Fight To The Finish
Pre-Training Camp 53-Man Roster Projection
Eagles training camp starts this week – the first practice is Wednesday – warranting a reassessment of a revamped roster brimming with talent and with little room to maneuver.
Our first 53-man roster projection was unveiled ahead of spring practices.
Equipped now with the necessary data to better aid in piecing the puzzle together, version 2.0 is here. The final edition will be revealed in the days leading up to cutdown day.
As the Eagles prepare to kick things off, here’s where I stand in terms of the roster configuration:
Offense (24)
Quarterback (3): Jalen Hurts, Kenny Pickett, Tanner McKee
The Eagles were aggressive in fortifying the backup quarterback position behind Jalen Hurts, trading for Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett in March. Pickett, 26, started 24 of a possible 25 games over two seasons and provides experienced insurance. The offensives reserves, in theory, should see more quality reps this summer as a result. The team also remains high on second-year signal-caller Tanner McKee, who last summer had a noteworthy camp. The 24-year-old should again reap the benefits from increased practice reps and learning from a seasoned room.
Running back (3): Saquon Barkley, Kenny Gainwell, Will Shipley
The Eagles have assembled a potent and balanced backfield trio. While Barkley will indubitably serve as the bellcow, his backups – Gainwell and the rookie Shipley – carry value as change-up options. There probably won’t be many vacant snaps, but Shipley could eventually eat into Gainwell’s workload. The Clemson product has some juice and caught a flurry of passes during the spring. Given the crowded landscape elsewhere, it’s tough to envision a fourth running back elbowing his way onto the roster.
Wide receiver (6): A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Parris Campbell, Britain Covey, Johnny Wilson, Ainias Smith
The depth behind starters Brown and Smith is razor thin. Campbell had a nice spring, and unless an unforeseen upgrade is in the cards, the former Colts wideout pegs in as the Eagles’ No. 3 wide receiver. Campbell, of course, has familiarity with head coach Nick Sirianni from their time in Indianapolis and supplies inside-outside versatility.
Covey is a lock due to his impact returning punts. The third-year pro is the best in the business at his primary job and will also be afforded an opportunity to showcase his skills as a wide receiver, his position of trade. I’m keeping both rookies on for now, though I feel more confident in Smith’s prospects.
Wilson is an interesting case, as his measurables and athletic traits conjure intrigue and demonstrated his fluidity in and out of breaks this spring. He’ll need to catch the ball with more consistency and I’m not sure he’s ready to contribute in a game, but my thinking is Wilson will flash enough this summer to command attention.
Offensive line (9): Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Lane Johnson, Mekhi Becton, Matt Hennessy, Darian Kinnard, Trevor Keegan
All eyes will be fixated on Jurgens – moving over from right guard to take over at center for the recently retired Jason Kelce – and the second-year pro Steen, the favorite to start at right guard. While Steen has the inside track and will be given every opportunity to put his stamp on the position, Becton looms large and could have something to say in what is shaping up to be among the Eagles’ most compelling summer storylines.
Should Steen ward off Becton, the latter would still fulfill a critical role as a swing tackle. Hennessy, a free-agent addition whose resume includes 22 starts, provides interior value at center or guard. And Keegan is an intriguing developmental prospect for offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland to mold.
My sleeper is Kinnard. A former fifth-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022, he provides right tackle and guard versatility. A 24-year-old reclamation project under Stoutland’s tutelage, Kinnard makes it over incumbent Fred Johnson.
Tight end (3): Dallas Goedert, C.J. Uzomah, Albert Okwuegbunam
Goedert might be the biggest beneficiary of the Kellen Moore hire in terms of pass-catchers and could be in line for a career season. Beyond Goedert, however, there is much uncertainty when assessing depth. Uzomah, 31, has appeared in 106 games (82 starts) and has the inside track for one of the vacancies.
But it’s worth noting that while Uzomah’s play style complements that of Goedert, the veteran tight end has been hampered by knee injuries over the past two seasons. It remains to be seen just how much he has left in the tank. And in a narrow race that figures to be between draftee Grant Calcaterra and outside acquisition Albert Okwuegbunam, I’m giving the nod to Okwuegbunam.
The former Broncos tight end offers greater upside and should not only benefit from a full offseason with the team, but also continuity with tight ends coach Jason Michael.
Defense (26)
Defensive tackle (5): Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Milton Williams, Marlon Tuipulotu, Moro Ojomo
Representing the teeth of the Eagles’ defense, Carter and Davis are the centerpieces of a new-look unit under coordinator Vic Fangio. The blinding spotlight will be unavoidable for both, as the first-round picks must emerge from the immense shadow cast by Fletcher Cox in light of his retirement.
For different reasons, Carter and Davis must prove they can sustain their production over the entirety of the season. Carter, a disruptive force the first half of last season, has All-Pro potential in his second season.
But because of the various looming questions beyond the starters, much will be expected of Carter, Davis and Williams, the latter of which is line for the most significant snap share of his career in a contract year. Tuipulotu is steady, if unspectacular, but has nursed injuries in consecutive seasons.
Ojomo carries some upside due to his arm length, hand usage and positional versatility, but the Texas product played in only eight games (68 snaps) as a rookie. Depending on what transpires during camp, the Eagles could stand to add a low-cost veteran to furnish the position.
