Updated 53-Man Roster Projections for Philadelphia Eagles Post Preseason Week 3
With only one preseason game remaining, the Philadelphia Eagles roster is beginning to take shape. Only the final few roster spots will be on the line in the final contest against the New York Jets on Thursday, while starters and key contributors likely won't even play.
With the regular season nearly upon us, we take one final stab at projecting the Eagles' 53-man roster. Keep in mind that the team may go out and make additional moves as released players clear waivers, but this is who we believe will be left standing at the end of cut-down day on September 5.
Who's missing?
Quarterback
1 of 11
Sam Bradford, Mark Sanchez, Matt Barkley (3)
Bradford removed any doubt about his standing with the team by carving up the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night. Sanchez is firmly entrenched in the backup role.
I simply haven't seen what would compel anybody to keep Tim Tebow over Barkley at third-string quarterback. Tebow's accuracy is still wildly inconsistent, and he can't read a defense or go through his progressions. Mobility doesn't make up for his shortcomings, either. Barkley hasn't played particularly well the past two preseason games, yet somehow he managed to distance himself from Tebow anyway.
Running Back
2 of 11
DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews, Darren Sproles, Raheem Mostert (4)
I have to be one of the only people still projecting Mostert to the 53-man roster, but I'm sticking to my guns here. Yes, Kenjon Barner has the two punt return touchdowns, but the Eagles have a Pro Bowl return man in Sproles, not to mention first-round pick Nelson Agholor. Mostert was out there actually blocking on those returns, which might make him more valuable. Add the fact that the undrafted rookie is bigger, younger and faster, not to mention leading the team with 189 yards from scrimmage this summer, and Mostert seems to have the edge.
Oh, Murray and Mathews aren't bad, either.
Wide Receiver
3 of 11
Jordan Matthews, Nelson Agholor, Josh Huff, Riley Cooper, Miles Austin, Seyi Ajirotutu (6)
The only real questions here are newcomers Austin and Ajirotutu, and the coaches seem to like both. Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said last week that Austin still knows how to get open, and Ajirotutu was brought here specifically to be yet another special teams ace.
Matthews, Agholor and Huff form a young nucleus, and it would be too costly to cut Cooper even if the Eagles wanted.
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Tight End
4 of 11
Brent Celek, Zach Ertz, Trey Burton (3)
Nothing to see here. Celek, Ertz and Burton are all mortal locks, and none of the undrafted tight ends on the roster have really stood out. Eric Tomlinson would be a candidate to make the roster if Ertz's injury lingered into the regular season. However, based on the way he jogged out to Monday's practice at least, Ertz appears to be rapidly improving.
Offensive Line
5 of 11
Jason Peters, Allen Barbre, Jason Kelce, Andrew Gardner, Lane Johnson, Matt Tobin, Julian Vandervelde, Dennis Kelly (8)
The starting five appears to be set, with Barbre and Gardner cementing their spots at left and right guard, respectively. They should both do fine alongside outstanding players in Peters, Kelce and Johnson.
Eight linemen might seem a little light, but nobody else has really stepped up to warrant a roster spot. Tobin, Vandervelde and Kelly can all play multiple positions along the line, versatility that helps them stick. The only question here is John Moffitt, who the Eagles lured out of retirement, but he's played exclusively at right guard and has not looked very good.
Defensive Line
6 of 11
Fletcher Cox, Bennie Logan, Cedric Thornton, Vinny Curry, Beau Allen, Taylor Hart, Travis Raciti (7)
It was a bit of a tough call with the seventh and final defensive lineman. Last season, it was Hart, and he was inactive for all 16 games. This year, the redshirt slot could go to Raciti, an undrafted rookie out of San Jose State. Veteran Brandon Bair would no doubt provide more value this season, but only so many guys suit up on Sundays. And the Eagles want to see Hart, a fifth-round pick entering his second season.
Cox, Thornton and Curry are one of the best trios of defensive ends in the NFL. Logan appears to be on the verge of a breakout season at nose tackle and is backed up by Allen. It is a very strong group overall.
Outside Linebacker
7 of 11
Connor Barwin, Brandon Graham, Marcus Smith, Brad Jones, Bryan Braman (5)
Barwin and Graham could form the best pass-rush tandem in the NFL this season. Behind them, it's anybody's guess.
Smith, a 2014 first-round pick, sort of makes the club by default. He failed to record so much as a single tackle as a rookie, and now he's injured. But the Eagles are just so thin here. Braman is purely a special teamer, and Jones is better suited to play on the inside. As mentioned, Curry will see time here as well, which is a positive while also showing what a mess this has become.
Interior Linebacker
8 of 11
Kiko Alonso, Mychal Kendricks, DeMeco Ryans, Jordan Hicks (4)
While Alonso, Kendricks and Ryans have all been banged up this summer, not one is expected to miss significant time. Kendricks and Ryans both played on Saturday as a matter of fact, and Jones can slip back inside on occasion. With Hicks, a third-round rookie, contributing on special teams, there's no need to carry more than four.
Cornerback
9 of 11
Byron Maxwell, Nolan Carroll, Eric Rowe, Jaylen Watkins, E.J. Biggers (5)
I had a tough time keeping Biggers on my roster, as he's gone back to looking like the Biggers of old in the past two preseason games. The seventh-year veteran was having a strong camp, though. He can line up anywhere in the secondary and also plays special teams, so there's tremendous value there.
It is a similar deal with Watkins, who's looked good in coverage but struggles a bit with tackling. However, once again, he has the versatility to play any position in the secondary.
Fortunately, Maxwell, Carroll and Rowe figure to see the bulk of the snaps at corner.
Safety
10 of 11
Malcolm Jenkins, Walter Thurmond, Jerome Couplin, Chris Prosinski, Chris Maragos (5)
With two interceptions this preseason and a bunch of turnovers during training camp, Thurmond nailed down a starting job opposite Jenkins. Then it becomes a question of depth.
Ed Reynolds had a strong game in the preseason opener but appears to have been overtaken by Couplin in recent weeks. The hope might be to stash on the practice squad for another year, but good luck with that. Prosinski and Maragos make it over Reynolds due to their special teams prowess.
Specialists
11 of 11
Cody Parkey, Donnie Jones, Jon Dorenbos (3)
Parkey was held out of Saturday's game with a leg injury but could've played, so there is no need to start looking for replacements. Undrafted rookie Kip Smith was never much competition for Jones at punter, while Dorenbos reprises his role as the Eagles long snapper for the 10th season.
Quotes and observations are the author's.
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