There’s one month to go until the Philadelphia Eagles’ 90-man roster must be pared to 53 on Aug. 30. Between now and then, the coaches have four weeks of practices and three preseason games to evaluate.
After two practice sessions and a glimpse at the early-summer depth chart, The Athletic’s Zach Berman and Brooks Kubena offer their first 53-man roster projections. Look for more projections as training camp and the preseason continue throughout August.
Quarterbacks
Kubena (3): Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, Andy Dalton
After watching two days of Cole Payton, I do not think the Eagles can afford to trade McKee in training camp — unless they acquire another reliable veteran. It is early, but so far, Payton is living down to the weaknesses in his scouting report. He threw three interceptions in Thursday’s practice. He is off target, unbalanced and indecisive. The Eagles could sign him to the practice squad to develop more.
Berman (3): Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, Cole Payton
I see a realistic pathway for Payton to make the roster because my guess is the Eagles will trade Tanner McKee or Andy Dalton. It doesn’t make sense to keep three veterans. There are too many teams that could use a backup quarterback, and my guess is Dalton will have trade value next month.
Who will replace A.J. Brown as the Eagles’ top receiver?
Zach Berman
Running backs
Kubena (4): Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley, Dameon Pierce
Bigsby’s gashing touchdown run in Thursday’s practice provided more evidence he can be an explosive complement to Barkley. I would be surprised if any other back gets more than 30 touches this season. But Shipley’s pass-catching ability makes him a good fit in an emergency, and Elijah Mitchell thrived in this system during his rookie year in San Francisco. Pierce might not be a fit. He had early success with the Houston Texans, but his touches diminished over the years as the franchise shifted toward more zone concepts. Sean Mannion could leverage Pierce’s 5-foot-10, 215-pound build to create the H-back looks not filled by his tight ends.
Berman (3): Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley
Watch out for Bigsby as a contributing player for the Eagles — not just a Barkley insurance plan — and Shipley will be the No. 3 running back and a contributing player on special teams. I like Pierce and Mitchell, but a fourth running back might be a luxury and better as an early-season practice squad option.
Wide receivers
Kubena (6): DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore, Makai Lemon, Johnny Wilson
I expect the Eagles to roster more wide receivers this year. Part of that is mathematical. Smith and A.J. Brown combined for 234 targets last year, and the former is the only receiver remaining whose present capacity warrants more than 100 targets. Roseman also views this unit as a “basketball squad.” Some of their roles are unique. Many are interchangeable. Wilson’s 6-6, 228-pound frame makes him a tough cut because he is a difficult matchup and adds blocking in the run game.
Berman (5): DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Makai Lemon, Hollywood Brown, Johnny Wilson
I don’t see the Eagles going deep here for the sake of it. I wanted to keep Darius Cooper, but that “dirty work” receiver could come down to Cooper vs. Wilson. This will be a summer competition. Elijah Moore is intriguing, although my guess is Brown or Moore for one roster spot. Perhaps the Eagles will go deeper — Brooks’ reasoning is sound — but I have them going with more numbers at tight end and on the offensive line.
Tight ends
Kubena (3): Dallas Goedert, Johnny Mundt, Eli Stowers
Goedert still represents this room’s most dangerous target — so long as the 31-year-old remains healthy. The Eagles spent a second-round pick on Goedert’s presumed successor, Stowers, who is a proficient pass-catcher but still needs to adjust to blocking NFL-caliber defenders. That latter half is what Mundt is for. Grant Calcaterra struggled as a blocker last season, and the one-year, $2 million contract he signed in the offseason offers little to no security. I would expect to see Jenkins and Latu on the practice squad again.
Berman: (4): Dallas Goedert, Johnny Mundt, Eli Stowers, Cameron Latu
I think the Eagles will roster a “fullback” in their new offense, and Latu makes sense as a fullback/tight end/special teams hybrid. Otherwise, same logic as Brooks — Goedert is the top tight end, Stowers is the pass-catching reserve, and Mundt is the blocking reserve.
Offensive line
Kubena (9): Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, Markel Bell, Fred Johnson, Cam Jurgens, Landon Dickerson, Tyler Steen, Myles Hinton, Drew Kendall
The swing tackle battle is still in … full swing between Bell and Fred Johnson. But given Philadelphia’s third-round investment in Bell, the odds are stacked against Fred Johnson. Hinton, a sixth-round pick in 2025, continues to see reps at second-team left guard. Kendall is getting second-team reps at guard, too. I have not seen Kendall take snaps at center yet in training camp, but the Eagles know from his days at Boston College he can play the position.
Berman (10): Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Lane Johnson, Fred Johnson, Markel Bell, Drew Kendall, Myles Hinton, Micah Morris
I have the Eagles going deeper on the offensive line to develop their young linemen. Morris, a sixth-round pick who plays on the interior, makes sense to keep. Cameron Williams left practice early Thursday; it’ll be interesting to monitor his status. I was debating between Williams and Hinton before the injury and leaned toward Hinton because of position flexibility. Perhaps the Eagles will keep Michael Jordan because of his starting experience. What about Willie Lampkin, a player who intrigued the front office when it claimed him off waivers last summer?
