Philadelphia Eagles training camp preview: 53-man roster prediction

Philadelphia Eagles training camp is here!

Players reported to the NovaCare Complex on Tuesday, July 22 ahead of the team’s first practice on Wednesday, July 23.

While we still have some time to kill, let’s run through everyone’s favorite summer activity: a 53-player roster prediction. The objective here is to get an early look at how the Eagles’ initial depth chart could play out. We’ll certainly update these projections throughout the summer to reflect meaningful developments from practices and preseason games.

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACK: Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, Kyle McCord (3) [3]

The reigning Super Bowl MVP will likely be tasked with throwing the ball more often than he did in 2024. McKee might be a future low-end starter in the NFL. At the very least, there’s hope he can be a quality QB2. McCord will likely beat out Dorian Thompson-Robinson for the emergency third quarterback role.

RUNNING BACK: Saquon Barkley, Will Shipley, AJ Dillon (3) [6]

How will Barkley follow up the best running back season in NFL history? Regression feels inevitable but doubt him at your own peril. The Eagles seem to be hoping that Shipley will be their direct Kenny Gainwell replacement. Dillon, who hasn’t played a regular season game since December 2023, isn’t a lock to make the roster. This could be another Rashaad Penny situation, for all we know. Then again, it’s not like the Eagles have great RB alternatives.

FULLBACK: Ben VanSumeren (1) [7]

The Eagles like BVS as a lead blocker who can also be a core special teams contributor for them. And he might still be able to play off-ball linebacker in a pinch.

WIDE RECEIVER: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jahan Dotson, Johnny Wilson, Avery Williams, Danny Gray (6) [13]

The passing game will continue to primarily operate through Brown and Smith, who are not easy to stop. It’ll be interesting to see if Hurts is more willing to throw to Dotson this year, especially if/when one of the top two receivers misses playing time. Wilson could stick around as a primarily blocking receiver who might see some occasional red zone looks. Williams is currently the top contender to return punts and kicks for the Eagles. The Birds might only keep five receivers but Danny Gray and Terrace Marshall showed some intriguing glimpses in spring practices. At least one of them might be worth keeping around.

TIGHT END: Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcaterra, Nick Muse (3) [16]

The Eagles don’t have a single tight end signed beyond this season but Goedert is still the top guy for 2025. Calacterra has struggled as a blocker but he can catch the ball. I’m feeling bold so I’ll go with Muse, who made some eye-opening grabs in the spring, over more seasoned veterans like Harrison Bryant and Kylen Granson. E.J. Jenkins is also in the mix here. I don’t think the Eagles keep both four tight ends AND a fullback … and I do think they’ll keep a fullback.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Lane Johnson, Matt Pryor, Darian Kinnard, Drew Kendall, Trevor Keegan, Myles Hinton (10) [26]

This is a bit tricky to figure out. We know that Mailata, Dickerson, Jurgens, and Johnson are locked in as starters. Steen is a good bet to win the starting right guard job, though we’ll see if anyone else is able to overtake him. If someone does, I think it could be Pryor, who could be a competent option. Kinnard simply must be on the roster since his team has won the Super Bowl all three years he’s been in the NFL. Also, he’s the second-string right tackle. Kendall can actually snap the ball, so, that should allow him to beat out Brett Toth, who can’t snap the ball. Keegan isn’t a lock to make the team but the Eagles might not want to give up on a 2024 draft pick just yet. Jeff Stoutland seems to really like Hinton. Three notable players who didn’t make the team here: Kenyon Green, Kendall Lamm, and Cameron Williams. Green is theoretically competing for the starting right guard job … but he was the third-team left guard in spring practices. He’s really struggled in the NFL thus far, so, maybe he’s just not good enough? Lamm is a vested veteran, which means he’s not subject to waivers if the Eagles cut him. They could pull some roster chicanery by cutting him and re-signing him shortly after in order to temporarily free up a space near roster cuts. Then again, maybe they don’t want to risk losing him if he’s their top swing tackle option. Williams seems like a prime candidate to be placed on injured reserve with a phantom injury.

