Eagles pre-training camp 53-man roster and practice squad projection

Another feather in our offseason caps... Another step in the journey...  The next time our Birds flock together, we'll be settled into July. What will we do until then? We'll talk about our Philadelphia Eagles until our faces are blue. The first mandatory minicamp of Nick Sirianni's era certainly gave us much to consider. We saw stock fluctuate with some of the players.

Guys distanced themselves from teammates/competition. Here's another shout out to Kelee Ringo and Isaiah Rodgers. It's efforts like theirs that really raise the eyebrows and make us ask if guys are playing themselves out of an opportunity. 

We're a long way from the introduction of the first 53-man roster, so while we wait, we'll try our hands at guessing. Here's how we see things shaking out. 

Quarterbacks (3):

Jalen Hurts (starter), Kenny Pickett, Tanner McKee

There are no surprises here. Everyone okay? Cool! Let's move on.

Running Backs (3)

Saquon Barkley (starter), Kenneth Gainwell, Will Shipley

Kenneth Gainwell and Will Shipley won't get the rock much unless Saquon Barkley suffers an unforeseen injury or Philly is up by a few scores late. Otherwise, expect to see a lot of 26. No one has any issue with that, right?

Wide Receiver (6)

Starters: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Parris Campbell

Reserves: Ainias Smith, Johnny Wilson, John Ross

Yep! Right now, he looks like a longshot to make the roster, but with a little more work and three preseason games to prove himself, we think John Ross gets it done.

We have no reason to believe he isn't better than Shaquan Davis, Jacob Harris, Joseph Ngata, and Austin Watkins.

Leaving Britain Covey off the roster does force Philly to find a punt returner though. Ainias Smith has struggled. Then again, we may want to table this discussion for a few.

Tight End (3)

Dallas Goedert (starter), C.J. Uzomah, Grant Calcaterra

Nick Sirianni mentioned Calcaterra by name at mandatory minicamp while discussing options for the offense with the media. He has looked impressive and his stock could be rising. Has he finally turned the corner?

Offensive Line (10)

Starters: Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Lane Johnson

Reserves: Mekhi Becton, Matt Hennessy, Dylan McMahon, Trevor Keegan, Fred Johnson

Keegan suffered a minor injury recently and was seemingly the third guard on Philly's depth chart when that happened, but he'll make the team. We'll throw fellow rookie Dylan McMahon into the mix.

Tyler Steen has seen a lot of action at the starting right guard position, and we think he'll stay during the regular season.

Edge Rushers (5)

Starters: Josh Sweat and Bryce Huff

Reserves: Brandon Graham, Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt

Interior Defensive Linemen (5)

Starters: Jalen Carter and Milton Williams (defensive tackles), Jordan Davis (NT/DT)

Reserves: Moro Ojomo, Marlon Tuipulotu

Fletcher Cox is gone. The Jalen Carter/Jordan Davis era begins. Will they be up to the challenge?

Interior Linebackers (4)

Starters: Devin White, Zack Baun

Reserves: Nakobe Dean and Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

We thought Philly would do as they did last season and give Nakobe Dean every opportunity to win a starting job, but Devin White is an Eagle now and Zack Baun is, in a word, better.

That has relegated Dean to the second-team defense.

Cornerbacks (7)

Starters: Darius Slay, Isaiah Rodgers, Avonte Maddox

Reserves: Kelee Ringo, Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Josh Jobe

We're assuming James Bradberry leaves at some point. Josh Jobe makes our list by virtue of being one of the team's top special teamers.

Safety (3)

Starters: Reed Blankenship, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson

Reserve: Sydney Brown

The Eagles have worked Avonte Maddox out at safety. In keeping with that theory, that and his knowledge of playing the slot corner position allows Philly to go light here at the position.

Specialists (4)

Jake Elliott (kicker), Rick Lovato (Long Snapper), Braden Mann (punter), Britain Covey punt returner

Welp. We decided we couldn't leave Britain Covey off of the roster after all. He's simply one of the game's best punt returners, and we don't trust Ainias Smith as much to do the job.

The rest of this list shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.

Initial practice squad (in a perfect world):

Don't expect all of these guys to clear waivers if cut. Truthfully, no one knows what the Eagles' scout team will look like, but just for kicks, here's a guess.

Laekin Vakalahi (International exemption)
Mekhi Garner, DB
Eli Ricks, CB
Josh Jobe, CB
Zech McPhearson, CB
Tarron Jackson, DE
Anim Dankwah, OL
Patrick Johnson, OLB
Kendall Milton, RB
Tristin McCollum, S
E.J. Jenkins, TE
Albert Okwuegbunam, TE
Brett Toth T/G
Joseph Ngata, WR
Ben VanSumeren, LB
Oren Burks, LB
PJ Mustipher, DT

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