Normally around this time every summer I release my 53-man roster prediction based on watching spring practices.
This year, some of my decisions are because the NFL didn’t have spring practices.
The good news is that even though there won’t be preseason games, we’re still expected to have several weeks of training camp practices to help form the next prediction.
But here’s what I have for now:
QB (3): Carson Wentz, Nate Sudfeld, Jalen Hurts
These three aren’t going to change. The Eagles will go into the season with a depth chart that looks like this and there’s no room for that to change. That means Kyle Lauletta will be cut but he might end up on the practice squad again.
RB (4): Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, Corey Clement, Elijah Holyfield
NFL
I think the top two are locks. Sanders is the starter and Scott did enough last year to earn a roster spot and a role in the offense. After that, there are questions. The Eagles showed interest in bringing in a vet but they haven’t done it. So that leaves Clement, Holyfield, Mike Warren and Adrian Killins Jr. to compete for two roster spots. I really like Warren and think he’ll compete with Holyfield for that last roster spot but Holyfield has an advantage because he’s been with the Birds since late last season. In this weird offseason, that might be enough.
WR (6): DeSean Jackson, Jalen Reagor, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Greg Ward, Marquise Goodwin, John Hightower
I have serious doubts that Alshon Jeffery will be ready for the season as he recovers from Lisfranc surgery, so I’m keeping him on PUP for now. Even without Jeffery, there’s a numbers crunch here and I have 6th-round pick Quez Watkins as the odd man out. He’ll compete with Hightower, a 5th-round pick, for a roster spot. Goodwin isn’t a lock either, but I like the idea of keeping him around for some DeSean insurance. Could the Eagles decide to keep both rookies and cut Goodwin? Sure. But not having a normal offseason might make that tougher.
TE (3): Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert, Josh Perkins
Ertz and Goedert are obvious locks but who’s the next guy? And will the Eagles even keep three tight ends? If they do keep three — and with how much they run 12 personnel, they probably should — it’ll probably be Perkins. While he’s more of a hybrid tight end/receiver, the Eagles already cut Alex Ellis and the only other tight end on the roster is undrafted rookie Noah Togiai. It’s a tough year to project UDFAs to make the team.
OL (10): Andre Dillard, Isaac Seumalo, Jason Kelce, Jason Peters, Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, Matt Pryor, Prince Tega Wanogho, Jack Driscoll, Nate Herbig
This is going pretty heavy on OL, even after Brandon Brooks went down for the season with a torn Achilles. Tega Wanogho might be a candidate for IR too, so keep that in mind. But I have them keeping 10 to keep Herbig on the roster but he’s firmly on the bubble after spending all of his rookie season on the roster. If the Eagles keep nine, he’s in trouble.
DE (5): Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, Josh Sweat, Genard Avery, Shareef Miller
In my last 53-man prediction, I had Vinny Curry back on the team. He’s still on the market so that’s a possibility but it hasn’t happened yet, so I’ll take him off the roster for this one. Late-round draft pick Casey Toohill will be fighting for a job during training camp, but I have him off the initial roster.
DT (4): Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, Malik Jackson, Hassan Ridgeway
I feel pretty confident in these four. If the Eagles elect to keep a fifth DT, Anthony Rush is the obvious choice. He’s an enormous human and was the best of the replacement players at the position last year.
LB (5): Nathan Gerry, T.J. Edwards, Duke Riley, Davion Taylor, Shaun Bradley
Tough position to figure out. I think Gerry and Edwards are the top two linebackers, followed by Riley because he at least spent last year in the defense. The real wild card is Jatavis Brown, who had a great start to his career but has struggled recently. I think he might be a victim of the numbers here. Taylor obviously isn’t going anywhere as a third-round pick and Bradley can at least help on special teams.
CB (6): Darius Slay, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Avonte Maddox, Sidney Jones, Rasul Douglas, Cre’Von LeBlanc
This means Craig James doesn’t make the cut even though he played pretty well on special teams last season. Even though Douglas took a pay cut, I don’t think he’s a lock to make the roster. But given how many injuries the Eagles have had at CB over the last few years, having a backup with significant experience is worth it.
S (4): Rodney McLeod, Jalen Mills, Will Parks, K’Von Wallace
I feel really confident in these four but keep an eye on undrafted safety Grayland Arnold from Baylor. It’s a tough year for an undrafted rookie to make a roster but the Eagles really seem to like him. Every single time they mention the UDFA class, they lead with his name.
ST (3): Jake Elliott, Cameron Johnston, Rick Lovato
This is in stone.
PUP: Daeshon Hall, Alshon Jeffery
IR: Brandon Brooks
Practice squad (12 + international exemption): Kyle Lauletta, Quez Watkins, Deontay Burnett, Casey Toohill, Sua Opeta, Luke Juriga, Noah Togiai, Grayland Arnold, Alex Singleton, Tremon Smith, Joe Ostman, Adrian Killins Jr., Matt Leo
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