Philadelphia Eagles coaching camp is almost right here!
Gamers will report back to the NovaCare Advanced on Tuesday, July 23 forward of the group’s first follow on Wednesday, July 24.
Whereas we nonetheless have a while to kill, let’s run by everybody’s favourite summer season exercise: a 53-player roster prediction. The target right here is to get an early take a look at how the Eagles’ preliminary depth chart might play out. We’ll actually replace these projections all through the summer season to mirror significant developments from practices and preseason video games.
OFFENSE
QB: Jalen Hurts, Kenny Pickett, Tanner McKee (3) [3]
Hurts didn’t look tremendous snug throughout spring practices in an offense he described as “95%” new. His progress adjusting to Kellen Moore’s imaginative and prescient bears monitoring. In principle, Pickett and McKee will probably be battling it out to be QB2. However till McKee truly takes some second-team reps, it’s onerous to consider Pickett doesn’t have already got the job locked up. Will Grier seems to be a camp arm who will eat up some preseason snaps. Maybe his relationship with Moore will land him a spot on the follow squad? Or maybe even the teaching employees?
RB: Saquon Barkley, Kenny Gainwell, Will Shipley (3) [6]
After a quiet spring, it’d be good to see Barkley have some flashes in camp. It’ll be attention-grabbing to see what number of targets he will get; will he really be an element within the passing assault? Gainwell shouldn’t merely be a lock to be the second working again however the teaching employees appears to like him quite a bit so, he is likely to be. Shipley was lively as a pass-catcher in spring practices; will that proceed in camp? The Eagles in all probability don’t must hold a fourth working again on the roster. If anybody might make the case for that RB4 spot, although, it is likely to be Kendall Milton. Be mindful the Eagles usually hold at the very least one undrafted rookie free agent on their roster. To that time, they’ve had one UDFA on the Week 1 roster each season since at the very least 2013 … with the uncommon exception of 2020, when the pandemic was a significant component working towards undrafted gamers.
WR: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Parris Campbell, Britain Covey, Johnny Wilson, Ainias Smith (6) [12]
We do know that A.J. and DeVonta are superior gamers. We don’t know if there are any high quality depth choices behind them. Based mostly on him taking first-team reps within the spring, Campbell will get the primary crack on the WR3 job. Hurts appeared to have some degree of belief in him. Covey is arguably one of the best punt returner within the NFL and he’s no small half why the Eagles had the top-ranked particular groups unit final 12 months. It stays to be seen if he can truly contribute on offense. As a tall receiver, Wilson is primed to be a coaching camp darling. Smith didn’t have a fantastic spring however he wasn’t 100% wholesome. If John Ross can keep wholesome, which is an enormous if, he might very effectively push for a roster spot. If nobody seizes the WR3 job, Howie Roseman might look to make a commerce. Maybe a reverse Ronald Darby scenario from 2017 the place the Eagles deal a cornerback and a draft decide for a large receiver this time.
TE: Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcaterra, C.J. Uzomah (3) [15]
I can’t assist however really feel like Goedert is a greater participant than final 12 months’s numbers would point out. I believe he’ll get again to being a extra environment friendly goal after logging a career-low 10.0 yards per reception in 2023. The TE2 and TE3 jobs seem like up for grabs. Calcaterra earned reward from the teaching employees and noticed some first-team work within the spring. He presents extra pass-catching potential whereas Uzomah is extra of a blocker within the Jack Stoll mould. E.J. Jenkins made some flashy catches within the spring; it’ll be attention-grabbing to see if he can proceed to face out.
OL: Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Lane Johnson, Mekhi Becton, Matt Hennessy, Fred Johnson, Trevor Keegan, Dylan McMahon (10) [25]
The considering right here is that the Eagles will give Steen each probability to show he ought to be the beginning job. If he falters, although, it may not take lengthy for them to plug Becton between Jurgens and Johnson. If he’s not beginning, Becton could possibly be the highest backup at each non-center place. Hennessy could possibly be the designated in-game substitute for Jurgens along with offering additional guard depth. The Eagles signed Johnson to an extension final summer season; they could worth him as a fourth sort out choice. Keegan and McMahon could possibly be greater elements sooner or later than they are going to be as rookies. Max Scharping might have an opportunity to make the group as a backup with expertise at each guard spots. Anim Dankwah’s potential is intriguing however he’s in all probability not near being able to play as a rookie.
DEFENSE
EDGE: Bryce Huff, Josh Sweat, Nolan Smith, Brandon Graham, Jalyx Hunt (5) [30]
There’s cause to be enthusiastic about Huff’s potential as a full-time participant however he’s not but a confirmed commodity in that regard. Sweat took a pay reduce to stay on the group forward of a contract 12 months; one would assume he’ll be motivated to show he’s higher than his comparatively invisible second half in 2023. The Eagles’ move rush being actually efficient or not might hinge on whether or not Smith makes a leap in Yr 2. Graham figures to be a high quality function participant in his closing NFL season. It’s onerous to consider Hunt will see the sector on protection however he could possibly be a contributor on particular groups.
