Following NFL roster cuts, multiple Philadelphia Eagles players capitalized on being able to change to newly available jersey numbers. And so here’s a very important #JerseyNumberAnalytics update for you since I’m the definitive authority on this very subject.
OVERVIEW
CHANGES ON THE ROSTER
WR John Metchie — from No. 8o to No. 18
CB Jakorian Bennett — from No. 49 to No. 41
EDGE Ogbo Okoronkwo — from No. 50 to No. 45
WR Darius Cooper — from No. 41 to No. 80
NEW PLAYERS ON THE ROSTER
QB Sam Howell — No. 14
OL Willie Lampkin — No. 61
OT Fred Johnson — No. 74
PRACTICE SQUAD: CHANGES AND NEW (OLD) ADDITIONS
S Marcus Epps — No. 39
OT Luke Felix-Fualalo — No. 72
WR Terrace Marshall — from No. 46 to No. 82
WR Britain Covey — No. 85
TE Cameron Latu — from No. 49 to No. 87
Let’s sort through this news on a player-by-player basis.
JOHN METCHIE
Metchie going from (briefly wearing) No. 80 to No. 18 is a nice upgrade for him. Metchie would probably like to be in No. 8; he wore that in college with Alabama and then with the Houston Texans. But Adoree’ Jackson has that number. Metchie should have a solid season.
JAKORIAN BENNETT
I get No. 49 not being an ideal number. And it should be said that Bennett had very limited options to pick from. But why change to No. 41? That isn’t an upgrade. Unless you’re a fan of Ronald Darby’s look from the 2017 season.
OGBO OKORONKWO
Ogbo wore No. 45 from 2019-2022, so, I get wanting to go back to that. But No. 50 is a better look than No. 45, which is more of an off-ball linebacker or long snapper number. Of course, the real solution here is to force the NFL to reinstate No. 00 and let OO wear that.
DARIUS COOPER
As the world’s biggest Darius Cooper believer, I have to say … I’m really disappointed by this jersey number change. I do like him getting out of No. 41; he graduated out of that UDFA wide receiver number. But No. 80 was not the right answer. The 5’11”, 210 pounder should have a number in the single digits or teens, not the 80s. No. 18 would’ve been good. Or he could’ve restored honor to an Eagles wide receiver with the last name Cooper wearing No. 14. The other problem with No. 80 is that the 8s and 0s in the Eagles’ jersey number font (save for their Kelly Green jerseys) isn’t very good. And the recent history of the number just isn’t good; you have to go back to Kevin Curtis wearing No. 80 to find the last time an Eagles wide receiver had it for multiple seasons. Unfortunately, this is a setback for Cooper’s stock. But not impossible for him to overcome.
SAM HOWELL
No. 14 is fine for an emergency third quarterback, which is what Howell will be once Tanner McKee is healthy enough to back up Jalen Hurts. Howell wore No. 14 for his two seasons with the Washington Commanders.
WILLIE LAMPKIN
Lampkin wore No. 62 with the Los Angeles Rams. This after wearing No. 57 and No. 53 with Coastal Carolina and North Carolina, respectively.
No. 62 obviously wasn’t able to Lampkin in Philly. No. 61 is a good number for him. Ideally, he would’ve gone with No. 50 since he’s a pretty small offensive lineman and that’s the lowest available offensive line number (opposite of Johnny Wilson being a big receiver wearing the highest possible number in No. 89).
No. 61 screams “center” for Lampkin even though he might also train at guard.
FRED JOHNSON
Back with his old team in his old jersey number. Fits like a glove.
MARCUS EPPS
Epps joined the Eagles as No. 37 before upgrading to No. 22, which is currently worn by Mac McWilliams. No. 39 isn’t a great number for Epps in a vacuum but he did start his NFL career wearing No. 39 for the Minnesota Vikings. So, there’s something fitting about him starting from square one again as he figures to be a backup who plays special teams once again.
LUKE FELIX-FUALALO
Previously worn by the likes of Tra Thomas and Super Bowl LII champion Halapoulivaati Vaitai, No. 72 is a really good number for LFF. He might be able to have a real NFL career now.
TERRACE MARSHALL
Marshall had no chance to make the team while wearing No. 46. Now he’s back in a real wide receiver number, albeit while on the practice squad.
BRITAIN COVEY
Covey began his Eagles career as No. 41 before upgrading to No. 18. Now he’s No. 85. That big number just doesn’t look right on a smaller player. The Eagles must’ve promised No. 18 to Metchie before Covey returning to Philly was in the picture.
CAMERON LATU
Going from No. 49 to No. 87 is a big-time glow up for Latu. He is now a better player than he was before this change. Almost too good of a number for a guy whose best chances of playing this season is as a special teams contributor.
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