Five Philadelphia Eagles that need to make strong statements during training camp and in the preseason

Nakobe Dean, Linebacker

Ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft, Nakobe Dean was someone many viewed as a potential first-round talent. Instead, he slipped to the Eagles at the 83rd overall selection during the third round, Dean wound up behind Kyzir White and T.J. Edwards on the depth chart last year. This time around, he's the starter.

He appeared in all 17 games of the 2022 regular season. He finished with just 13 total tackles and one tackle for loss.

White and Edwards have moved on by way of free agency. That, again, leaves Dean with the keys. He played primarily in a weak outside linebacker role at Georgia. He produced 168 total tackles, 13.5 TFLs, 7.5 sacks, seven passes defended, and two interceptions as a result.

He's a prime candidate to break out in 2023 for the Eagles. Stringing together some solid training camp showings will be key, especially during the joint sessions versus outside competition, because we won't see him in any preseason games.

Tanner McKee, Quarterback

It may be interesting to see a quarterback on this list with Jalen Hurts being the $255 million man under center for the foreseeable future in Philadelphia. Still, 2023 sixth-round pick Tanner McKee will need to outduel Ian Book in training camp and during the preseason in order to secure the third and final quarterback job on the Eagles' 53-man roster (if Philly does indeed keep three QBs).

Standing at six-foot-six and weighing 231 pounds, McKee possesses similar physical traits to Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles. Tanner threw for over 5,200 yards as a starter in his two seasons with the Stanford Cardinal and posted a career passer rating of 131.5 at the NCAA level. We will likely see a lot of McKee and Book in the preseason.