2015 Eagles Projected Defensive Depth Chart

Nov 27, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back

DeMarco Murray

(29) is gang tackled by the Philadelphia Eagles defense in the game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

2015 Eagles Projected Defensive Depth Chart

The Philadelphia Eagles roster is now set to 90 strong, and the team is preparing the grueling task of training, practicing, eating, drinking, and even sleeping Eagles football. But the task is not to train 90 players to compete in the NFL. The behind the scenes goal is to determine of those 90 men who will eventually be qualified, talented, and with the most potential to remain on the team as the 53 man roster for the 2015 Philadelphia Eagles.

The part that I, as a fan and a writer, have the most difficulty with. Much of the time, what I see on the field is not what the coaches see. Oftentimes I look at game production, and they are looking at special teams. Sometimes I look at the roster depth, and they are looking at the roster age. This year, I’m going to jump ahead. Rather than wait for camp and preseason, I’m going to go out of my comfort zone and project who I think will make the 2015 roster and the actual depth chart.

To do so, I’ll name the starters. Keep in mind, these are the players I expect will start AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON and does not mean that after a week or two will not be subject to change.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Left Defensive End – Cedric Thornton

Cedric Thornton is a young hungry competitor. In his career, he has risen from the ranks of undrafted free agent through making the roster, through numerous defensive scheme changes. He’s emerged as a young player who excels on the Eagles defensive line.

His youth and energy combined with a slight in the NFL draft process to motivate a young man to prove time and time again that he is worthy of a starting role in the NFL. While his 51 tackles and one sack in 2014 do not place him atop anyone’s stat sheet, his play in two gap assignment gives the Eagles one of the stoutest run defenses in the league.

Nose Tackle – Bennie Logan

Bennie Logan has grown into one of the premier nose tackles of the NFL in just two seasons. In a league whose history for nose tackle has been a bit of “a guy who cannot be moved”, Logan redefines the position as one where a player moves extremely well. In his second season, Bennie bulked up, and transformed into a solid anchor up the middle, while maintaining enough agility to play sideline to sideline.

Right Defensive End – Fletcher Cox

Despite the stories of Fletcher Cox’s involvement in any trade scenarios, he has come into his own as a dominant force of the young stallions of defensive linement. Cox was drafted with the hope of rising to the top of NFL linemen, and in 2014 he did just that. He plays the run well, and collapses the pocket in such a way that he either draws a double team = allowing the linebacker to sweep in, or they roll the dice and he gets to the quarterback.

More from Eagles News

LINEBACKERS

Left Outside Linebacker – Connor Barwin

What can I say that about Connor Barwin that the 2014 stats sheet haven’t already told you. As we had expected, he’s returned to the pass rush giant of his former Houston Texan days. Not only does he bring the pain to a quarterback, but he’s actually very good at pass defense as well. He will only get better as he becomes more familiar with the Eagles 3-4.

Left Inside Linebacker – DeMeco Ryans

Some saw the evidence of trading for Kiko Alonso and have written off DeMeco Ryans as a starting inside linebacker. It won’t happen. Why? When he started, the Eagles shut out a very good New York Giants offense. When he was injured, the Eagles lost their final three of four games. Whatever he may or may not have lost as he matures, he has recouped in on field leadership. Alonso is merely designed to give him a break. Rotating Alonso in for about 300-400 of his snaps will give him the opportunity to avoid injury and even be fresh should the Eagles qualify for post-season play.

Right Inside Linebacker – Mychal Kendricks

Another player who has been traded by the fanbase GMs in the offseason, Kendricks is simply too young, too good, and too up-sided to be traded unless the Eagles get a ridiculous offer. He’s finally grown into the role of inside linebacker alongside Ryans, and his number showed it at the end of the season. With 2014 under his belt, look for him to assume on field leadership role. And for his stats to get better.

Right Outside Linebacker – Brandon Graham

For the longest time, I stood alone in the camp of Brandon Graham. Despite injury, defensive scheme changes, defensive coordinator turnstiles, Graham continued to make optimal use of limited snaps. Finally, after years of hovering near the top of the NFL in efficiency, he finally gets a chance to start.
This is a pent up dragon of a player. Years of frustration will be unloaded on the field, as he asserts himself as one of the NFL’s best. And he likely is.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Left Cornerback – Brandon Boykin

Another player who has fought the perception of “can’t start”, Boykin finally has a defensive back coach who starts the best player, not the tallest one. While I do not believe Boykin will have a pro bowl season, I think he will shake off any bad plays and lead the team in interceptions. He too has waited for the opportunity to start. He won’t let this chance get away.

Left Safety – Malcolm Jenkins

Jenkins is the general of the pass defense. While he is still savvy and capable, he finally has talented players around him who can play as a “pack”. His leadership is a fundamental ingredient for this defense’s success.

