All Around Depth? Three Positions the Eagles Went All-In On
The Eagles have gone all out this off-season in acquiring talent for nearly every position on the team.
They’ve loaded up QB depth in case of emergency and successfully drafted to set themselves up for years to come.
Even with all the acquisitions in the last few months.
There are still a handful of positions that may not have a conclusive answer this far from the 53-man roster deadline on August 29th.
Many of these players will get opportunities in Training Camp and in the Preseason to cement themselves on the roster as the Eagles look to bounce back from their disastrous end to the 2023 season.
Receivers Galore
Last season, the Eagles began the year with only four receivers on the active roster: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Quez Watkins. The Eagles added Julio Jones prior to their Week 7 game.
This year, the Eagles brought back their 1,000-yard duo with contract extensions and signed Parris Campbell and John Ross in free agency. They also drafted two wide receivers, Johnny Wilson and Ainias Smith.
With the assumption that Campbell will play the WR3 role, with a career-high 623 yards in 2022 with the Colts. There’s still an open availability for WR4.
The Eagles have brought in plenty of room for competition between the multiple draft picks and signings, but who will take the last spot? Watkins spent the majority of his rookie contract in a starting position. Will the Eagles have another 3rd day pick to make an immediate impact?
Starting Secondary?
As if the receivers weren’t given enough competition in the coming weeks, the secondary has a line that wraps around the block.
James Bradberry, Darius Slay, Avonte Maddox, Josh Jobe, Eli Ricks, Kelee Ringo, AND Zech McPhearson are all returning at the corner. Not only did the Eagles sign Isaiah Rodgers during his suspension last year, but he is available to play this season. But the Eagles also added Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the first 40 picks of this year’s draft. There’s most likely going to be someone on the way out before the season starts.
If the newly acquired players aren’t in a starting position, there may be some choices to make regarding some of the previously listed names. With the Eagles having made trades for late-round picks days before and after roster deadlines, anything could happen by then.
Something to note is that the Eagles list Cooper DeJean as a DB on their roster. Will the second-round pick have a more permanent position with Safeties Reed Blankenship, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Sydney Brown?
Offensive Line Scramble
Was there any real doubt about the Eagles changing things in the offensive line? As if the plan all along was to move Cam Jurgens to center, what position was he drafted to play? And put Tyler Steen into the right guard position. It was the one that he excelled in last season after the Eagles were without Jurgens and Johnson for multiple games.
The Eagles brought in plenty of depth signings for the offensive line, from Matt Hennessy to Mekhi Becton. They also added Trevor Keegan in the draft. Moving on from Jack Driscoll and Sua Opeta meant there needed to be answers to shore up an offensive line that’s had success from the depth coached by Jeff Stoutland.
While there may be room for a right guard starting job, it sounds like Steen might already be Stout’s fit for the role:
With solutions (for now) seemingly everywhere. Things will be sure to change once roster cuts are made and injuries begin to add up.
Will the Eagles need to make any more signings before the start of the regular season?
Or have they already found their starting rotations?
PHOTO: Reddit
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Categorized:Eagles