Philadelphia Eagles Having the Best Training Camp, Ranked 1-80

While board-operating a Yankees game at my local ESPN radio affiliate, I had some downtime, so I decided to rank the 80 players in camp that I've watched every day.

(Note: This is how the players are performing at camp, not overall skill.)

1. WR Hank Baskett: The biggest receiver in camp went from undrafted two years ago to having a secure spot on the Eagles' roster. He is going to help fix the Eagles' red-zone problems.

Donovan McNabb talked to the media about how he wants to incorporate fades into the playbook. Baskett has caught everything thrown his way, especially along the sideline or end zone, where he can use his size to go get the ball.

Of all the veteran wide receivers, Hank Baskett is the player the young wide receivers go to for advice the most. That says a lot about the third-year wide receiver.

2. RB Lorenzo Booker: He's burst onto the scene at training camp. The Eagles got him for a draft pick from the Dolphins. He can really, really catch a ball out of the backfield and has great agility. On one of the first days of camp, Booker had one of the best runs I've ever seen in person.

He basically, at some point, made every defender miss on one play, while scampering to a 70-yard touchdown.

3. DE Darren Howard: It was thought Howard might start to slip down the depth charts and not see a lot of playing time in 2008, but Howard has been great in camp so far, really getting after the quarterback. He had two fumble recoveries in one practice so far and has led a strong defensive pass rush.

4. RB Correll Buckhalter: The second-string running back, according to the Eagles' depth chart, is running as good as he has in five years. He also says his knees are as healthy as they've ever been. He's running through tackles and embracing hard hits.

A member of the team media the Eagles planted says his numbers would project into a 1,400 yard season over 16 games if he was a starter.

5. G Max Jean-Gilles: He's replaced Shawn Andrews, who's missed all of camp while battling depression. He's filled in really well and even has Offensive Coordinator Marty Mornhinweg hinting Andrews' job may be up for grabs when he reports to camp.

6. LB Stewart Bradly: He's really been swarming to the ball and looks like he could be a future leader and star of this defense. According to Coach Jim Johnson, he'll be wearing one of the defensive headsets during the regular season.

7. K David Akers: Yes, I'm ranking a kicker this high. But Akers has been nearly perfect during camp, even drilling a 60-yard field goal the other day. Plus, he's friends with NASCAR driver Martin Truex Jr., who came the camp the other day.

8. QB Donovan McNabb: No. 5 is looking really athletic and accurate so far. There's been a few days where he's been the old McNabb, throwing at the feet of receivers, but overall, he's been really on target.

Today, he was putting balls 40 yards downfield in double coverage right where only the receiver could catch them. Plus he's looking nimble, which means he might still be able to scramble occasionally and make linebackers look like third graders.

9. WR DeSean Jackson: He's going to make a real impact on this offense in 2008. It's a matter of when Andy Reid figures out how to use him effectively. He gets up over the field almost any play he's asked to go there and he's been frequently out-gunning defensive backs down the sideline.

10. DT Broderick Bunkley and Mike Patterson: It's hard to really judge these two separately, so I'm going to group them together. The defensive line has looked really strong all summer, and the coaching staff has been raving about the two of them after practice.

12. DE Jerome McDougle: The former first-round pick hasn't made much of an impact during his time with the Eagles. Getting shot during a robbery a few years ago didn't help his cause, but McDougle is back. It seemed like his time might be running out, but McDougle has put together a great camp and has the coaches speaking highly of him.

13. WR Kevin Curtis: He's a professional wide receiver. It's as simple as that. He goes out, gets open, and catches the ball every time. He's going to be the No. 1 wide receiver on this team without question.

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