DEFENSE

EDGE RUSHER: Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, Azeez Ojulari, Joshua Uche, Antwaun Powell-Ryland (5) [31]

The Eagles are banking on Smith and Hunt taking another leap forward in 2025. The depth behind them is unsettled. If Ojulari can stay healthy, he could be third in edge rusher snaps. Uche’s ceiling is intriguing but his floor might be missing out on making the roster. APR was incredibly productive in college as a pass rusher but he might not be trusted to play due to issues in run defense. New signing Ogbo Okoronkwo has a real chance to push for a roster spot. As a vested veteran, though, he might be a candidate to be cut and then re-signed after Week 1 … when his salary won’t be guaranteed for the rest of the regular season.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Jalen Carter, Moro Ojomo, Jordan Davis, Ty Robinson, Thomas Booker (5) [36]

What if Carter is the Defensive Player of the Year this season? Can’t rule it out. Ojomo figures to slide into the Milton Williams role. It’s make-or-break time for Davis, who is entering Year 4. Can he handle playing more snaps and can he offer more than minimal impact as a pass rusher? Robinson should see some rotational playing time as a rookie. Booker was solid in limited playing time last year and he’ll likely have a small role yet again. Byron Young will be in his first full offseason with the Eagles so it’ll be interesting to get a look at the former third-round pick. For now, we have Young making the practice squad.

OFF-BALL LINEBACKER: Zack Baun, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Jihaad Campbell, Smael Mondon Jr. (4) [40]

With Nakobe Dean likely to miss time early in the regular season, the Eagles have to find a temporary starter next to Baun. Maybe it’s Campbell … but apparently he won’t be ready to practice until August. The first-round rookie might not be trusted to start in Week 1. If neither Dean nor Campbell are starting, it could be Trot Jr. who starts next to Baun. Mondon Jr. will try to push for playing time but the rookie will probably be more of a backup and special teams contributor. Dallas Gant is a top candidate to be temporarily elevated from the practice squad during the first few weeks.

CORNERBACK: Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Kelee Ringo, Adoree’ Jackson, Mac McWilliams (5) [45]

It looks like Mitchell will be starting at left cornerback after playing on the right side as a rookie. DeJean will probably be the starting right cornerback in base defense but he’ll obviously shift to the slot in nickel. Who’s playing RCB when DeJean moves inside? Unless he totally stinks, Ringo is in a good position to become a starter. If Ringo struggles, the Eagles will turn to the veteran Jackson. McWilliams could be the top backup slot corner in addition to providing depth on the outside. The Eagles could keep Eli Ricks around once again but trading him probably makes more sense since he’ll be a free agent 2025.

SAFETY: Reed Blankenship, Andrew Mukuba, Sydney Brown, Andre’ Sam, Tristin McCollum (5) [50]

Who’s starting next to Blankenship? Mukuba, Brown, and McCollum are battling for that role, according to Vic Fangio. We see the play-making rookie as the top option for that spot. Brown was not drafted by Fangio and he was stuck behind McCollum and Avonte Maddox at safety last season. Sam can play special teams and he seemed to be taking more first-team safety reps than McCollum during spring practices. Lewis Cine is theoretically intriguing as a former first-round pick but I think he’s more of a practice squad candidate.

SPECIAL TEAMS

KICKER: Jake Elliott (1) [51]

PUNTER: Braden Mann (1) [52]

LONG SNAPPER: Charley Hughlett (1) [53]

Fairly straightforward here, barring any struggles from the Eagles’ new LS.

INJURY DESIGNATIONS

PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM LIST (PUP): Nakobe Dean

Dean suffered a torn patellar tendon on January 12. Speaking in early June, Vic Fangio said the fourth-year linebacker “won’t be back for a while.” If Dean does indeed go on the reserve/PUP list, he’ll automatically be ineligible to play in the first four games of the season.

INJURED RESERVE (DESIGNATED FOR RETURN): Ainias Smith, Cameron Williams

The Eagles stashed Smith away on IR-DFR last year. I could see Howie Roseman doing it again to avoid giving up on a 2024 draft pick. As a developmental tackle, Williams seems like a prime phantom injury candidate to be stashed on IR.

PRACTICE SQUAD

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, RB Montrell Johnson Jr., WR Terrace Marshall, WR Darius Cooper, TE Harrison Bryant, TE E.J. Jenkins, OL Brett Toth, OT Hollin Pierce, EDGE Ochaun Mathis, DT Gabe Hall, DT Byron Young, LB Dallas Gant, CB Eli Ricks, CB Parry Nickerson, S Maxen Hook, S Lewis Cine.

International exemption: OT Laekin Vakalahi