The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles will kick-off training camp on July 22, and some intriguing position battles should rise to the forefront from Day 1.
Who will win out in Philly’s crowded wide receiver room? Will all 10 of the Eagles’ 2025 draft picks make the initial cut? Which unsung players, like linebacker Dallas Gant and safety Andre’ Sam, will surprise by winning a roster spot?
We’ll start getting the answers to these questions in the coming weeks, but for now, let’s break down an initial 53-man roster prediction for the Eagles with training camp just around the corner:
Philadelphia Eagles 53-man roster projection
QUARTERBACK (3)
- Jalen Hurts
- Tanner McKee
- Kyle McCord
Notable cut candidate: Dorian Thompson-Robinson
With McKee ascending to the QB2 spot, the Eagles are set to break in their latest sixth-round quarterback in McCord, a rookie who posted some eye-popping numbers last season with Syracuse. That leaves DTR, who was acquired in the Kenny Pickett trade this past spring, as the odd man out.
RUNNING BACK (4)
- Saquon Barkley
- Will Shipley
- A.J. Dillon
- Ben VanSumeren (fullback)
Dillon enters camp on the roster bubble, but his size and status as a former second-round draft pick give him a path to the RB3 role. … The Eagles have spent multiple seasons developing VanSumeren into a fullback, and his versatility as a former linebacker gets him on the initial 53.
WIDE RECEIVER (5)
- A.J. Brown
- DeVonta Smith
- Jahan Dotson
- Johnny Wilson
- Avery Williams
Notable cut candidates: Danny Gray, Ainias Smith, Terrace Marshall
The name to watch here is Gray, as the former third-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers was among Philly’s standout players in OTAs. ... Wilson’s uncommon size and experience as the Eagles’ WR4 from last year’s Super Bowl roster make him the favorite over guys like Gray and Marshall, at least entering camp. … Williams makes the cut as a gadget player on offense and return specialist.
TIGHT END (3)
- Dallas Goedert
- Grant Calcaterra
- Kylen Granson
Notable cut candidate: Harrison Bryant
E.J. Jenkins was a training camp standout in 2024, but he’s a long-shot to make the roster now that both Granson and Bryant have joined the room. But will both veteran newcomers make the roster? That will be one of the more intriguing questions to sort out this summer, as the team initially only kept two TEs — Goedert and Calcaterra — in 2024. Granson’s the superior run blocker, so let’s give him the nod for now.
OFFENSIVE LINE (11)
- Jordan Mailata
- Lane Johnson
- Landon Dickerson
- Cam Jurgens
- Tyler Steen
- Kenyon Green
- Kendall Lamm
- Drew Kendall
- Myles Hinton
- Cameron Williams
- Matt Pryor
Notable cut candidate: Trevor Keegan
This is a massive position group, but let's assume every drafted rookie from this year makes the initial cut (or at least ends up stashed on injured reserve, like Ainias Smith last summer). It would be tough to move on from Keegan, a former fifth-round pick, so soon, but he appears to be behind veterans like Pryor and Brett Toth entering camp, so he has serious ground to cover. ... Pryor posted 15 starts at guard and graded out well in pass protection last season for the Chicago Bears, so the Eagles brought him in this offseason for a reason. … Green doesn’t feel like a roster lock by any means, but he came over in the C.J. Gardner-Johnson trade from the Texans and should stick around as a backup guard.
Total offense: 26
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (5)
- Jalen Carter
- Jordan Davis
- Moro Ojomo
- Ty Robinson
- Thomas Booker IV
No big surprises, as this entire group returns from last year’s initial roster, save for fourth-round rookie Ty Robinson. … Byron Young, who stuck with the team throughout the 2024 season as an injured reserve stash, has a shot to win a roster spot here as well.
EDGE DEFENDERS (6)
- Nolan Smith Jr.
- Jalyx Hunt
- Azeez Ojulari
- Josh Uche
- Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr.
- Patrick Johnson
Powell-Ryland, Philly’s sixth-round rookie, has little competition to make the team, and the lack of proven depth should also work out well for Johnson, who returned to the Eagles this offseason after spending 2024 with the Giants. ... Keeping six EDGE rushers feels about right, as free agent additions Ojulari and Uche are both serious question marks.
LINEBACKERS (4)
- Zack Baun
- Jihaad Campbell
- Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
- Smael Mondon Jr.
Reserve/PUP: Nakobe Dean
With Dean highly unlikely to open the year on the active roster, Dallas Gant becomes an intriguing player to watch in training camp. The former Ohio State Buckeye transferred to Toledo for the 2023 season and flashed some impressive tackling and coverage skills. He’s a sleeper to make the initial 53 after the Eagles poached him off waivers last November. For now, we'll stick with our four presumed locks at the position.
CORNERBACK (5)
- Quinyon Mitchell
- Cooper DeJean
- Kelee Ringo
- Adoree’ Jackson
- Mac McWilliams
Notable cut candidate: Eli Ricks
Ricks will enter his third training camp with Philly after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2023. The former Alabama Crimson Tide star has a strong shot at making the roster once again, and given Philly’s lack of depth at the position, he could have a path if the team decides to keep six corners. Ricks only played 15 total defensive snaps in 2024, though, so he’ll enter camp firmly on the roster bubble.
SAFETY (4)
- Reed Blankenship
- Sydney Brown
- Andrew Mukuba
- Tristin McCollum
Notable cut candidate: Lewis Cine
Cine will try to prove his worth to Vic Fangio and company this summer, as there might not be a better place for the former first-round draft pick out of Georgia to resurrect his career. Fangio loves McCollum, though, and undrafted rookie Andre’ Sam has also turned some heads with his play during OTAs. There will be a ton of competition here if the Eagles do keep four safeties, but the guess here is that McCollum builds on his strong summer of 2024 and retains the job.
Total defense: 24
SPECIALISTS (3)
- Jake Elliott (kicker)
- Braden Mann (punter)
- Charley Hughlett (long snapper)
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