We’ve spent the previous few days projecting the Philadelphia Eagles’ depth chart for the 2024 NFL season. We began with the offense, moved on to the protection, after which completed up with the particular groups unit. Now it’s time for a prediction of who will really make the ultimate lower all the way down to 53 gamers. We’ll definitely replace these projections all through the remainder of the offseason to mirror significant developments from practices and preseason video games.
OFFENSE
QB: Jalen Hurts, Kenny Pickett, Tanner McKee (3) [3]
Hurts is seeking to stack his second season with out lacking a sport. How he goes, the Eagles go. The Eagles ought to maintain a authentic QB2 battle … however the pondering right here, till confirmed in any other case, is that they’re setting Pickett as much as win by giving many of the second group reps. QB3 sometimes doesn’t get many apply reps, limiting McKee’s possibilities to maneuver up the depth chart.
RB: Saquon Barkley, Kenny Gainwell, Will Shipley (3) [6]
Barkley figures to see the most important workload of any Eagles working again in a while. Gainwell may see some touches to assist spell Barkley. Final yr, Boston Scott noticed simply 24 touches as RB3. Shipley is in line to take over that small position. Except somebody unexpectedly steps up, the Eagles don’t have a fourth working again that they have to hold. Makes extra sense to maintain RB4 on the apply squad.
WR: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, DeVante Parker, Ainias Smith, Britain Covey, Johnny Wilson (6) [12]
Brown and Smith have been remarkably wholesome over the previous two years. The Eagles will hope their success on this division continues. Particularly because the choices behind the highest two receivers aren’t overly inspiring. It looks like one in every of both Parker or Parris Campbell will make the group. I went forwards and backwards on this one earlier than in the end deciding on Parker, who’s had the extra profitable NFL profession. There’s additionally much less of a necessity for a slot man like Campbell if you’re preserving each Ainias and Covey. And, sure, Covey is clearly price preserving round because the NFL’s greatest punt returner. Wilson has an identical ability set to Parker in idea however he’s in all probability not able to play a lot straight away as a rookie. Wilson’s going to be a wholesome scratch if he doesn’t have a particular groups position.
TE: Dallas Goedert, C.J. Uzomah, Grant Calcaterra (3) [15]
The Eagles must get rather more out of Goedert than they did final season. Uzomah is a direct substitute for Jack Stoll as a blocking tight finish who can sometimes catch a go. In idea, Calcaterra affords pass-catching capability and he really performs on particular groups … in contrast to Albert Okwuegbunam (5 profession ST snaps).
OL: Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Lane Johnson, Mekhi Becton, Fred Johnson, Matt Hennessy, Trevor Keegan, Dylan McMahon (10) [25]
4 of the 5 starters are locked in; Mailata, Dickerson, Jurgens, and Johnson. Jurgens clearly has big sneakers to fill whereas changing Jason Kelce. Steen seems to be the primary man up at proper guard. The 2023 third-round decide regarded higher at sort out than guard in final yr’s offseason practices however he’s since had extra time to adjustment to a brand new place. Hennessy or Keegan may probably begin at proper guard if Steen struggles. Nick Sirianni downplayed utilizing Becton at guard; he’ll as a substitute concentrate on sort out and probably win the job because the swing man. The Eagles appreciated Johnson sufficient to provide him an extension that put him underneath contract by way of this season. He was their OT4 final yr and he may reprise that position. Hennessy, Keegan, and McMahon can all present inside offensive line depth. UDFAs Anim Dankwah and Gottlieb Ayedze are developmental candidates for the apply squad.
DEFENSE
EDGE: Bryce Huff, Josh Sweat, Nolan Smith, Brandon Graham, Jalyx Hunt (5) [30]
The Eagles are relying on Huff to show himself as extra of a full-time participant versus a situational pass-rusher. Sweat, who’s in a contract yr, has a lot to show after actually fading down the stretch final season. The Eagles are going to want to belief Smith much more than they did final yr. He may a giant swing issue within the success of their go rush and the viability of their rotation (or lack thereof). Graham nonetheless has sufficient fuel within the tank to provide the Eagles some snaps off the bench within the last yr of his profession. Hunt is a candidate to be a wholesome scratch all season, although maybe he’ll discover a particular groups position.