Defensive line
Kubena (6): Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Gabe Hall, Byron Young, Ty Robinson
Nothing will have changed on the defensive line — and that’s a good thing for the Eagles. Bernard is still very raw in training camp. Fangio said Uar Bernard is on the “P.P.” plan: “Patience and persistence.” The Eagles will have to waive Bernard because of the seventh-round pick’s draft status, but it would be somewhat surprising to see another team try to poach a player who just put shoulder pads on for the first time. The Eagles are invested in developing Bernard, and the NFL allows teams a 17th practice-squad player if they are part of the International Player Pathway program.
Berman (6): Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Byron Young, Ty Robinson, Uar Bernard
Perhaps Bernard might suffer an injury in the summer that would allow the Eagles to stash him on injured reserve. Short of IR, I’ll project him for the initial 53-man roster with the Eagles committed to his development. They could put him on the practice squad as an international player, although I’m curious whether another team would claim him off waivers and keep him on its 53-man roster and build its own development plan.
Edge rushers
Kubena (5): Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, Arnold Ebiketie, A.J. Epenesa
The Eagles do not expect Greenard’s pectoral strain to be a long-term injury. Greenard’s Week 1 start remains a goal. Fangio said he will “miss a good bit of camp.” If it’s a longer recovery, the Eagles can use Greenard’s roster spot for someone else by keeping Greenard on the physically unable to perform list entering the regular season. But then, Greenard must miss at least four games. Ebiketie, who totaled 16.5 sacks in four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, is consistently second in the rotation in training camp. Fangio has been complimentary of Epenesa, who intercepted Payton in Thursday’s practice.
Berman (5): Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, Arnold Ebiketie, A.J. Epenesa
No disagreements here. The wild card to watch is Brandon Graham. If the Eagles bring Graham back for a 17th season — and he’s expressed an interest in participating in training camp — they’ll either go deeper at edge rusher or need to decide with Epenesa.
Linebackers
Kubena (5): Zack Baun, Jihaad Campbell, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Smael Mondon Jr., Chance Campbell
Baun and Jihaad Campbell will never leave the field so long as they are healthy. Trotter has been a capable backup and has totaled 627 special teams snaps in two seasons. Mondon saw little defensive action during his rookie year last season, but, like Trotter, he became a regular on special teams. Chance Campbell earned a reputation on the practice squad last year, and his interception Thursday underscores a quiet production that might yield a roster spot.
Berman (5): Zack Baun, Jihaad Campbell, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Smael Mondon Jr., Chance Campbell
Chance Campbell might be a luxury pick, but I can see him as a potential special teams contributor. The Eagles could live with four at this spot, though, and I might be compelled to go with an extra cornerback or wide receiver rather than a fifth linebacker who could clear waivers. My guess is Chance Campbell has a strong preseason and forces the issue.
Cornerbacks
Kubena (5): Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Riq Woolen, Mac McWilliams, Jakorian Bennett
The Eagles have a definitive CB2 in Riq Woolen. Mac McWilliams and Jakorian Bennett are young cornerbacks who can build on their defensive experience to be capable in emergency situations while serving on special teams. In a red-alert scenario, the Eagles could also move DeJean to outside cornerback and move Michael Carter II to nickel.
Berman (5): Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Riq Woolen, Jonathan Jones, Kelee Ringo
We have a few disagreements here, though none I feel so strongly about at this point. Jones gets the nod for his experience and versatility. Ringo earns a roster spot as a special teams contributor, although he’s also a trade candidate. I like Bennett, but he could never seem to push his way up the depth chart last season. McWilliams was a fifth-rounder a year ago and can play inside and outside. I haven’t seen enough to go in that direction yet.
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean could see time at safety this season. (Bill Streicher / Imagn Images)
Safeties
Kubena (4): Drew Mukuba, Marcus Epps, Michael Carter II, J.T. Gray
Epps appears to have a slight edge over Carter so far for the starting job next to Mukuba, but Carter would still have a role in dime packages. Gray was a three-time All-Pro selection on special teams across seven seasons with the New Orleans Saints. Flexibility affords the Eagles here in emergency scenarios. McWilliams can play dime packages if Carter is at safety. DeJean will play safety in base packages and therefore can also play safety in red-alert scenarios.
Berman (4): Drew Mukuba, Marcus Epps, Michael Carter II, Cole Wisniewski
Am I able to put Player to be Acquired Later? This is a spot where I can see Howie Roseman seeking an upgrade. Gray is a career special teams contributor, but are the Eagles going to guarantee his salary for being on the active roster in Week 1? That’s why I leaned toward Wisniewski, who can develop at a position without developmental depth.
Specialists
Kubena (3): Jake Elliott, Braden Mann, Rocco Underwood
There are no other specialists on the roster. Underwood, an undrafted free agent from Florida, is the new kid in town. Elliott, 31, and Mann, 28, are entering their fourth season together. Elliott’s 74.1 field goal percentage last season was the second lowest of his career. The four-year, $24 million contract he signed in 2024 no longer carries a consequential cap hit if he is cut during the regular season.
Berman (3): Jake Elliott, Braden Mann, Rocco Underwood
Underwood’s spot is not entrenched; the Eagles could seek an external upgrade. He’ll get a chance to earn the job. Elliott and Mann are locks.