Right Safety – Jerome Couplin III

Can he become our starter? Yes. Will he? I don’t know. But I hope Jerome “Osprey” Couplin can elevate his game to that level. AT 6’2″ and 215 pounds, he’s nearly big enough to play linebacker. But he can play the pass, and when he zeroes in on the ball, he can intercept passes too. When he makes circus stops on passes, it’s such an exciting event that I stand out of my chair in front of my television screen. If he turns it on, the defense can be a top five. Why didn’t he stick with a team last year? Because he was close, and close gets stuck on a practice squad. That’s where the Eagles found him when they signed him to the roster. They wanted him to be on the roster through the off-season and work with him in training camp. Yes, he’s competing for a start. That’s how good this young man’s ceiling is.

Right Cornerback – Byron Maxwell

Finally, the question of is he good enough to be worth all that money will be answered. That answer is yes. By mid season, quarterbacks won’t be throwing his way. That’s how good he is. And he’s been dying to prove it.

Live Feed

Record for every NFL team based on their current odds as favorites or underdogs /

Betsided

10 best individual player rivalries in NFL historyFanSided

5 must-win games for the Dallas Cowboys in 2023FanSided

Predicting each division winner for the 2023 NFL seasonWith the First Pick

Former Lion Ndamukong Suh is in absolutely no hurry to sign with a new teamSideLion Report

NFL rumors: All-Pro DT plans to make free agency suitors wait for himFanSided

OFF THE BENCH

DEFENSIVE LINE

Left Defensive End – Vinny Curry

A pass rush machine. He will get his rotational snaps and flirt with a league lead in sacks. The guy can play, hard. Watch him go.

Nose Tackle – Beau Allen

From a late round draft pick in 2014, he was a gem of a rotational starter. He gobbles up interior blocking, and then sheds them to make the stop or to pressure the quarterback. If you look at the box socres, you won’t see pro bowler numbers just yet. But it’s never easy to find nose tackle stats . He’s the perfect compliment to the agile Bennie Logan. Beau is absolutely going to make noise in the middle this year.

Right Defensive End – Brandon Bair

I am torn between Taylor Hart and Brandon Bair, and gave the nod to Bair due to his experience last year. A solid player, I think he will give more in the box score than a rest for Fletcher Cox.

LINEBACKERS

Left Outside Linebacker – Marcus Smith

From dog house to pent house? Not quite. But the young man will not be a deer in the headlights this year. He’s a little pissed off from not getting onto the field in 2014. He will earn that right this year.

Left Inside Linebacker – Kiko Alonso

I was torn with how to slot Alonso into our depth chart. He really isn’t a backup, he’s more like “planned relief” who will get his snaps. I will be curious how many they number in the early games, as I see the more the season evolves, the more he plays. By the way, I think he’s back to 2013 form with us, and could be comeback player of the year.

Right Inside Linebacker – Jordan Hicks

Hicks could end up on a practice squad, and you could see Emmanuel Acho or Brad Jones at the reserve spot. I gave the nod to Hicks as I think his coverage skills are superb, and he will be slipped in undetected to work some havoc against the running backs and tight end routes that have killed the Eagles in recent years.

Right Outside Linebacker – Bryan Braman (ST expertise)

Braman is a special teams star. Will that give him snaps on the defense, or will Travis Long take this spot? I say Braman gets the nod.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Left Cornerback – Eric Rowe

I want to start Rowe, but I think initially he will be phased in as the nickel backer and will eventually win the start from Boykin as the season wears on. He will turn some heads, and as the post season approaches, he will have the full confidence of the coaching staff and the fanbase.

Left Safety – Chris Maragos (ST expertise)

Maragos is another special teams player who gets the reserve slot. He will push hard for safety time as well. He competed well in Seattle before coming to Philadelphia, and really didn’t show much in 2014 preseason. He could this year.

Right Safety – Jaylen Watkins

With Earl Wolff on the outs with the coaches, Watkins will try to crash course the safety position. He doesn’t quite make it in a way to beat out Couplin, but he’s ideally suited to back up the likes of Malcolm Jenkins.

Right Cornerback – JaCorey Shepherd

He won’t beat out Maxwell, and he’s too fresh to the team to beat out Boykin. And Rowe simply shines. But Shepherd is a true talent in his own right. He gets rotated in and he will make plays to keep his name on the lips of fans.

The Rest of the Defense

As the bar of the talent level of the team goes up, some of the better talent will not make the cuts. And while it will hurt to see some of the players depart from our team, experience shows that many cut by the Philadelphia Eagles are picked up on teams throughout the leagues. The best remain, and the best will know how to play Eagles defense.

Next: Eagles, Ravens Joint Practices A Big Test For Philadelphia

More from Inside the Iggles

Home/Eagles News