2 Eagles players on the roster bubble at every position

Is it just us, or did April fly by? Something tells us we'll write the same tale about May. The Philadelphia Eagles closed the book on rookie minicamp. Training camp will be here before you know it.

At the time of this story's release, we await the announcement of the NFL's schedule. We know who Philly will play (and where the first game will be), but no one has been told of dates and times with a few minor exceptions.

So, far we like what we're seeing. For the most part, we have identified the starters and the other guys who are members of the top half of Philly's depth chart. There are only 53 spots on a regular-season roster though. This team will be trimmed down from the 90 men hanging around during the preseason.

Roster construction can sometimes be a numbers game. Once we pieced together our mock 53, we identified the starters and the reserves we felt were safe. With those boxes checked, identifying potential bubble guys was easy.

A pair of Eagles who could be on the outside looking in come decision time...

Roster cuts can come down to a numbers game sometimes. That won't apply to the specialists, Jake Elliott (kicker), Braden Mann (punter), and Rick Lovato (long snapper) will all have nothing to worry about.

Everyone on this list can play. They have all proved that they can be contributors somewhere. Our only questions are about whether they'll be asked to contribute in Philly.

Quarterback - Tanner McKee and Will Grier

Jalen Hurts and Kenny Pickett will most certainly make the roster. We'll placeTanner McKee on this list simply because we're naming two guys at every position who might be in jeopardy, but we're relatively certain that he should be fine.

Will Grier is the odd man out here. He's here because Philly and most NFL teams carry four players through training camp and the preseason.

Still, once the smoke clears and the dust settles, we're 99 percent certain the three guys on the depth chart will be Hurts, Pickett, and McKee.

Running Back - Lew Nichols and Tyrion Davis-Price

Lew Nichols and Tyrion Davis-Price have UDFA Kendall Milton behind them on the running backs depth chart. All three are staring up at Saquon Barkley, Kenneth Gainwell, and Will Shipley.

The question here is about whether Philly will keep three or four players at the position. Three seems like a good number, and if that is the decision, we may already be approaching gridlock.

Wide Receiver - Britain Covey and Joseph Ngata

Britain Covey had a phenomenal season as a returner the last time we saw him, but he's also a wide receiver. Philly is relatively stacked at the position as is. Joseph Ngata's chances seemed to have lessened since we closed the book on the NFL Draft.

Let's say Philly keeps six wideouts. We know A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith occupy two spots. There are also the draftees (Ainias Smith and Johnny Wilson). Oh, look! Smith is a very talented punt returner.

We figure DeVante Parker would make the team, and if we were forced to announce an initial 53-man roster today, we'd add Campbell over Covey and Ngata, but again we've been wrong before. The battle at wide receiver will most certainly be intriguing.

Tight End - Albert Okwuegbunam Jr. and Grant Calcaterra

Dallas Goedert will make the team, and unless we missed something, C.J. Uzomah is better than Albert Okwuegbunam Jr. and Grant Calcaterra. Philly got nothing from the latter two last season, and both had opportunities to seize the opportunity when Goedert was injured.

Philly added a UDFA, McCallan Castles, who makes plays after the catch better than both. Yeah, we know Albert O. signed that one-year deal. We know Grant's rookie deal hasn't expired, but oh boy! Neither of those guys are promised anything.

Offensive Line - Brett Toth and Dylan McMahon

Yep! Brett Toth is one of the more experienced players on the roster. Dylan McMahon was recently drafted. Still, Toth continues to tumble down the depth chart, and McMahon was the ninth player taken in a nine-man draft class.

Both seem to have the ability, but the Eagles have a lot of good O-linemen now, especially after drafting Trevor Keegan and adding Matt Hennessy and Mekhi Becton via free agency. Toth and McMahon could fall victim to a game of numbers.

Edge Rusher - Tarron Jackson and Julian Okwara

The Eagles drafted Nolan Smith in the first round during the 2023 NFL Draft. Brandon Graham is back for his 15th and final season. Josh Sweat is also still on the roster.

Philly added Bryce Huff and Zack Baun in free agency. They drafted Jalyx Hunt, and believe it or not, Patrick Johnson, who the coaches love, is still hanging around. Tarron Jackson and Julian Okwara have a tough hill to climb if they're going to make the roster.

Interior Defensive Linemen - P.J. Mustipher and Thomas Booker IV

The announcement that the Eagles were adding P.J. Mustipher came on March 19th. Thomas Booker was signed to a futures deal in January after spending the 2023 season on Philly's practice squad. We don't see any scenarios where either player makes the roster.

Just look at the names of the guys ahead of them on the depth chart: Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Milton Williams, Marlon Tuipulotu, and Moro Ojomo. That makes the climb tougher. Philly also signed UDFA Gabe Hall on May 3rd. There are some good interior defensive linemen on this team, and Philly can't keep all of them.

Interior Linebackers - Ben VanSumeren and Oren Burks

Philly could keep more than three interior linebackers, but Devin White, Nakobe Dean, and rookie Jeremiah Trotter Jr. are all making this roster. Ben VanSumeren, Oren Burks, and the lesser-mentioned Brandon Smith all have a lot to think about.

Cornerbacks - Josh Jobe and Eli Ricks

The numbers game isn't an exact science, but it is helpful when conversations about roster construction begin. Philly probably keeps six cornerbacks, right? Let's execute a quick roll call.

James Bradberry could be a post-June 1st cut. That would prevent Philly from needing to swallow all of his $15.1 million cap hit at once. Josh Jobe and Eli Ricks' chances of making this team still seem slimmer than they were before the draft.

Perhaps you have heard. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean were drafted in rounds one and two of the 2024 NFL Draft respectively. Darius Slay will make the team. Kelee Ringo and Avonte Maddox are probably also safe.

That means Ricks and Jobe are competing with Isaiah Rodgers, Zech McPhearson, Tyler Hall, and Mario Goodrich for one roster spot if our math is correct. Let's say Philly opens up another roster spot to keep seven guys. It would still feel like McPhearson and Rodgers have the edge over Jobe and Ricks, correct?

Safeties - Tristin McCollum and Mekhi Garner?

Throw Mekhi Garner's name in here as well. He's listed as a corner on Philly's preseason roster, butThe Philly Voice's Jimmy Kempski listed him as a safety during his 53-man roster projection which is interesting because that might be an easier position for him to play (and the easiest path for Garner to make the roster).

It's still hard to imagine scenarios where he'd make the team. Sydney Brown is out of the walking boot and vows to be ready to play by the time we reach the regular season. C.J. Gardner-Johnson will be around. So will Reed Blankenship.

The next man up appears to be Tristin McCollum because he played meaningful snaps while other guys were injured, but you never know. We'll place his name here for now and assume he's safe.

Philly signed undrafted rookie free agent Andre' Sam shortly after the draft, but he'll have a tough hill to climb to make the roster as this unit appears to already be set.