Philadelphia Eagles OTA Standouts Worth Keeping an Eye on This Offseason

The Philadelphia Eagles will have only their second practice of the offseason open to the media on Monday, but already some players are making headlines. In several cases, the players who are standing out already could be the ones to watch as OTAs extend into training camp.

As you'll see while going through the list, in many cases it's second- or third-year players who are really attracting attention as they continue to develop. Yet regardless of age or pedigree, these are the guys who all indications so far suggest you'll want to keep an eye on for the remainder of the offseason.

Nolan Carroll

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The Eagles solidified one of two starting cornerback spots with the free-agent addition of Byron Maxwell this offseason. The other side, however, is still very much up for grabs—and there just may be a new front-runner for the job.

Reuben Frank for CSNPhilly.com reports Nolan Carroll was running with the first-team defense at OTAs on Thursday. Not only that, but in his first press conference since the draft via PhiladelphiaEagles.com, head coach Chip Kelly went out of his way to mention that Carroll has been "unbelievable" in the weight room this offseason.

That being said, May might be a bit early to crown Carroll. After all, the Eagles did spend a second-round pick on Eric Rowe out of Utah. Like most every rookie in Philly, Rowe won't be handed a starting job. He'll have to earn his place at the top of the depth chart—but he's very much in the running.

Add in the fact that Carroll couldn't beat out Bradley "Burnt Toast" Fletcher for a starting job last season, and there's every reason to be skeptical of any meaning to these recent developments. Then again, it's never a bad thing when the head coach is singing your praises, so for now, Carroll is a name to watch.

Zach Ertz

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There's been a tremendous amount of buzz surrounding Zach Ertz ever since he was selected 35th overall in the 2013 draft. It seems Year 3 will be no different for the impressive young tight end.

Once again, one of the most asked questions in Philadelphia this offseason is whether Ertz is headed for a breakout year. In trying to take his game to the next level, Jeff McLane for the Philadelphia Inquirer notes that Ertz has been getting advice from NFL legends, including none other than Tony Gonzalez, the league's all-time leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns among tight ends.

Of course, Ertz already is one of the top receiving tight ends. As McLane writes, only Rob Gronkowski for the New England Patriots and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs had more yards per play in 2014.

The problem is that Brent Celek is still the far superior blocker, so he remains the Eagles starter, and Ertz largely gets on the field in passing situations. That's what he's hoping to change.

Celek may be the best option for now, but even Kelly had to acknowledge that Ertz could make a "big jump" in his third season. Last year, he finished with 58 catches for 702 yards and three touchdowns. If Ertz does improve upon his blocking, his production through the air finally might be too much for the Eagles to pass up.

Lane Johnson

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When Philadelphia's offensive line was struggling with absences in 2014 and was unable to clear running lanes for All-Pro back LeSean McCoy, Lane Johnson was the first starter to return. McCoy went from averaging 2.8 yards per carry in the month of September to 4.7 in October—with Pro Bowlers Evan Mathis and Jason Kelce still out of the lineup.

Johnson is already an exceptional run-blocker, and he's continuing to improve in pass protection. The fourth overall pick of the '13 draft is so close to not only being the total package, but a Pro Bowler in his own right—and he knows it.

Dave Spadaro for PhiladelphiaEagles.com reports Johnson has been putting himself through rigorous workouts this offseason, and the right tackle believes the effort has him on track to do something special.

"I think I'm getting close to being elite. Last year was a big stepping stone from my rookie year and I just have to be more aggressive and more violent going into Year 3."

For what it's worth, Pro Football Focus gave Johnson the 13th-highest cumulative grade among 84 tackles last season, so he might be closer to elite than people realize. If he takes the next step in 2015, it may be more than a trip to Honolulu for Johnson, but perhaps even All-Pro honors.

Josh Huff

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Unfortunately, Josh Huff's rookie season was marred by injury and untimely miscues. With only eight receptions all season, Huff's mistakes tend to be magnified in the eyes of many Eagles fans and some in the media.

Huff did some things well, too. He was a tenacious blocker. He set a franchise record for the longest play in team history with a 106-yard kick return touchdown. His 44-yard catch-and-run against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15 last season showed just how explosive a receiving threat he can be.

Now healthy, and with Jeremy Maclin out of the equation, the 2014 third-round pick has his eye on a bigger role in the offense—and this time he'll be prepared. Tim McManus for Philadelphia Magazine spoke in April to Rischad Whitfield, the "Footwork King" who trains NFL stars such as Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowlers Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown, and Whitfield was happy to report Huff has never been in better shape.

"Oh, god," said Whitfield. "He is shredded. Shredded. Weight-wise he is still around the same weight [between 200 and 207] but he is a lot more explosive."

For what it's worth, Jeff McLane for the Philadelphia Inquirer noted Huff and Riley Cooper were primarily working on the outside with the first-team offense at OTAs, although rookie Nelson Agholor figures to enter the mix sooner or later. That means Huff likely must outperform Cooper for playing time, but at least this time around he sounds ready.

Taylor Hart

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Even as fifth-round picks go, Taylor Hart's rookie season was disappointing. He did make the Eagles roster, which was a plus, yet did not dress for a single regular-season game in 2014.

Granted, Philadelphia has outstanding talent and depth along the defensive line, so it's not like Hart's lack of contribution was missed. Then again, teams don't go around reserving roster spots for guys who never wear their uniforms, either.

It seems maybe part of the problem was simply Hart needed to become functionally stronger to play at the next level. At least, that's what you can take from Jeff McLane's report that the defensive end has packed on nearly 25 pounds since he was drafted, going from 281 pounds to 305.

That alone doesn't mean Hart is suddenly a valuable player, but it's a good sign he's improving. At the very least, it should be much more difficult for opposing offensive linemen to push him out of the way.

Hart has an excellent shot to make the roster and actually play in 2015, assuming he demonstrates his improvements on the field this summer. Right now, there's no contact at OTAs, so it's impossible to judge where Hart is in his development, but the weight gain is a positive step in the right direction.