5 Philadelphia Eagles veterans who may get leapfrogged by rookies
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, tight end. . player. 54. . .
Despite the position switch, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside’s time in Eagles green could be nearing its end.
The Eagles brass has been known to venture towards the area of being stubborn time and time again. Sometimes, it appears that they’re more concerned with being right than being good. How else does one quantify Derek Barnett, Andre Dillard, and Jalen Reagor still being on the team when they could have been traded many moons ago for someone that would provide the roster with value?
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside probably wasn’t going to make this team as a wide receiver, so he added some body mass and made the transition to tight end. Unfortunately for JJAW, that may not guarantee him a spot either.
Let’s say the Eagles walk into the 2022-2023 regular season with three tight ends, a very real possibility. We know Dallas Goedert is making the team. We can also argue that Jack Stoll is the second-best tight end on the roster, and if this conversation is about ‘The Enforcer’ and his prowess as a blocker, Stoll may have the edge on JJAW there too.
That means five guys (Arcega-Whiteside, Tyree Jackson, Richard Rodgers, Noah Togiai, and Grant Calcaterra) are all in a battle for one roster spot, and when the rubber meets the road, Calcaterra is the best of that bunch if he’s passed the health concerns and the concussions are behind him.
Don’t be shocked if it’s the sixth-rounder that makes this team over Jackson, Rodgers, Togiai, and Arcega-Whiteside, if he’s fine medically, he’s going to surprise some people.