Popular undrafted rookies who still may not make the Eagles 53-man roster

They didn't snap the Baltimore Ravens' preseason unbeaten streak, but the Philadelphia Eagles have given us much to talk about. Their first on-field test versus foreign competition placed a battery in the back of some of the young guys.

Jalen Carter became a sensation overnight and reminded everyone of why many thought he'd be the first player taken during the 2023 NFL Draft. Tanner Mckee played well. Philly turned some heads as both veterans and new faces found their way onto the stat sheet.

Two joint practices versus the Cleveland Browns are in the books, and now, they battle in another preseason tilt on Thursday. A final game will follow one week later on August 24th. Opportunities are minimal. Hopefuls must make the most of theirs. The guys on the back half of the depth chart had better make some noise and soon.

The undrafted rookies on the Eagles' roster have made a name for themselves, but will they make the roster? It won't be an easy climb.

The Eagles features some of the better undrafted rookies we have seen. Last year, we saw four UDFAs make the roster (Reed Blankenship, Josh Jobe, Josh Sills, and Britain Covey). That probably isn't going to happen in 2023. Don't count the guys on this list out yet, but don't be shocked if they're among the tough cuts either.

1. Eli Ricks, cornerback

Eli Ricks had a nice game on Saturday night. Sure, he was battling guys who may not make the Ravens' roster either, but a pick-six at the NFL level is impressive regardless of how you slice it. Don't look now, but he may be ahead of guys like Greedy Williams on the depth chart... at least in the court of public opinion.

Ricks has done what his fellow former LSU Tiger hasn't, make plays when he's in the spotlight. While that may not earn him a roster spot, we can agree that he'll be one of the tough cuts if Philly moves on.

2. Mekhi Garner, cornerback

Mekhi Garner is a six-foot-two, 212-pound defensive back who, like Eli Ricks, is one of three former LSU Tigers on the current roster. He impressed early with his physical play and seems like a nice fit for Sean Desai's 'big nickel' scheme. Unfortunately for him, he's competing for a spot at the cornerback position that may be approaching gridlock.

3. Jospeh Ngata, wide receiver

Joseph Ngata has a bit of a fan club. That's partially due to his pedigree (you have probably learned that Clemson has a knack for producing NFL wide receivers). He has also helped himself by making the most of his opportunities during training camp.

The first preseason game was a mixed bag. In short, he looked like... well... a rookie. Making that catch in the back of the end zone may have helped his case some, but instead, he appears to have a tough hill to climb if he's going to make the roster.

4. Jadon Haselwood, wide receiver

Jadon Haselwood may not have commanded the fanfare of some of his teammates/competition on the wide receivers depth chart, but he has had a nice camp and improved his standing with some nice catches in the preseason game.

Time is ticking. The regular season will be here before you know it. Opportunities are limited, but it appears that, at best, all roads here lead to the practice squad at best.

5. Ty Zenyner, punter

The man formerly known as 'Legatron' made a name for himself as a Kansas State Wildcats star. He excelled as both a punter and kicker. Unfortunately, the buzz hasn't followed him to the NFL.

Currently, he seems to be losing the battle with Arryn Siposs which isn't encouraging. From the looks of things, the man who might wind up on the Eagles' 53-man roster as their punter isn't on the roster yet. Stay tuned.

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