53-Man Roster Predictions Before The Eagles Start Training Camp

Training Camp is almost here. Which means, more importantly, the actual season is almost here. Training Camp is one of those things you look forward to until it arrives, and then you realize what you were actually looking forward to is the season itself. Camp itself is more like when you are at a restaurant, and you think the waiter is bringing you your food, but it turns out someone else just ordered the same thing as you did. The only good part of camp is seeing what some new young guys do. But as we have learned through past examples, like Jordan Matthews, camp standouts don't always translate to being great in games.

But as bad as camp is for us, it is worse for the players. Especially for those guys who are competing for their jobs. If you are a Vet like Jason Kelce, you know what camp is, and you know you are in no danger. But if you are a UDFA, a late draft pick, or a Vet on the roster bubble, your whole livelihood can be on the line.

So what could the roster look like when the Eagles start their season up in Foxborough vs the Patriots? Who will make the 53-man roster? Which players on in danger of being cut? We took our best shot at predicting what the final 53-man roster will look like.

Cut: Ian Book 

Hurts and Mariota are a given here. The only question is do they keep 2 or 3 QBS? Recent history suggests they will keep 3. They held onto Ian Book all season last year, despite him only being active for a couple of games when Jalen Hurts missed time. With Jalen Hurts running the ball so much, it's likely they will want to keep 3 again, just in case he gets hurt.  

But will that be Book or the rookie McKee? They had a chance to promote Book to the primary backup and declined. And then, as Howie likes to do, he drafted a QB in the 6th round. McKee is not a perfect prospect, hence why he went in the 6th round. But he has a big arm and shows promise. Making it tempting to keep him over Book. 

Cut: Devon Allen, Joseph Ngata, Jadon Haselwood, Tyrie Cleveland, Greg Ward, Charleston Rambo 

Brown, Smith, Zaccheaus, and Watkins are locks. Covey as the return man is probably a lock because they did not really bring anyone else in to compete with him for that job. That does not leave much room for anyone else to make the roster unless the team decides to keep 6. 

Devon Allen could be tempting with his elite speed. But unless he shows in camp that his speed can lead to production, he is probably heading back to the practice squad.

The one interesting name that could make them go 6 WRs is Ngata. They gave him one of the largest contracts for any UDFA this offseason.  Ngata has all the tools you want in a WR. He he is big, 6ft 3 and 220lbs, and somewhat fast with a 4.5 40. The problem was that never led to production on the field at Clemson. But more than any of the other young WRS in camp, he has the chance to break the roster if he shows up well in camp.  

They also gave the largest UDFA contract to Carson Strong last season though, and he did not make the team. So just because they have already paid him, does not mean they will feel compelled to keep him around unless he earns it. Its a name to keep an eye on though.

Cut- Trey Sermon, Kennedy Brooks 

There is really not much room for competition here. The 4 on the roster are definitely going to make it. And neither of the other two are good enough to make keeping 5 RBS worthwhile. 

What will be worth watching is who wins the battle to get the most snaps. Swift seems like the leader in the clubhouse. Especially since he can be a weapon through the air as well as on the ground. But Penny has looked like a lead back when healthy. And the Eagles showed how much they trust Gainwell in the playoffs last year. 

Cut: Tyree Jackson, Brady Russell, Dan Arnold, Dalton Keane 

Tyree Jackson is going to need another big camp if he wants to stick around. A few years back he did that and would have won himself a job had he not gotten hurt. But since then, whether it has been injuries, or a lack of production when healthy, he has not lived up to that original hype. But there is an opening behind Goedert. Calcaterra showed promise but is far from uncuttable if he has a quiet camp. And Stoll is mostly a blocking specialist. So there is room for Tyree to win a job if he goes out and earns it.  

Cut: Roderick Johnson, Fred Johnson, Sua Opeta, Julian Good-Jones, Cameron Tom, Tyrese Robinson, Chim Okorafor 

You might be sensing a trend, but almost all of these spots are locks. Obviously the starting 5, but whoever doesn’t win the starting job between Jurgens and Steen, Kelly, and Driscoll are also locks. And if Jurgens wins the RG job, then Toth will be a lock as the backup center. Meaning the only way for another guy to make the roster is if they keep 10.  

The guys who have a case for that 10th spot are Sua Opeta, who has been here and has experience playing on this line, and Trevor Reid, who is the latest project picked up by Jeff Stoutland. I went with the younger guy, Trevor Reid, here. 

Cut: Patrick Johnson, Kyron Johnson, Tarron Jackson, Matt Leo 

There are people who will want to cut Barnett. And they are not wrong. A lot of the guys being cut may deserve a job more than Barnett does. But those guys don’t have a dead cap hit of over $10 million if they do get cut. And with Reddick, Graham, Sweat, and Smith here, depth isn’t as much of an issue.  

They could keep a 6th player. If they do it would likely be Patrick Johnson who has survived a few camps now. But with a lot of difficult decisions to make elsewhere on the roster, I have him as a camp casualty.  

Cut: Marlon Tuipulotu, Noah Elliss 

Like at Edge, there will be some tough choices here. Interior D-Line is so deep that someone worth keeping will be cut. The choice will be between Street, Tuipulotu, and Ojomo. Street played well in a  similar depth role with the Saints last season, and some draft experts had Ojomo as a top 100 prospect in the draft before he fell to the 6th round.  

My gut says Tuipulotu is the odd man out. But they do really like him, and he has survived cuts before. The Eagles could also keep 7 at DT and make a cut elsewhere. But whatever they do, this will probably be one of the toughest choices at final cut-downs. 

Cut- Shaun Bradley, Davion Taylor, Ben VanSumeren 

Linebacker is by far the weakest position on the roster. Hopes are high for Nakobe Dean, but we have yet to see him actually play much. Morrow is a fine player, but not someone who will excite fans. And after them, it is mostly just special teamers.  

Davion Taylor’s time here finally ends. And former Special Teams ace Shaun Bradley may not make the cut either after Christian Ellis looked very good on Special Teams last season. 

Cut- Eli Ricks, Josiah Scott, Mekhi Garner, Mario Goodrich 

Cornerback is tough because there are just so many of them on the training camp roster. They have been very busy there with UDFAs the last two years. Jobe made the roster as one last year, and there are high hopes for Eli Ricks this year. 7 seems like a lot, but it’s a place where they might want to stash some young guys, especially if they can also help in punt/kick coverage.  

If they do keep 7, it may come down to Jobe vs Ricks. Both are former Bama corners that the team is high on. Hopefully whichever one does not make the roster can stick on the Practice Squad.

Cut- K'Von Wallace 

K’von Wallace has had chances to prove himself. He got to play last year when the Eagles were dealing with injuries in the secondary. He has yet to step up and prove he is worthy of the 4th round pick they used on him though. It will be him or Evans as the 4th Safety. Given what we have seen so far from Wallace, I am leaning Evans.   

Cut: Arryn Siposs, Ty Zentner 

You could call this cheating, but I don’t think the Eagles' punter is on the roster yet. Arryn Siposs was awful last year. It does not sound like Zentner is that promising either just judging by how most people who cover the Eagles are talking. They can’t go back into another season with Siposs though. But like they once did to acquire Elliott, they may delve into the market of guys let go by other teams at final cut-downs.