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 reduce right 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 trying to stack his second season with out lacking a sport. How he goes, the Eagles go. The Eagles ought to maintain a respectable 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 staff reps. QB3 usually doesn’t get many apply reps, limiting McKee’s probabilities 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 12 months, Boston Scott noticed simply 24 touches as RB3. Shipley is in line to take over that small position. Until somebody unexpectedly steps up, the Eagles don’t have a fourth working again that they have to maintain. 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 for the reason that choices behind the highest two receivers aren’t overly inspiring. It appears like one in all both Parker or Parris Campbell will make the staff. I went backwards and forwards 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 whenever you’re preserving each Ainias and Covey. And, sure, Covey is clearly price preserving round because the NFL’s greatest punt returner. Wilson has the same talent set to Parker in principle however he’s most likely not able to play a lot instantly 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 far more out of Goedert than they did final season. Uzomah is a direct alternative for Jack Stoll as a blocking tight finish who can sometimes catch a go. In principle, Calcaterra provides pass-catching potential and he really performs on particular groups … not like 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 enormous sneakers to fill whereas changing Jason Kelce. Steen seems to be the primary man up at proper guard. The 2023 third-round choose regarded higher at deal with than guard in final 12 months’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 deal with deal with and probably win the job because the swing man. The Eagles preferred Johnson sufficient to offer him an extension that put him beneath contract via this season. He was their OT4 final 12 months 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 12 months, 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 12 months. 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 offer the Eagles some snaps off the bench within the closing 12 months 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 informed reporters Carter must be in nice form to deal with taking part in loads 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 12 months after getting higher every season so far. Ojomo had the final 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 might 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 12 months. A lot of stress on him to step up. The Eagles really feel like White is motivated coming off his late-season benching. One of many extra attention-grabbing notes from Fangio’s intro presser is that Baun is considered 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 battle, Trot Jr. may get a possibility to make performs similar to he did in faculty. Burks is an skilled backup who may 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 12 months, although, and as we noticed with James Bradberry (who we’re projecting to be reduce), older corners can drop off actual exhausting actual quick. Mitchell is the favourite to begin throughout from Slay nevertheless it’s not just like the Eagles will merely hand him the job. The Eagles traded up for Ringo final 12 months, who confirmed some potential late within the season. He may push to begin. 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 taking part in time within the slot along with offering depth on the skin and at security (although extra so on a emergency foundation). Slicing Josh Jobe and Eli Ricks wasn’t simple right here however the Eagles are so loaded at CB. Perhaps they might 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 via accidents in 2023. CJGJ missed a very good chunk of video games attributable to damage in 2023. Brown suffered a season-ending damage in 2023. And so it feels prefer it’s just a little reckless to maintain simply three guys right here. The Eagles often have no less than one UDFA who makes the roster, so we’ll go along with Sam, who’s an older rookie who is likely to be extra able to contribute than most inexperienced gamers.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Okay: Jake Elliott (1) [51]
Can Elliott high his profession 12 months? Received’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 no less than yet one more 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
