Eagles Rumors: Latest Buzz, Players to Watch for Remaining OTA Schedule

The Philadelphia Eagles have only one session left in their OTAs. Then their summer break officially begins before they get back to work with training camp in late July.

The Eagles are the only team in the league that doesn't hold a mandatory minicamp between the break in OTAs and the start of training camp. Every other team will have a handful of practices with everyone.

It's a testament to head coach Nick Sirianni's approach to rest and the work that can be done in OTAs.

While not everyone was in attendance for the May and June sessions, there were still a few players that stood out and made waves while taking in the playbook and getting reps.

As we start the long wait between now and the dawn of training camp, here's a look at some of the latest buzz surrounding the team and players who stood out.

Christian Elliss Standing Out

AP Photo/Rich Schultz

Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Christian Elliss (53) in action against the New York Giants during an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

While general manager Howie Roseman did a great job of retaining most of the roster that got to the Super Bowl last year, the Eagles will still need some players to fill new roles.

That's the case at linebacker, as the Eagles will have to replace Kyzir White and T.J. Edwards. White followed former defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon to Arizona, while Edwards wound up in Chicago.

Nakobe Dean is an obvious choice to replace one of them. The 2022 third-round pick effectively redshirted last season, but he now figures to be a full-time starter. The Eagles also signed Nicholas Morrow from Chicago, essentially swapping linebackers with the Bears.

However, a familiar name could carve out a role for himself in Christian Elliss. The former undrafted free agent has been with the Eagles for two years now and reportedly made a good impression at this year's OTAs.

NBC Sports Philadelphia writer Reuben Frank wondered if Elliss might be able to get into the linebacker rotation based on his size. He also noted an interception that Elliss had during a practice that showcased his athleticism and coverage ability.

"Elliss has one thing that none of the Eagles' other off-ball linebackers have and that's size. The Eagles might list him at 231—only six pounds more than Nick Morrow—but he sure looks closer to 240 if not a little more," Frank noted.

The Eagles could definitely use a thumper who can hold up against physical, ground-based teams. If Elliss continues to look good in coverage, he could be that player.

Zech McPhearson Moving to the Slot

John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 08: Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Zech McPhearson (27) during pregame of the National Football league game between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles on January 8, 2023 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA (Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Cornerback Zech McPhearson came to Philly as a fourth-round draft pick in 2021, but he has played only 278 defensive snaps over the first two years of his career. That's in part because the Eagles have Darius Slay and James Bradberry.

Slay and Bradberry are one of the best pairings of outside corners in the league, and both played all 17 games last year. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that McPhearson will be looking to showcase some diversity in 2023 by moving inside.

Bo Wulf of The Athletic noted that McPhearson worked with both the first- and second-team defense in practice. With both Avonte Maddox and Josiah Scott out Thursday, he got plenty of reps.

Building some depth in the slot is going to be important for the Eagles. When Maddox went down with an injury last year, C.J. Gardner-Johnson was able to slide into that role and the secondary didn't miss a beat.

With Gardner-Johnson no longer on the roster, the Eagles have to find and develop a few players who can play nickel. If McPhearson ends up being one of those guys, it should guarantee him a roster spot and give the Eagles critical depth at an important spot.

Jordan Davis Ready for Bigger Role

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Philadelphia Eagles' Jordan Davis speaks with members of the media during a news conference at the NFL football team's training facilities in Philadelphia, Thursday, June 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Going into the 2022 draft, there was no question that Jordan Davis was going to be able to make an impact. The question was how big it would be based on how much he could play.

Georgia used a deep rotation along the defensive line, and Davis only saw 20.3 percent of the Eagles' defensive snaps last season as a rookie. But the offseason departures of Javon Hargrave, Linval Joseph and Ndamukong Suh pave the way for him to take on a larger role.

Davis talked to the media about understanding what the expectations are now that he his first season under his belt.

"Football-wise, just maturing, understanding that it's a bigger role. Going into an offseason completely fresh, I think that was the biggest thing. Definitely excited for this year, definitely know what is expected of me and ready to go ahead and reach those expectations," he said, per Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia.

Conditioning will be crucial for Davis to reach his potential. At 6'6" and 336 pounds, Davis has to walk the line between maintaining his massive frame while being in good enough shape to play as many snaps as possible.

Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP noted how good Davis looked physically at OTAs, which is probably the most important thing. A focused, in-shape Davis is a scary thought for opposing offensive lines.