Philadelphia Eagles Players Most Likely to Be Cut Before 2017 Season

Trimming NFL rosters from the inflated training-camp group to the 53-man Week 1 roster requires some tough decisions, and the Philadelphia Eagles appear to have plenty as they round out a talented roster for 2017.

The Eagles didn't quite have the luxury that they do now last offseason, entering a rebuilding year with a reliance on young, unproven players and under-performing veterans at key positions. But executive vice-president of football operations Howie Roseman has pulled plenty of strings this offseason, aggressively finding gaps to holes and an infusion of young talent.

Suddenly, there are battles for roster spots at positions that the Eagles couldn't hardly get any production at in 2016. And while the Eagles have already made some of the offseason's toughest cuts (like Connor Barwin), there remain dozens of others before Philly is ready for the regular season.

Let's identify the more notable cuts that are becoming likely to happen before Week 1, along with a full list of expected rookie cuts.

Rookie Cuts

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Likely rookie cuts: TE Billy Brown, RB Corey Clement, DT Winston Craig, CB Randall Goforth, P Cameron Johnston, C Tyler Orlosky, WR Greg Ward, OT Victor Salako, S Tre Sullivan

Naturally, the Eagles will end up cutting a vast majority of the undrafted free-agent signings that are getting a shot at impressing the coaching staff. Getting cut won't be the end of the road for all of them in Philly, however.

A couple of players appear poised to make an impression on Eagles coaches. While there won't be spots on the 53-man roster available at his position, Wisconsin's Corey Clement brings in illustrious collegiate credentials and a complete package in the backfield, which would be a great insurance plan if injuries bang up the running back corps.

Former Houston Cougars quarterback Greg Ward has switched to receiver at the next level. Ward is very much on the wrong side of a numbers battle with the Eagles receivers, but the supreme athleticism he showed leading Houston to remarkable heights last season should translate and perhaps offer something to hold onto for the Eagles.

Dorial Green-Beckham

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The Eagles needed help at receiver more than just about any team in the NFL last season, but the tide has shifted considerably heading into 2017.

Now, Philly will have to cut a talented wideout or two before getting down to their game-day group for the regular season. Dorial Green-Beckham, after just one season with the Eagles, appears to be the first guy out.

DGB's football career has been linked to enormous potential with an ultra-athletic 6'6" frame that resembles Calvin Johnson. But after being picked in the second round by the Titans in 2015, Green-Beckham so miserably failed to develop that they offloaded him to Philly in exchange for Dennis Kelly.

A 36-reception, 392-yard season isn't indicative of a strong season, as a lack of depth forced DGB into games despite catching less than half the balls thrown his way. As if the signings of Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith weren't enough proof that the Eagles are ready to move on from the young receiver, drafting Shelton Gibson and Mack Hollins (the latter of whom brings a similar skill set as DGB) put the final nail in the coffin.

With boundless needs, the Eagles wouldn't have picked a big-bodied deep threat in the middle of the draft if they had plans for Green-Beckham. 

Marcus Smith

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Defensive end Marcus Smith has been an extreme disappointment ever since his rookie season, and the hope that he'll turn things around has dwindled each and every offseason before hitting rock-bottom this spring.

Four years after the Eagles made Smith a first-round draft pick, things came full circle as Philadelphia landed another defensive end, Derek Barnett, with the No. 14 overall pick. Eagles fans will hope Barnett is everything and more that they once expected Smith to be.

Smith is almost assured to go down as one of the biggest draft busts in recent Eagles history, whether or not he stays on the team throughout 2017 or not. The team declined to pick up his fifth-year option, making him an unrestricted free agent after the coming season.

Holding onto Smith made sense for the Eagles up until this offseason, when a lack of a pass rush inspired the Eagles to select Barnett after signing veteran Chris Long. Brandon Graham and Vinny Curry also take up roster spots, while Steven Means or Alex McCalister should provide enough promise to push Smith off the 53-man roster entirely.

The Eagles can save $1.5 million in cap space by releasing Smith, per Over The Cap, so there's a financial incentive to moving on as well.

Ryan Mathews

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This one is a foregone conclusion but still worth delving into seeing as Ryan Mathews is easily the most high-profile player still on the roster who is likely on the outs before Week 1.

After producing well in the Eagles backfield over the last two seasons, Mathews' neck injury late in 2016 ended his season. It's also complicated his next move, with the Eagles still waiting for Mathews to be able to pass the physical required to release or trade him. 

Nevertheless, Philly didn't delay executing its future plan in the backfield, signing veteran bruiser LeGarrette Blount and drafting the versatile Donnel Pumphrey to go alongside Wendell Smallwood and Darren Sproles.

Even if keeping Mathews made sense from a financial standpoint (it doesn't, as cutting him frees up $4 million in space per Over The Cap), he'll be 30 years old early in the 2017 season and is well known to be injury-prone. The Eagles are smart to invest in their young talent and move on from Mathews. 

Matt Tobin

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Reserve offensive tackles don't often find themselves included in regular offensive packages, but Matt Tobin saw plenty of the field in 2016 on the Eagles' six-lineman fronts often used to negate losing Lane Johnson to suspension for a majority of the season.

Of course, the Eagles have their bookend tackles locked down for 2017 with Jason Peters and Johnson manning the edges and Halapoulivaati Vaitai developing well as a backup. Without the need for many six-lineman packages in 2017 and younger tackles improving across the roster, Tobin is likely on the outs for the coming season.

Emerging young tackle Dillon Gordon is the primary reason why Tobin could be phased out. Gordon lauded his own growth throughout OTAs, saying the following to the Philadelphia Daily News' David Murphy.

"I feel very confident that if it ever came down to it, if I had to line up out there, I could hold my own," Gordon said after Tuesday's session. "I really understand the offense now and what's going on. Last year, I didn't really understand what was going on. I was just out there trying to play it by ear."

Tobin provided depth and reliable play throughout adversity in the 2016 season, but the Eagles need to go full steam ahead toward developing their young tackles with Jason Peters reaching 35 years of age. Tobin should be a casualty of that effort.

Allen Barbre

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Eagles guard Allen Barbre is undoubtedly the least likely player on this list to be released, but the 2016 starter at left guard could find himself on the wrong side of the numbers after the preseason if others prove their worth.

Barbre did fine in starting duty for the Eagles in 2016, but he's lining up opposite right guard Brandon Brooks who is five years his junior. The signing of Chance Warmack, a former No. 10 overall draft pick in Tennessee, indicates there will be a fierce position battle at both guard spots while Isaac Seumalo is developing well as a future starter.

To make things even more complicated, the Eagles re-signed guard/center Stefen Wisniewski to a three-year deal this offseason. With Jason Kelce still in Eagles uniform, Wisniewski will likely have to battle it out at guard for a chance at starting the 2017 season on the field rather than on the sidelines.

If any of Warmack, Seumalo or Wisniewski beat out Barbre for a starting spot, it could make sense to shed $2.1 million of cap space, per Over The Cap, as opposed to keeping an expensive backup on the roster.