Here's our initial roster projection and depth chart prediction for the Philadelphia Eagles as they begin training camp
PHILADELPHIA − For a team hoping to repeat, er, have sustained success as Eagles coach Nick Sirianni put it, the Eagles sure have some interesting decisions to make as the players report July 22 for the start of training camp, with the first practice the next day.
There should be at least five new starters on defense alone following an offseason in which some key players either left in free agency or traded away. The Eagles are hoping either young players or veterans brought in on one-year, prove-it deals can fill the void.
Offensively, the Eagles are returning 10 of their 11 starters, with the right guard job up for grabs. But there will be plenty of maneuvering behind the starters for key backup roles. This is where surprises can happen.
Here, then, is an early projection of how the Eagles' depth chart and 53-man roster will shake out during training camp heading into the season opener Sept. 4 against the Dallas Cowboys. Keep in mind that the Eagles can sign 16 players to the practice squad):
Quarterback (3)
- Jalen Hurts
- Tanner McKee
- Kyle McCord
Breakdown: Hurts was the MVP of the Super Bowl, coming off his best season as far as completion percentage and passer rating are concerned. This season, Hurts might have to prove − yet again − that he can pass the Eagles to victory with defenses expected to sell out to stop Saquon Barkley. He did it in the Super Bowl. McKee slides into the backup role after the Eagles traded away Kenny Pickett after 1 1/2 strong games at the end of the regular season. The most intriguing battle will be for No. 3 QB. Look for McCord, the Eagles' sixth-round pick who's accurate but can't run, to beat out Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who can run but can't pass with accuracy.
Running back (4)
- Saquon Barkley
- A.J. Dillon
- Will Shipley
- ShunDerrick Powell
Breakdown: The big question isn't if Barkley can duplicate his 2,005-yard rushing season. That's because the Eagles might not let him after such a heavy workload in 2024, not to mention the Eagles' opponents. Rather, it's whether Dillon, who has rushed for at least 600 yards three times for Green Bay before sitting out last season with a neck injury, can fill in some yards and carries. The same is true with Shipley, the Eagles' fourth-round pick last season. Look for Powell, the 5-foot-7, 183-pounder out of Central Arkansas, to beat out a host of hopefuls, including Ben VanSumeren, who's listed as a fullback after playing linebacker the past two seasons.
Tight end (4)
- Dallas Goedert
- Grant Calcaterra
- Harrison Bryant
- Kylen Granson
Breakdown: The Eagles signed Bryant and Granson to one-year deals in free agency in case Goedert didn't return. He did, agreeing to take a paycut for one more year. So that pretty much sets the Eagles' depth chart with Calcaterra falling in behind Goedert. Keep an eye on E.J. Jenkins or Nick Muse, who can make a push for a roster spot if Bryant or Granson falter.
Wide receiver (5)
- A.J. Brown
- DeVonta Smith
- Jahan Dotson
- Terrace Marshall
- Johnny Wilson
The top three are set with Brown, Smith and Dotson, who's a distant third in the pecking order. But Marshall gets a spot after having perhaps the most impressive spring of any of the other wide receivers. That squeezes out Ainias Smith, whose only chance of making the roster would be if he were to beat out Avery Williams as the returner. That doesn't seem likely.
Offensive line (10)
- Left tackle: Jordan Mailata, Kendall Lamm
- Left guard: Landon Dickerson, Kenyon Green, Matt Pryor
- Center: Cam Jurgens, Drew Kendall
- Right guard: Tyler Steen, Green, Kendall
- Right tackle: Lane Johnson, Lamm, Myles Hinton
Breakdown: Mailata, Dickerson, Jurgens and Johnson make up the NFL's best offensive line no matter who wins the starting right guard spot (Steen is the favorite heading into camp). Lamm should serve as the swing tackle. Pryor will beat out Trevor Keegan, sixth-round pick in 2024, as the depth guard. Rookie Cameron Williams, Brett Toth and Darian Kinnard are among those who could wind up on the practice squad.
Edge rusher (5)
- Nolan Smith
- Jalyx Hunt
- Azeez Ojulari
- Josh Uche
- Antwaun Powell-Ryland
Breakdown: After losing Josh Sweat to free agency and Brandon Graham to retirement, the Eagles are counting on Smith and Hunt to continue their progress from the second half of the 2024 season. Ojulari is the X factor. The Giants' second-round pick in 2021 hasn't played in more than 11 games since his rookie season. But he has been productive when he has played, with 6 sacks in 11 games last season for the Giants. A big year could lead to a big free agent deal next year − most likely with another team.
Defensive tackle (5)
- Jalen Carter
- Jordan Davis
- Moro Ojomo
- Ty Robinson
- Thomas Booker
Breakdown: Carter will once again be counted on to be a force, while Davis and Ojomo should see the bulk of the playing time next to him. Robinson, the Eagles' fourth-round pick, could develop into a Milton Williams-type player, but as a rookie, he and Booker will likely get only a handful of reps, unless someone gets hurt.
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Inside linebacker (4)
- Zack Baun
- Jeremiah Trotter
- Smael Mondon
- Dallas Gant
Breakdown: This is going under the assumption that both Nakobe Dean and Jihaad Campbell will start the season on the PUP list, meaning that they'll have to miss the first four games of the season. But they won't count against the 53-man roster. Dean had a career year before tearing his patella tendon, while Campbell is the Eagles' first-round pick. Can Trotter and/or Mondon hold down the spot next to Baun, coming off an All Pro season, until either Dean or Campbell are ready to play?
Cornerback (5)
- Quinyon Mitchell
- Cooper DeJean
- Kelee Ringo
- Adoree Jackson
- Mac McWilliams
Breakdown: The Eagles could see DeJean both on the outside and inside at nickel. Either way, Ringo, in his third season, should win the job on the outside when DeJean is at nickel. Jackson can back up both outside and nickel, while Mac McWilliams, the Eagles' fifth-round pick, barely beats out Eli Ricks for the last spot.
Safety (4)
- Reed Blankenship
- Sydney Brown
- Drew Mukuba
- Tristin McCollum
Breakdown: Blankenship is the established starter, while Brown, Mukuba and McCollum are vying for the spot next to him vacated when C.J. Gardner-Johnson was traded to Houston. Lewis Cine is the odd man out because DeJean can be used at safety if needed for depth.
Specialist (4)
- Kicker: Jake Elliott
- Punter: Braden Mann
- Long snapper: Charley Hughlett
- Returner: Avery Williams
Breakdown: The Eagles didn't bring in any competition for Elliott, Mann or Hughlett, whom the Eagles signed in free agency to replace long snapper Rick Lovato. Williams is a return specialist on both kickoffs and punts. That would mean that DeJean won't have to return punts since he'll be playing practically the entire game on defense. Ainias Smith would have to have a tremendous camp both as a receiver and punt returner to beat out Williams for a 53-man roster spot.
Contact Martin Frank at [email protected]. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a new hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles roster projection: Our prediction heading into training camp
Category: Football