EDGE (6): Bryce Huff, Josh Sweat, Nolan Smith, Brandon Graham, Jalyx Hunt, Julian Okwara
Huff, signed to a mega-deal in free agency, headlines a retooled pass-rush contingent, as the Eagles prepare for the post-Haason Reddick era. The former Jets pass-rusher rolled up double digit sacks for the first time in his career, and boasted an exceptional win rate, but it remains to be seen how Huff will fare in a far more prominent role. The Eagles believe they landed an ascending player who will terrorize opposing tackles, and he’ll need to be in the pass-rush is to meet expectations.
Sweat logged 828 snaps in 2023 and ran out of gas down the stretch, but perhaps a deeper rotation can preserve the veteran sack artist.
The wild card – and one of the most important pieces to the unit’s success is 2024 – is the second-year pro Smith. Drafted in the first round in 2023, Smith played sparingly as a rookie, just 188 regular season snaps, despite the escalating mileage on Reddick and Sweat.
Smith, explosive and twitched-up, appears to have added some size to his frame, which should serve him well. Oozing leadership and charisma to boot, the former Bulldog is among my top breakout candidates.
Okwara, who signed a one-year deal with the Eagles in February worth up to $2.675 million, could be a player worth keeping an eye on. The 26-year-old brings 38 games of experience and could help on special teams, as well as provide extra depth in the event the rookie Hunt needs more time to develop.
Linebacker (5): Devin White, Nakobe Dean, Zack Baun, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Ben VanSumeren
One of the more marquee training camp position battles is at linebacker, where Dean and Baun are set to compete for the starting job opposite White. Dean, 23, returns following an injury riddled season which limited him to just five games (four starts) in 2023. A cerebral player boasting high-level football intellect and plenty of range, Dean appears to be at a career crossroads.
While Dean was gradually eased back into the action during the spring, primarily working with the second team, he’ll need to outperform Baun, who garnered the majority of the first-team reps opposite White and seemingly did little to relinquish his position. But Baun, in his own right, is largely an unknown entity, having played sparingly on defense through four seasons.
Filling out the depth chart becomes interesting once you get beyond White, Baun and Dean. Trotter Jr. sticks as a fifth-round pick with developmental intrigue, but the presumed fifth and final slot is largely up for debate. I went with VanSumeren over veteran free-agent signing Oren Burks due to age – VanSumeren is 24 – along with otherworldly athleticism and upside.
VanSumeren made notable strides from where he was this time last summer, specifically in terms of instincts. My thinking here is that Burks becomes a casualty on cut down day – as to not guarantee his contract for the season – and perhaps resurfaces at some point this season.
Cornerback (7): Darius Slay, Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Kelee Ringo, Isaiah Rodgers, Tyler Hall, Josh Jobe
The first four are etched in stone, and Rodgers isn’t far behind on the heels on an impressive spring. The former Colts cornerback exhibited plus ball skills, short-area quickness and eye discipline, and could potentially be in line to start opposite Slay if his momentum persists.
That battle, by the way, figures to be a three-person race between Rodgers, Ringo and the rookie Mitchell, who looked every bit of a first-round pick this spring. The early returns on the Toledo product have been excellent. DeJean, the Eagles’ second-round pick, operated mostly at nickelback during the spring, which is where I expect him to play this season.
Forecasting the positional landscape before camp, DeJean, who looked extremely fluid in transition and was frequently around the football, would be my pick to start at nickelback Week 1.
Operating under the assumption of the Eagles rostering seven cornerbacks, the final slots boil down to a multitude of factors, perhaps none more important than game day value. Hall, another nickel corner, stays over veteran Avonte Maddox in this scenario. Hall, 25, appeared in 31 games (six games) and, though overshadowed by the likes of Ringo, Rodgers and Mitchell this spring, was quietly very sticky in coverage and playing fast.
For what it’s worth, I’m told Hall has the quickest feet of the cornerbacks. It’s my understanding that he had multiple suitors in free agency, so one could presume he might have some interest if jettisoned on cut down day. Another benefit to keeping Hall, who can also play safety and cornerback, is that it would allow Fangio the flexibility to creatively deploy DeJean how he sees fit rather than relegate him to one role.
Jobe lands the final slot due to his special teams contributions. An impactful gunner who appeared on last year’s Pro Bowl ballot, Jobe, who led the Eagles in special teams snaps with 323 in 2023, is a player the Eagles value. When whittling down the roster, the decisions often come down to game day value. And when you’re talking about your seventh cornerback, it’s not about defensive value. More often than not, it comes down to special teams.
Safety (3): C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Reed Blankenship, Avonte Maddox
Complicating the positional outlook is the health status of Brown, returning from a late-season knee injury, which is why I kept Maddox on as a safety, where he cross-trained during the spring. Brown will reportedly begin training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. There’s a chance Brown could begin the season on the Reserve/PUP list, and for this exercise, I’m operating under that assumption.
Second-year holdovers Mekhi Garner and Tristin McCollum could initiate a legitimate roster push, too, but given how thin the Eagles are at the safety position, camp could determine whether they opt to add to the position.
PUP: Sydney Brown
Specialists (3): Jake Elliott (K), P Braden Mann (P), Rick Lovato (LS)
The Eagles ensured the synergetic operation remains intact, proactively signing all three to contract extensions in March.
– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.
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