrich, Eli Ricks and undrafted rookie Mekhi Garner. Watch for Garner against the Ravens. There’s some buzz around him.

– Geoff Mosher (@geoffmoshernfl) is co-host of the “Inside the Birds” podcast and staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.

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