5 Philadelphia Eagles Players Who Should See Their Roles Expand in 2015
Given the numerous question marks across the depth chart for the Philadelphia Eagles, it’s clear the team will be forced to rely on several young players stepping up in 2015. That means expanded roles will be assigned to players who have not necessarily proven they are ready for them.
Regardless, that is the situation in Philadelphia, as the wild and unpredictable offseason has left holes throughout the roster. Wide receiver, outside linebacker and safety are just a few of the areas where youth will be served in the year ahead.
Are they up for the challenge? In some cases, it’s easy to project improvement from players who were already productive in their previous roles. In others, it’s largely unknown what these unproven athletes will bring to the table when their numbers are called.
No matter what, the Eagles will likely need most, if not all of these players to take on larger roles in the coming season. Free-agency options are dwindling, and the draft doesn't guarantee any answers, so these kids better be prepared to see more action in 2015.
Jordan Matthews
1 of 5
In 2014, Jordan Matthews racked up 67 receptions, 872 yards and eight touchdowns while lining up almost exclusively as a slot receiver. Imagine what he could do in a full-time role, or even as the featured wideout in Philadelphia’s offense.
Matthews could have that chance this season. For the second straight offseason, the Eagles lost a No. 1 receiver when Jeremy Maclin bolted to the Kansas City Chiefs. The organization brought in veteran Miles Austin to ease the pain, and will no doubt add another pass-catcher in the draft, but at the moment, Matthews is the most talented option on the roster.
Despite being deployed from the slot as a rookie, Matthews has the build and athleticism to play on the outside. How he’ll be used going forward is likely dependent on how Austin looks and what type of receiver the Eagles land in the draft.
Either way, Matthews figures to be more heavily involved in the offense moving forward. After all, based on 2014 numbers, he is the leading receiver on the roster, and it’s not even close. It would be surprising if Matthews didn’t eclipse 1,000 yards in the year ahead.
Josh Huff
2 of 5
Some folks are understandably down on Josh Huff after a rookie campaign in which the wide receiver was responsible for almost as many miscues as he was receptions (eight). With Maclin out of the picture, however, the Eagles are inevitably looking for more from the second-year player this season.
While the mistakes stand out, Huff did flash some explosive potential. He returned a kickoff for a touchdown during a preseason game, then another during the regular season—107 yards for the longest play in franchise history, in fact. He also had an impressive 44-yard catch-and-run against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15 that demonstrated strength and agility in the open field.
Huff is likely to see his playing time increase based on the simple fact that the Eagles are thin at wideout. Even if Matthews takes on a bigger role, Austin and Riley Cooper are the only other receivers on the roster that have recorded a catch in the NFL.
The Eagles invested a third-round pick in Huff, so clearly they like him. He should understand a lot of the concepts of Philadelphia’s offense coming from Oregon as well. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him take a big leap forward in his second year, as he’ll inevitably be awarded far more opportunities to prove his worth.
Trey Burton
3 of 5
As an undrafted free agent, Trey Burton made the 53-man roster out of training camp last summer, which is an achievement in itself. Burton then proceeded to become one of the Eagles’ top special teams contributors, recording four tackles and a blocked punt.
In the aftermath of James Casey’s release, Burton has an opportunity to climb the depth chart. The No. 3 tight end still doesn’t see the field a ton in Philadelphia’s offense, but Burton could turn out to be an exception to that rule.
Burton is an incredibly versatile athlete, having lined up at tight end, wide receiver, running back and even under center for the University of Florida. We even got a taste of his unique talents last season, as Burton carried the ball five times in the final minutes to help seal a shutout victory over the New York Giants in Week 6.
With Brent Celek and Zach Ertz at the top of the depth chart, there isn’t a ton of playing time for Burton just yet. Still, don’t be surprised to see No. 47 worked into some special packages in 2015.
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Marcus Smith
4 of 5
If Marcus Smith doesn’t see his role expand with Philadelphia in 2015, there’s a good chance it’s because he’s not on the team. Seeing as the Eagles would eat a sizeable hit against the salary cap in the event of Smith’s release, chances are they’ll find some work for the second-year linebacker.
Smith simply couldn’t get on the field in his rookie year, finishing the season having played all of 68 snaps on defense, according to Football Outsiders. When he did line up, bad things tended to happen, like the time he misplaced his assignment in coverage and allowed running back Frank Gore to catch a throwback pass and take it 55 yards for a touchdown.
To be fair, it probably didn’t help Smith—a converted quarterback out of Louisville—that the coaching staff was bouncing him between inside and outside responsibilities. That’s a lot to put on a first-year player’s plate.
That being said, Smith has too much natural ability to be completely useless. He needs to become functionally stronger if he’s ever going to be a feared one-on-one pass-rusher off the edge at this level. Then again, Smith’s size and speed could make him a menace as a blitzer or in coverage if the coaching staff puts him in position to succeed.
Earl Wolff
5 of 5
The Eagles will undoubtedly bring in a safety through the draft, likely somebody who will compete for the starting job opposite Malcolm Jenkins. Unfortunately, it’s not a particularly deep class at the position, so the team can’t count on a rookie to win a camp battle, let alone solidify the back end of the defense.
For now, it looks like Philadelphia could be counting on Earl Wolff to hold down the fort at safety for the coming year, which is a risky proposition to say the least. As a 2013 fifth-round pick, Wolff started six games as a rookie and looked competent, but his development was derailed by a knee injury that limited him in 2014 and eventually put the NC State product out for the season.
Health questions aside, there’s really no telling what the Eagles have in Wolff. He wasn’t overwhelmed as a rookie but didn’t make many plays, either. 2014 was a bit of a lost season for Wolff, so we know nothing of his progress, either.
That being said, Wolff is the only safety on the roster besides Jenkins with any meaningful NFL experience playing the position. He may ultimately lose a competition to a rookie if the Eagles have any luck in the draft, but Wolff almost certainly will be on the field from time to time in 2015, and as of today, he’s the probable starter.
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