Eagles Analysis: Breaking down the final 53-man roster

Aug 29, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Darren Sproles (43) celebrates with quarterback Sam Bradford (7) after catching a touchdown pass during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

After months of toil and turnover, the Philadelphia Eagles regular season roster is largely set, and ready to go for the team’s season opener against the Atlanta Falcons. Here’s a quick look at each position group, and how things stand after final cut-downs:

Quarterback: Sam Bradford, Mark Sanchez, Stephen Morris (3)

To the surprise –and frustration– of many, the Eagles opted to roll with just Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez following initial cut-downs. According to Chip Kelly, a third QB will be added to the fold in some capacity, whether that be by practice squad or the active roster itself. Sam Bradford will lead the troops into battle on September 14th, while Sanchez is delegated to strict backup duties. Any other quarterback that is added at this point will be an emergency option who will likely have very little bearing on the outcome of the season. Earlier today the Eagles claimed Stephen Morris who will serve as a developmental option that could eventually be the team’s primary back-up in a few years.

Running back: DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews, Darren Sproles, Kenjon Barner (4)

As expected, Murray, Mathews and Sproles are all here to stay and will be an integral part of a run-centric attack. The surprise here is undoubtedly the presence of Kenjon Barner who many –including myself– would’ve been hard-pressed to envision making the roster 2 months ago. Yet, Barner dazzled in the preseason and earned his roster spot the old fashioned way. While I’d expect Barner to be inactive on game-days he would be called upon in the event of an injury, given the way the team hopes to rotate its ‘backs. As Chip Kelly said, Barner can contribute as a runner, receiver, and special teams option, so he could fulfill a potentially valuable role somewhere down the line. UDFA Raheem Mostert will likely be brought back on the practice squad as a developmental project.

Wide receiver: Jordan Matthews, Nelson Agholor, Josh Huff, Riley Cooper, Miles Austin, Seyi Ajirotutu (6)

No real surprises here. Jordan Matthews, Nelson Agholor, and (most likely) Josh Huff all figure to be central to the Eagles’ passing game and should see the bulk of the targets this season. Riley Cooper will again contribute on special teams, and likely see significant snaps early in the season while the staff breaks-in Agholor. Miles Austin will be a spot player and possible contribute on coverage/return units, while Ajirotutu is a ‘teams ace. Rasheed Bailey will likely catch on the practice squad if he’s not claimed by another team off waivers –which is a possibility.

Tight end: Zach Ertz, Brent Celek, Trey Burton (3)

Again, this is a position group with no real surprises. The staff should be looking to phase Celek out of the passing game, accommodating the skills of Zach Ertz, however, Ertz’s untimely camp injury will likely stunt his growth and limit his stage early in the season. Meanwhile, Celek will be used primarily as a blocker, helping to pave the way for one of the NFL’s most potent rushing attacks. My guess is Burton will take over a quasi-James Casey role, serving as a special teams ace and contributing as a move tight end on offense (albeit in a larger capacity than Casey himself). Look for Burton to be involved a decent bit early on while Zach Ertz is on the mend. Eric Tomlinson is the only player that was ever expected to potentially push for a roster spot, but he quickly faded into obscurity after a solid debut against the Colts.

Offensive Linemen: Jason Peters, Lane Johnson, Allen Barbre, Andrew Gardner, Jason Kelce, Matt Tobin, Dennis Kelly, David Molk, Josh Andrews (9)

There has been a ton of talk as to how the Eagles offensive line might shake-out, and finally, here we are. Jason Peters will reassume the left side and continue to assert himself as one of the preeminent tackles of the decade. The budding star Lane Johnson, along with the aforementioned Peters, will come together to form one of the premier tackle combinations in football. Meanwhile, Jason Kelce returns to continue his pro-bowl-caliber play. The much less heralded duo of Allen Barbre and Andrew Gardner will man the interior guard positions, filling in the gaps of an otherwise star-studded unit. Matt Tobin, Dennis Kelly, David Molk, and –the surprise player, fresh off his 2014 practice squad stint– Josh Andrews, will man the reserve positions.

Some thought that Malcolm Bunche, Brett Boyko, or John Moffit had a chance of sticking at final-cuts, however, neither Bunche nor Boyko showed that they were above stashing on the practice squad, and Moffit –despite a great story, and admirable effort– showed poorly in the games, and failed to distinguish himself. The Eagles offensive line group moves into the regular season as one of the most talented units in professional football, however, the depth could prove to be an issue in the event of an injury to one of the starting 5.

Next: Defense