Eagles who should be cut regardless of what happens in Week 3 preseason game

There's one preseason game left. It's all about tying those loose ends together for this Philadelphia Eagles franchise. Most of the roster is set, but there are a few jobs that can be won. One final exhibition, one at Lincoln Financial Field could answer many of our questions.

It seems unlikely that someone has a performance in them that is so otherworldly and amazing that it will catapult them onto the 53-man roster. You never know though. A bone-rushing tackle by Reed Blankenship once endeared him to this coaching staff. We could go on and on about so many guys who used these games to earn a job.

Maybe there's a Corey Clement in the bunch. Perhaps we'll find a T.J. Edwards, but guys are running out of chances. Philly must use wisdom though. They also can't make the mistake of allowing a great night to force them into regrettable decisions.

There are some guys this team must move away from despite emotional attachments. Here are a few. There are more, but these are the guys who come to mind.

James Bradberry, defensive back

While we love him as a professional, James Bradberry simply doesn't have the juice anymore. We have discussed this in detail. Nothing has happened to change our minds. His continued employment with this Eagles organization prevents someone more deserving of a roster spot to own one.

We told ourselves 'he normally follows a bad year with a good one' and 'if a former All-Pro is a reserve safety, that speaks to Philly's depth', but the facts are the facts. He has detriorated. He's a liability in coverage, and if the Eagles keep him on the roster, he will give up big plays that will help decide a few games.

Ainias Smith, wide receiver

Ainias Smith got off to a slow start, and that may ultimately lead to his undoing come final roster cuts. He was taken 33 spots ahead of Johnny Wilson, and the latter is simply a better player. Plus, Wilson already has an obvious chemistry with Jalen Hurts. Something we have yet to see with Ainias.

Credit the Eagles coaching staff for drawing up a play for him that led to a successful two-point conversion. It may be too little too late though. It feels like Philly will keep six wide receivers on the 53-man roster. A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Johnny Wilson, Parris Campbell, Britain Covey, and newly-acquired Jahan Dotson feel like roster locks. That means Smith is competing with five guys who are trying to leapfrog anyone, and at this stage of their careers, John Ross, Joseph Ngata, Jacob Harris, Austin Watkins, and Griffin Hebert are all slightly better than him.

Tarron Jackson, EDGE

The Eagles have given Tarron Jackson plenty of opportunities. They have been more patient that normal, yet his workload and the confidence shown in him has decreased with each passing season.

The 253 defensive snaps and 86 special teams snaps he played as a rookie in 2021 dwindled to 27 and 13 snaps respectively in 2022. Last season, he was relegated to the Eagles practice squad.

Philly's EDGE rotation is pretty much set as Bryce Huff, Josh Sweat, Nolan Smith, Brandon Graham, and Jalyx Hunt will all make this team. Maybe they keep six edge rushers. It stands to reason that they won't because they may also keep five interior defensive linemen. , but if they keep six pass rushers, the sixth should be Patrick Johnson. He's simply a better player than Tarron Jackson.

Every tight end not named Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcaterra, or E.J. Jenkins

Dallas Goedert and Grant Calcaterra were never in danger of being released. We've known that for a while, and after some study and deliberation, we have finally seen enough. E.J. Jenkins is this team's third best tight end.

C.J. Uzomah is already gone. Kevin Foelsch and Armani Rogers have uphill climbs. We have no idea why Albert Okwuegbunam is on the roster.

While they are all good players in their own right, sometimes, the numbers game is too much to overcome. Philly just had guys playing the same position who were simply, in one word, better.

Worth mentioning: Zech McPhearson, Eli Ricks, and Josh Jobe

All of these guys aren't going to make the 53-man roster, but that's only part of what makes their story intriguing. Unless you're counting Avonte Maddox as a safety, it feels like if even one of the aforementioned was to survive final cuts, they'd do so because the Eagles elected to keep seven cornerbacks.

Maddox and Bradberry are listed as CBs on the Eagles official roster. Bradberry is listed as a safety on their depth chart. Ricks, Maddox, and Jobe can all ball. Philly is going to wind up cutting some good corners though, and drafting Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean may have made all of these guys expendable.