The 53-Man roster is a puzzle. How will the Eagles construct their next Championship roster? One game into the pre-season, and the projections are already changing, and the camp battles are revealing defined winners at some positions and even more confusion at others. With less than a month to go before the start of the season, many intriguing players are still fighting for their spot on the fifty-three!
Quarterback (3)
Jalen Hurts
Tanner McKee
Dorian Thompson-Robinson
Hurts is the face and the undisputed QB1 of the franchise. McKee continues to show that he is one of the best backup QBs in the league. DTR has shown much improvement and is a player who would be hard to stash on the practice squad. McCord, a Philadelphia native with pedigree and poise, earns a redshirt year to learn the system on the PS.
Running Back (3)
Saquon Barkley
Will Shipley
A.J. Dillon
Barkley’s explosiveness will headline this backfield, but don’t overlook the other two backs. Shipley could be the do-it-all chess piece, and Dillon offers north-south thunder to close games out behind this line. Three’s enough when your RB1 is a workhorse.
ShunDerrick Powell has played well enough to lock up a spot on the PS or force his hand on the 53 if they believe another team could poach.
Fullback (1)
Ben VanSumeren
H-back duties, and third-and-short trench work.
Wide Receiver (6)
A.J. Brown
DeVonta Smith
Jahan Dotson
Johnny Wilson
Darius Cooper
Ainias Smith
The trio of Brown, Smith, and Dotson might be the best trio in the NFL.
Johnny Wilson showed that he can be the matchup nightmare that fans have been waiting to see. A 6’6” red-zone skyscraper who makes it tough to keep off the field during the first pre-season game. He also showed flashes of how important he can be in the running game. Darius Cooper has impressed everyone, and I find it hard to believe he does not make the team. Ainias vs Terrace Marshall vs Avery Williams is all that is left to figure out at the position, in my estimation.
Tight End (2)
Dallas Goedert
Grant Calcaterra
They may initially go with two TEs and hope to sneak one of the others through waivers, make some roster adjustments, and bring one or more back via the 53 or PS.
Offensive Line (10)
Jordan Mailata
Landon Dickerson
Cam Jurgens
Tyler Steen
Lane Johnson
Matt Pryor
Brett Toth
Drew Kendall
Myles Hinton
Kendall Lamm
Jeff Stoutland gets his usual war chest. The starting five is elite. Pryor’s return brings experience, and competition. Keegan and Kendall are two interior talents with serious upside. Hinton’s size intrigues, and Lamm is the veteran in the room with 50+ games under his belt. Ten deep and no weak link. Trevor Keegan needs a good few weeks to unseat someone from this group. UDFAs, Hollin Pierce and Cameron Williams, are likely headed to the PS unless they get selected by another team after cuts.
Defensive Tackle (5)
Jalen Carter
Jordan Davis
Moro Ojomo
Ty Robinson
Gabe Hall
Carter is a star and a potential all-pro. Davis is in great shape and ready to wreck the pocket. Ojomo flashed last year and is ready for more snaps. Robinson’s power pairs well in the inside, and Gabe Hall moves into the spot left behind by Thomas Booker IV.
Edge Rusher (5)
Nolan Smith
Jalyx Hunt
Josh Uche
Patrick Johnson
Azeez Ojulari
This room has become younger and more explosive. Smith takes the next step, and Hunt could push for the second-most snaps from this group. Uche fits perfectly in pressure packages. The surprise is that Azeez is fighting to remain on the roster; he has not stood out at camp. APR could be headed to the PS if he does not pop over the next two weeks and overtake the spot most thought would be Ojulari’s. Ochaun Mathis has shown enough to be on the PS.
Linebacker (4)
Zack Baun
Jihaad Campbell
Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
Smael Mondon Jr.
Speed and youth over volume here, but the room is trending in the right direction even without Dean to start the season.
PUP Nakobe Dean
Cornerback (6)
Quinyon Mitchell
Cooper DeJean
Jakorian Bennett
Kelee Ringo
Adoree’ Jackson
Mac McWilliams
Mitchell and DeJean headline a new era of the Eagles’ ‘no fly zone’. Ringo versus Jackson did not have a clear winner taking the lead, and possibly neither may have shown what Fangio was looking for, which may have led to a trade for Jakorian Bennett. Mac McWilliams has turned heads at camp, and his inside-outside flexibility makes him an intriguing prospect. Eli Ricks is fighting to make the 53, and it might be against Jackson.
Safety (5)
Reed Blankenship
Andrew Mukuba
Sydney Brown
Tristin McCollum
Andre’ Sam
Tristin and Andre are core special teamers, and due to a couple being banged up, they may keep five safeties to start the season, but if they need to add to another spot, these two would be battling for the final spot of four. The new look room is built on range and athleticism. Mukuba was born to play in this Fangio defense, while Sydney Brown is the heat-seeking missile to bring the pain. Blankenship offers excellent play and stability, while also having a nose for diving interceptions a couple of times a season to close out games.
Specialists (3)
K Jake Elliott
P Braden Mann
LS Charley Hughlett
Elliott is the steady leg for his ninth season in Philly, and Mann is the directional punting savant. Hughlett replaces Lovato, bringing over 150 games of experience.
As always, thank you for reading!
Follow me on X @PHLEagleNews
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
