Training Camp is officially here...kinda. 81 Eagles players are at the NovaCare Complex working towards phase two of Camp where the acclimation period begins. But how many of those players are on the bubble? Here's a look at each spot before the going gets tough.
Quarterback
Kyle Lauletta & Nate Sudfeld
This may wind up being one of training camp's most interesting battles. Whether it's for QB2 or QB3 will all depend on the development speed of Jalen Hurts, but the Eagles won't carry four quarterbacks if they can help it.
This means that Sudfeld, a man who has been around the team since 2017 but never been fully trusted to step up into a QB2 role, will be battling on the bubble against Kyle Lauletta, who was shockingly tossed to the roadside by New York last year, over that final QB roster spot.
This really could go either way. Sudfeld has all the chemistry and playbook knowledge to hit the ground running, but is his on-the-field play as strong as Lauletta's? Only time will tell.
Running back
Michael Warren, Elijah Holyfield, Adrian Killins Jr
The 'holy' trinity will be battling for some potentially noteworthy spoils here. The Eagles' search for a veteran running back is bringing back no food for the table, and this trio of UDFA's are getting hungrier by the day. Two are power backs, while Killins brings a more explosive and elusive skillset to the table.
The Eagles didn't replace Jordan Howard this offseason and while Corey Clement should keep his spot on merit, that fourth place will go to one of these three men. Holyfield has the upper hand of an impressive 2019 preseason behind him, but can he keep that leverage throughout camp?
Tight End
Noah Togiai
Joshua Perkins has enjoyed flurries of production during his two years with the Eagles and isn't really on the bubble here, but Togiai brings size and an explosive receiving skill set to the table. The Eagles may opt to keep four tight ends or one on the practice squad, but this bubble battle is all about earning the 'Trey Burton role'.
Offensive line
Julian Good-Jones, Sua Opeta, Casey Tucker
The Eagles have an abundance of offensive line depth and cutting Keegan Render only makes this more interesting. The drafting of Driscoll & Tega-Wanagho only further limits the ceiling of these players, but the trio should be competing for likely practice squad spots.
Wide receiver
Manasseh Bailey, Deontay Burnett, Robert Davis, Quez Watkins
The main name to watch here is sixth-round pick Quez Watkins, who undoubtedly benefits from Marquise Goodwin opting out of the season. The 4.35 speedster is the rawest of those receivers drafted by the Eagles and the immediate grading-scale will be against the names listed before him.
Both Davis and Burnett bring unique skillsets to the table. Burnett is best known for his 40-yard catch against the Giants last year, while Davis is a blazer formerly of the Washington Redskins who has battled with injuries.
Manasseh Bailey is a slightly taller wideout at 6'1 who still ran a 4.39 40-yard dash. Shocking, I know. The small-school sleeper out of Morgan State will have his work cut out for him but never say never.
There could be a real surprise bubble battle here with Goodwin's departure when it comes to who does and doesn't make the final cut.
Continued on the page below.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Defensive end
Joe Ostman, Casey Toohill
Casey Toohill was drafted in the seventh-round by the Eagles, while Ostman has been a scout-team darling who has been hampered by injuries. Coming off a torn ACL, Ostman's potential may well be put on hold and Toohill could be the man to kick him to the curb providing he sails smoothly into the Summer. The adoration given to Ostman is a lifeline he'll be clinging onto as Camp unfolds.
Defensive Tackle
Anthony Rush, Raequan Williams
I loved Anthony Rush out of UAB last year. The 6'5, 350 lbs, DT was the perfect big-body to suck up double teams and allow Cox to thrive if he could refine his technique and explosion off the line. We did see development when on the field last year, but the rotation is stacked and he now has a new UDFA breathing down his neck. Someone who had 17.5 sacks during his last two years as a Spartan. Keep your eyes on this battle at the very edge of the Eagles roster bubble.
Linebacker
Shaun Bradley, Jatavis Brown, Dante Olson
A seventh-round pick, a free agent addition who is a poor tackler in the open field, and a UDFA. This is the Eagles linebacker content we all come for.
Letting Bradham and KGH walk could be costly if they don't find long-term replacements. Whether that's through guys like Davion Taylor and even Will Parks, or developmental talents like T.J Edwards, it will be project players like these that can keep the conveyor belt moving.
Cornerback
Craig James, Rasul Douglas
I hate listing Rasul Douglas here, I really do. There may not be a battle as such, but the Eagles have 7 CB's on their roster as things stand. With Jones and Maddox battling for CB2 duties, Cre'Von LeBlanc juking it out with Nickell Robey-Coleman in the slot, and Darius slay locking down the CB1 spot, it leaves him out in the cold.
Douglas has been putting in a lot of work this offseason but there definitely appears to be a rift between how the coaching staff and front office view him. He still has a really high ceiling and could force himself onto the roster, but he'd need to comfortably beat out the heroics of Craig James, who is best known for that tipped pass against the Packers.
Safety
Grayland Arnold, Marcus Epps, Rudy Ford
Marcus Epps will be forever linked with the awful play against Seattle in the playoffs, while Rudy Ford's hard-hitting special teams ability will now be matched up with UDFA Grayland Arnold. Someone who the Eagles coaching staff love so much, they've moved him from CB to S to try and groom into a future starter. For that to happen, he'll have to show he's got what it takes at the NovaCare Complex proving grounds.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