DT: Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Milton Williams, Moro Ojomo, Marlon Tuipulotu (5) [35]
Vic Fangio advised reporters Carter must be in nice form to deal with taking part in a variety of snaps. With Fletcher Cox gone, Carter is certainly DT1. The Eagles want Davis to resemble the participant he was early on in 2023 earlier than going quiet. Williams may take one other step ahead this yr after getting higher every season to this point. Ojomo had the last word jersey quantity glow up going from No. 72 to No. 978. Double-digit sack season incoming?! Perhaps not … however Ojomo has flashed sufficient to consider he may very well be a high quality DT4 or DT5. Ditto for Mr. T.
LB: Nakobe Dean, Devin White, Zack Baun, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Oren Burks (5) [40]
It’s going to be fairly discouraging if Dean doesn’t flash in any respect in coaching camp for the third straight yr. A lot of strain on him to step up. The Eagles really feel like White is motivated coming off his late-season benching. One of many extra fascinating notes from Fangio’s intro presser is that Baun is seen as an off-ball linebacker, although he may additionally see some taking part in time on the sting. Perhaps Baun is in line for extra taking part in time than all of us realized. If the veterans forward of him wrestle, Trot Jr. may get a possibility to make performs identical to he did in faculty. Burks is an skilled backup who can even contribute on particular groups.
CB: Darius Slay, Quinyon Mitchell, Avonte Maddox, Cooper DeJean, Kelee Ringo, Isaiah Rodgers (6) [46]
Slay is CB1, that a lot is settled. He did flip 33 earlier this yr, although, and as we noticed with James Bradberry (who we’re projecting to be lower), older corners can drop off actual laborious actual quick. Mitchell is the favourite to start out throughout from Slay however it’s not just like the Eagles will merely hand him the job. The Eagles traded up for Ringo final yr, who confirmed some potential late within the season. He may push to start out. As may Rodgers, who has NFL expertise. We’re presently slotting Maddox in at nickel however he’ll need to show he deserves that spot. DeJean’s match within the secondary stays to be seen however the guess is that he’ll contend for enjoying time within the slot along with offering depth on the skin and at security (although extra so on a emergency foundation). Reducing Josh Jobe and Eli Ricks wasn’t simple right here however the Eagles are so loaded at CB. Perhaps they may commerce a CB or two for extra depth at one other place?
S: Reed Blankenship, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Sydney Brown, Andre’ Sam (4) [50]
Blankenship performed by way of accidents in 2023. CJGJ missed an excellent chunk of video games as a result of harm in 2023. Brown suffered a season-ending harm in 2023. And so it feels prefer it’s somewhat reckless to maintain simply three guys right here. The Eagles often have at the least one UDFA who makes the roster, so we’ll go together with Sam, who’s an older rookie who is perhaps extra able to contribute than most inexperienced gamers.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Okay: Jake Elliott (1) [51]
Can Elliott high his profession yr? Gained’t be simple however wouldn’t rule it out.
P: Braden Mann (1) [52]
The Eagles have a high quality punter.
LS: Rick Lovato (1) [53]
Lovato is locked in because the lengthy snapper for at the least another season.
PRACTICE SQUAD
QB Will Grier, RB Kendall Milton, WR Parris Campbell, WR Joseph Ngata, TE Albert Okwuegbunam, OT Anim Dankwah, OG Gottlieb Ayedze, EDGE Julian Okwara, EDGE Patrick Johnson, DT Gabe Corridor, DT PJ Mustipher, LB Ben VanSumeren, CB Eli Ricks, CB Josh Jobe, CB Tyler Corridor, S Tristin McCollum
Worldwide exemption: OT Laekin Vakalahi
