5 Philadelphia Eagles Who Will Be on the Roster Bubble in 2015
The Philadelphia Eagles have a long, critical offseason ahead, but before you know it, training camp will be opening once again and players will be fighting for their NFL livelihoods.
In some cases, maybe players whose jobs you weren’t even aware could be on the line.
At this time of year, we tend to think about players who could be casualties of the salary cap during the offseason, and the Eagles have several possibilities in this regard—outside linebacker Trent Cole and cornerback Cary Williams, to name a few.
But what of the guys who are still expected to be on the 90-man roster for camp, but may not survive cutdown day?
The Eagles have several high-profile players who could be in danger of seeing the axe this summer. While it seems far away, decisions about what could happen to these players in August or September may impact the team’s plans in free agency or the draft.
Yes, we have a long way to go until camp, but we can already make educated guesses as to which players might be on the bubble this summer.
DeMeco Ryans
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During his final press conference of 2014, Chip Kelly told reporters, “We need DeMeco [Ryans].” However, the head coach added the disclaimer that, “It’s just a matter of getting DeMeco healthy again.”
Ryans is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury, the interior linebacker’s second in five seasons. He turns 31 this summer, is owed $6.9 million on the final year of his contract and always has been a questionable fit as an every-down linebacker in a 3-4 defense.
Is it so unreasonable to speculate that even if Ryans is available in time for training camp—or could be ready to return after a stint on the physically unable to perform list—the Eagles might cut ties with him prior to the start if the regular season?
Seeing as Kelly is in charge of personnel now and obviously views Ryans as important to his team’s success, one would be tempted to assume the two-time Pro Bowler will be back.
That being said, surely somebody will explain that if Ryans isn’t going to be a viable option at any point in 2015, that’s $6.9 million the franchise could save under the salary cap and carry over to next year.
While it’s unclear who would replace Ryans at this point, the Eagles seemed to get by with Casey Matthews seeing the bulk of the action in his spot. Not so long ago, that would’ve been an unthinkable statement.
Ryans means more to the team than numbers would indicate, but his days in Philadelphia were already numbered. Assuming he survives the first round of cuts ahead of free agency, Ryans will be monitored very closely at camp as he attempts to return from such a devastating injury.
Matt Barkley
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Once hailed by some as the potential “quarterback of the future” in Philadelphia, two years into the Matt Barkley era, there’s some question as to whether he’s even in the team’s plans.
Selected in the fourth round in 2013, Barkley has been buried at No. 3 on the depth chart in consecutive years with no real shot at the backup job—first by Nick Foles and then Mark Sanchez.
What’s to prevent the Eagles from signing or drafting another signal-caller this coming offseason and continue pushing Barkley down?
It’s possible Barkley will be the best option to serve under Foles in 2015, assuming he retains the role of starter. Of course, nobody truly knows what Kelly and the organization think of Barkley.
All we really have to go on, other than meaningless preseason performances surrounded by camp bodies, are Barkley’s two notable relief appearances as a rookie in 2013.
The USC product failed to lead a single scoring drive while committing five turnovers in losses to the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. However, Barkley entered both games with his team already trailing, and all four picks came during the fourth quarter. He was also coming off a broken collarbone that year.
Still, Barkley’s roster spot is not assured. He seems likely to be back in some capacity if the Eagles don’t make too many moves at the quarterback position. However, if they were to sign a backup and add a player in the draft, Barkley could find himself competing for a roster spot this summer.
Earl Wolff
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This past summer, Earl Wolff was expected to compete with Nate Allen for a starting safety job. Unfortunately, it seemed like every time Wolff’s number was called, his knee wouldn’t hold up.
The 2013 fifth-round pick first injured his knee during his rookie season, costing him five games that year. Finally, after Wolff battled through a seemingly chronic injury that cost him opportunities and made him look undependable, the Eagles placed the backup safety on injured reserve.
Wolff underwent “mini-microfracture surgery,” which—if it's anything like normal microfracture surgery—means recovery could be lengthy and difficult to say the least. Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com reported Wolff is expected to be ready to go in time for spring minicamps.
Wolff showed some promise his rookie year, starting six games opposite Allen. He looked competent, although didn’t produce many big plays. He played only sparingly in 2014.
The issue with letting Wolff go is the team is in the midst of a radical overhaul in its secondary. If nothing else, he knows the system and has game experience—something a free agent or draft pick will lack.
That being said, Wolff’s inability to stay on the field cannot be overlooked and surgery isn’t guaranteed to have him back to full speed in time for this season. If it doesn’t appear he can contribute in 2015, the Eagles will be faced with a difficult decision over whether he’s worth the roster spot.
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Taylor Hart
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Taylor Hart has the dubious distinction of being the only member of Philadelphia’s roster for all 16 regular-season games in 2014 without being activated once. Hart did not play, nor did he even put on a uniform.
Some of that can be traced to the tremendous depth along the Eagles' defensive line, specifically at end. Fletcher Cox was named second-team All-Pro. Cedric Thornton is one of the league’s top run-stuffers. Vinny Curry finished second on the team with 9.0 sacks. Brandon Bair contributed on special teams, blocking a field goal and getting a hand on another.
Of course, some of the issue was Hart didn’t warrant playing time. It’s not hard to figure why Cox, Thornton and Curry were more valuable, but the fifth-round pick's inability to beat out Bair is a different story.
That doesn’t mean Hart should be written off. With a full offseason in a professional conditioning program, he should return functionally stronger and hopefully prepared for NFL trenches.
It’s no guarantee, though. Fifth-rounders flop all the time, and it’s entirely possible Hart was a miss in last year’s draft. He’ll have an opportunity to make the roster out of camp, but if he doesn’t earn it, this could be a one-and-done.
Ed Reynolds
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It goes without saying that Ed Reynolds will be on the roster bubble in 2015. As it turns out, he was on the roster bubble this past summer.
Most rookies are given the benefit of the doubt and warrant a roster spot coming out of college, even when picked as late as the fifth round. That turned out not to be the case with Reynolds, who wound up being waived and spending the year on the practice squad.
The Eagles re-signed him to a futures contract, but it’s impossible not to wonder if they have already acknowledged the safety was a whiff.
To be fair, Reynolds had the built-in excuse of missing a large portion of the offseason program. Thanks to the NFL’s arcane rules, Reynolds was not eligible to participate in most practices until after Stanford’s graduation. That was a huge setback.
Regardless, it was telling that the Eagles did not find it prudent to make room on the roster and no other team was willing to claim him.
Reynolds will have another opportunity this summer, and with a full offseason, who knows? However, the bubble could very well burst on another fifth-round pick.
Contract information courtesy of Spotrac.
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