DT: Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Milton Williams, Marlon Tuipulotu, Moro Ojomo (5) [35]
I believe Carter is definitely underrated. I don’t assume anyone severely doubts he’s going to be actually good. However lifelike expectations ought to be even larger than that. This can be a dude who was on an Aaron Donald-like trajectory for a great portion of final season earlier than your complete protection fell aside. At his finest, Davis has proven that he’s able to making an influence … we simply must see extra consistency. This season is a make-or-break alternative for him with Fletcher Cox gone. Williams made extra of an influence final season than the stat sheet signifies (he logged simply half of a sack) and I count on the numbers to catch up this 12 months. Mr. T has the makings of an appropriate DT4/DT5. Ojomo has the potential to make a leap as a high quality rotational defensive sort out. The Eagles may wish to hold six gamers right here; they’ve generally used a six-man DT rotation in earlier season. After all, that was earlier than Vic Fangio arrived. The Eagles’ defensive coordinator wasn’t so inclined to rotate his defensive linemen final 12 months on the Miami Dolphins. P.J. Mustipher (who tasks as a backup nostril sort out) and UDFA Gabe Corridor are combating to stay on the roster.
LB: Devin White, Zack Baun, Nakobe Dean, Oren Burks, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (5) [40]
White looks as if a positive guess to begin for the Eagles, which feels just a little bizarre since he completed the 2023 season by getting benched in a playoff recreation. However he appeared good in spring practices and unencumbered by nagging damage points that plagued him final 12 months. Fangio appears to love Baun greater than anybody anticipated him to. If Dean turns in a single standout coaching camp follow, it’ll be the primary of his profession. Burks appears like somebody the Eagles may be capable to re-sign after Week 1, when his wage wouldn’t be assured as a vested vet. However the Eagles may worth his recreation expertise and particular groups potential an excessive amount of to get cute and threat shedding him. A younger man like Ben VanSumeren or Brandon Smith might make Burks expendable if they will step up. Trot Jr. will doubtless have to chop his enamel on particular groups earlier than he will get a shot to play on protection.
CB: Darius Slay, Isaiah Rodgers, Avonte Maddox, Kelee Ringo, Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Josh Jobe (7) [47]
Slay is locked in as a starter. After that? There’s a fierce competitors occurring right here. I’m shopping for what I noticed from Rodgers in spring practices; the best way he moved in protection and broke on the ball was simply completely different, in a great way. I additionally don’t assume Fangio will thoughts leaning on a veteran versus untested younger guys. That being stated, Ringo seems like he’s able to make a robust push to begin. Mitchell figures to have a job even when he’s not beginning on the skin; the Eagles have been using him in dime packages. For now, we’ll say Maddox begins within the slot along with offering depth at security. However it will hardly be a shock if DeJean usurps him prior to later. Jobe’s defensive potential might be worse than Eli Ricks’ potential in that regard … however he’s the superior particular groups participant, which is extra related down the depth chart. Apart from, Ricks could possibly be a commerce candidate on the subject of attempting so as to add extra depth at one other place (equivalent to receiver). James Bradberry can also be a candidate to be traded if the Eagles can discover a taker providing something remotely of worth. Name me naive however I do assume there’s a deal to be made since there needs to be a group on the market that doesn’t love their CB scenario and will use a low-risk flier on somebody who’s 1) had high-level success prior to now and a couple of) who’s had a historical past of bouncing again after down seasons. After all, the NFL might resolve to attend it out and hope the Eagles merely reduce Bradberry. Tyler Corridor is a darkish horse candidate to stay round, particularly if there are accidents at nickel. He could possibly be a pleasant depth choice to carry on the follow squad since he has some NFL expertise.
S: Reed Blankenship, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Sydney Brown (3) [50]
The consensus is just too low on Blankenship, who’s going to make huge performs this 12 months. Rely on it. It’ll be attention-grabbing to see CJGJ in his first coaching camp with the Eagles (he joined the group after camp in 2022). Over/beneath on fights he’s concerned in: 1.5. Brown is reportedly starting camp on the lively/PUP record however there appears to be an expectation he’ll keep away from occurring reserve/PUP and routinely lacking the primary 4 video games. The Eagles are clearly skinny at security however Maddox can also be an element right here. They usually might nonetheless look to signal a veteran, ought to they should go that route. Maybe Mekhi Garner is being slept on right here.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Okay: Jake Elliott (1) [51]
This will probably be Elliott’s eighth season because the Eagles’ kicker. There aren’t many kickers you’d slightly have.
P: Braden Mann (1) [52]
Mann is a high quality punter. This will probably be his first full offseason working with Elliott and Lovato, so, the additional reps ought to solely assist their collective timing and coordination.
LS: Rick Lovato (1) [53]
The Eagles’ lengthy snapper is in a contract 12 months. Finest for him to keep away from any errors.
PRACTICE SQUAD
RB Kendall Milton, WR Jacob Harris, WR John Ross, TE E.J. Jenkins, OT Anim Dankwah, OG Gottlieb Ayedze, EDGE Julian Okwara, EDGE Patrick Johnson, DT Gabe Corridor, DT PJ Mustipher, LB Ben VanSumeren, LB Brandon Smith, CB Tyler Corridor, DB Mekhi Garner, S Tristin McCollum, S Andre’ Sam
Worldwide exemption: OT Laekin Vakalahi
