Making the Call on Philadelphia Eagles' Toughest Roster Decisions

Although the start of the new year for the NFL came in free agency several months ago, the new faces on the Philadelphia Eagles will finally get a chance to step onto a practice field when OTAs kick off for the team Wednesday. 

Players like Sam Bradford, DeMarco Murray, Nelson Agholor, Kiko Alonso and Byron Maxwell have a tremendous amount to prove heading into the season, but at least each of those players is guaranteed a roster spot on the 2015 team.

This piece will chronicle the players whose roster spot is far from guaranteed heading into the 2015 campaign. In order by position, these are five different players who each have about a 50 percent chance of finding their way onto the team this season. 

Tim Tebow, Quarterback

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Although the start of the new year for the NFL came in free agency several months ago, the new faces on the Philadelphia Eagles will finally get a chance to step onto a practice field when OTAs kick off for the team Wednesday. 

Players like Sam Bradford, DeMarco Murray, Nelson Agholor, Kiko Alonso and Byron Maxwell have a tremendous amount to prove heading into the season, but at least each of those players is guaranteed a roster spot on the 2015 team.

This piece will chronicle the players whose roster spot is far from guaranteed heading into the 2015 campaign. In order by position, these are five different players who each have about a 50 percent chance of finding their way onto the team this season. 

Seyi Ajirotutu, Wide Receiver

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There are four wide receivers who will definitely be on the team for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015: Jordan Matthews, Agholor, Josh Huff and Riley Cooper. Miles Austin will very likely be on the squad, as he was given $1 million in guaranteed money. Devante Davis, an undrafted free agent, will be an intriguing option but don't sleep on special teams standout Seyi Ajirotutu. 

Signed from the San Diego Chargers in free agency, Ajirotutu is virtually nonexistent as a pass-catching threat. He's recorded just 24 catches for 420 yards and three touchdowns during his five seasons in the NFL. But he's terrific on special teams, as he was voted the best special teams player by his teammates on the 2014 Chargers. 

Head coach Chip Kelly, of course, places a tremendous emphasis on special teams. It'll be interesting to see if he gives a roster spot to a receiver who is basically a major liability as a pass-catcher over a promising rookie like Davis. 

Brandon Bair, Defensive End

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One of the more pleasant surprises on the 2014 Eagles was defensive lineman Brandon Bair, who came out of nowhere to become a solid contributor on both defense and special teams. 

Bair added 1.5 sacks in the defensive rotation and blocked a pair of kicks on special teams. He also blocked an extra point and tipped another field goal that made it through the uprights. That's an incredible four different kicks Bair deflected in just a single season. 

Bair's emergence kept last year's rookie fifth-round pick Taylor Hart off the field all season. This season, the Eagles haven't made a single change to their defensive line. Fletcher Cox and Cedric Thornton are still the two starting defensive ends, with Vinny Curry as the top backup. 

The fourth defensive end spot could very well come down to Bair against Hart, and if past performance is any indicator, Bair should have a sizable advantage. Then again, he turns 31 in November, and Hart is a player Kelly specifically drafted for his defense. 

Travis Long, Linebacker

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The Eagles will have some interesting decisions regarding their depth at linebacker. The big question is whether 2012 second-round pick Mychal Kendricks will be traded before the season. That could very well be the difference between a player like Travis Long making the team or spending another season on the practice squad.

The Eagles were high on Long last season after he spent the 2013 year on the practice squad. But Long tore his ACL before the start of the 2014 season, costing him the entire season.

Now, he'll have to show he's back at full health and is a better option at linebacker than players like Brad Jones and Emmanuel Acho.  

Jerome Couplin, Safety

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Jerome Couplin is one of the biggest wild cards of the 2015 Eagles. The former undrafted free agent has an outside chance to start, but the more likely scenario is he doesn't make the final roster. 

Couplin, who was signed by the Eagles off the Detroit Lions' practice squad late in the 2014 season, has all the measurables the Eagles love. But he'll have to show, of course, he can get the job done on the field, and luckily for him, the competition at safety isn't very fierce. 

For Couplin to make the 2015 roster, he'll have to beat out one or two of a number of fringe players, such as Jaylen Watkins, Earl Wolff and Ed Reynolds.