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 observe on Wednesday, July 24.
Whereas we nonetheless have a while to kill, let’s run by way of everybody’s favourite summer time exercise: a 53-player roster prediction. The target right here is to get an early have a look at how the Eagles’ preliminary depth chart may play out. We’ll definitely replace these projections all through the summer time to replicate significant developments from practices and preseason video games.
OFFENSE
QB: Jalen Hurts, Kenny Pickett, Tanner McKee (3) [3]
Hurts didn’t look tremendous comfy throughout spring practices in an offense he described as “95%” new. His progress adjusting to Kellen Moore’s imaginative and prescient bears monitoring. In concept, Pickett and McKee will probably be battling it out to be QB2. However till McKee really takes some second-team reps, it’s exhausting 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 observe squad? Or even perhaps the teaching workers?
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 fascinating 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 operating again however the teaching workers appears to like him loads so, he may be. Shipley was energetic as a pass-catcher in spring practices; will that proceed in camp? The Eagles in all probability don’t must maintain a fourth operating again on the roster. If anybody may make the case for that RB4 spot, although, it may be Kendall Milton. Take note the Eagles sometimes maintain not less than one undrafted rookie free agent on their roster. To that time, they’ve had one UDFA on the Week 1 roster each season since not less than 2013 … with the uncommon exception of 2020, when the pandemic was a significant factor 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 the perfect punt returner within the NFL and he’s no small half why the Eagles had the top-ranked particular groups unit final yr. It stays to be seen if he can really contribute on offense. As a tall receiver, Wilson is primed to be a coaching camp darling. Smith didn’t have a terrific spring however he wasn’t 100% wholesome. If John Ross can keep wholesome, which is an enormous if, he may very nicely push for a roster spot. If nobody seizes the WR3 job, Howie Roseman may look to make a commerce. Maybe a reverse Ronald Darby scenario from 2017 the place the Eagles deal a cornerback and a draft choose 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 yr’s numbers would point out. I feel 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 workers and noticed some first-team work within the spring. He gives extra pass-catching skill whereas Uzomah is extra of a blocker within the Jack Stoll mildew. E.J. Jenkins made some flashy catches within the spring; it’ll be fascinating 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 pondering right here is that the Eagles will give Steen each probability to show he must 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 alternative for Jurgens along with offering additional guard depth. The Eagles signed Johnson to an extension final summer time; they may worth him as a fourth deal with choice. Keegan and McMahon could possibly be greater elements sooner or later than they are going to be as rookies. Max Scharping may 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 motive 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 yr; one would assume he’ll be motivated to show he’s higher than his comparatively invisible second half in 2023. The Eagles’ go rush being actually efficient or not may hinge on whether or not Smith makes a leap in Yr 2. Graham figures to be a top quality function participant in his ultimate NFL season. It’s exhausting to consider Hunt will see the sphere 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 feel Carter is definitely underrated. I don’t assume anyone severely doubts he’s going to be actually good. However reasonable expectations must be even greater than that. It is a dude who was on an Aaron Donald-like trajectory for portion of final season earlier than all the protection fell aside. At his finest, Davis has proven that he’s able to making an affect … 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 affect final season than the stat sheet signifies (he logged simply half of a sack) and I count on the numbers to catch up this yr. Mr. T has the makings of an appropriate DT4/DT5. Ojomo has the potential to make a leap as a top quality rotational defensive deal with. The Eagles may wish to maintain 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 yr on the Miami Dolphins. P.J. Mustipher (who tasks as a backup nostril deal with) 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 wager to start out for the Eagles, which feels a bit of 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 harm points that plagued him final yr. Fangio appears to love Baun greater than anybody anticipated him to. If Dean turns in a single standout coaching camp observe, it’ll be the primary of his profession. Burks looks like somebody the Eagles may have the ability 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 skill an excessive amount of to get cute and threat dropping him. A younger man like Ben VanSumeren or Brandon Smith may make Burks expendable if they will step up. Trot Jr. will possible 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 happening right here. I’m shopping for what I noticed from Rodgers in spring practices; the way in which 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 appears like he’s able to make a robust push to start out. 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 could hardly be a shock if DeJean usurps him earlier than later. Jobe’s defensive potential might be worse than Eli Ricks’ skill 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 with regards to attempting so as to add extra depth at one other place (reminiscent of 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 up to now and a pair of) who’s had a historical past of bouncing again after down seasons. After all, the NFL may 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 observe squad since he has some NFL expertise.
S: Reed Blankenship, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Sydney Brown (3) [50]
The consensus is simply too low on Blankenship, who’s going to make huge performs this yr. Depend on it. It’ll be fascinating to see CJGJ in his first coaching camp with the Eagles (he joined the group after camp in 2022). Over/below on fights he’s concerned in: 1.5. Brown is reportedly starting camp on the energetic/PUP checklist however there appears to be an expectation he’ll keep away from happening reserve/PUP and robotically lacking the primary 4 video games. The Eagles are clearly skinny at security however Maddox can also be an element right here. And so they may nonetheless look to signal a veteran, ought to they should go that route. Maybe Mekhi Garner is being slept on right here.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Ok: Jake Elliott (1) [51]
This will probably be Elliott’s eighth season because the Eagles’ kicker. There aren’t many kickers you’d somewhat have.
P: Braden Mann (1) [52]
Mann is a top 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 yr. 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
