Jobs will be won and lost over the next few weeks at Eagles training camp.
There are obviously plenty of players who will arrive at the NovaCare Complex as locks to make the team but there will be many fighting for their roster spots. And we can’t possibly know how some of those competitions are going to go. Roster cuts are due at 4 p.m. on Aug. 26 this year.
But it’s good to at least get a baseline before training camp begins. Here’s my 53-man roster projection entering Eagles training camp in 2025:
Quarterback (3): Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, Kyle McCord
The Eagles this offseason traded Kenny Pickett to the Browns, which pushed Tanner McKee up the depth chart to the No. 2 behind Jalen Hurts. Those two are locks and the rookie Kyle McCord is the favorite to be the No. 3. The Eagles used a sixth-round pick to take McCord out of Syracuse and he looked good this spring. The Eagles won’t just hand McCord that third job but I really like his chances to beat out Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who came from the Browns in that Pickett trade.
Out: Dorian Thompson-Robinson
Running back (3): Saquon Barkley, Will Shipley, A.J. Dillon
Saquon Barkley had an all-time season in 2024 and will need to be a huge part of the offense again in 2025. But the Eagles’ top backup last year, Kenny Gainwell, left for Pittsburgh in free agency. Entering his second year, Will Shipley is a roster lock and could have a bigger role. Free agent signing A.J. Dillon has been productive in his NFL career but missed the entire 2024 season with a neck injury, so we’ll have to monitor him this summer. Keep an eye on Florida rookie Montrell Johnson; I have him off the roster for now but he’s someone who could sneak in, especially if Dillon can’t return to form.
Out: Montrell Johnson, Keilan Robinson, Lew Nichols, ShunDerrick Powell
Fullback (1): Ben VanSumeren
We’re putting BVS in his own category because the Eagles list him among the running backs but he’s the only fullback on the roster. VanSumeren isn’t a roster lock for a couple reasons. First, we don’t even know how much the Eagles want to feature a fullback in 2025. And, second, he’s coming off a significant knee injury that ended his 2024 season in November. If VanSumeren makes the team, he’ll likely play a small role on offense but be a major contributor on special teams.
Receiver (6): A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jahan Dotson, Terrace Marshall, Avery Williams, Johnny Wilson
The top three are in as A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Jahan Dotson return as the 1-3 receivers. After that, there’s a fierce competition for one or two spots. I have the Eagles keeping six receivers because Avery Williams likely factors in as a return specialist first. Terrace Marshall seemed to have a good spring and is already building a strong rapport with Jalen Hurts. And Johnny Wilson offers size and blocking ability, which is something the Eagles seem to like in their receiver room. The toughest cuts here were Ainias Smith and Danny Gray. Smith was a fifth-round pick last year showed some promise in Week 18. And Gray is a former 49ers third-round pick who had a nice spring. This will be a fun battle in camp.
Out: Danny Gray, Ainias Smith, Darius Cooper, Giles Jackson, Taylor Morin, Elijah Cooks
Tight end (2): Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcaterra
For most of the offseason, it looked like Dallas Goedert wasn’t going to return in 2025 but then he and the Eagles found some common ground on a contract restructure and now he’s back. That means the 1-2 punch of Goedert and Grant Calcaterra will return this season. Both are locks for the roster. After that, there are a few players competing for a job that may or may not exist. If the Eagles keep three, Kylen Granson makes sense because of his blocking ability. But there’s also a chance the Eagles just begin the season with two and have TE3 by committee early in the season. Maybe E.J. Jenkins, Granson and Harrison Bryant won’t all get through waivers but at least one or two of them should and then the Eagles can put them on the practice squad. If one of them really separates during training camp, the Eagles could keep three tight ends.
Out: E.J. Jenkins, Kylen Granson, Harrison Bryant, Cameron Latu, Nick Muse
Offensive line (10): Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Lane Johnson, Matt Pryor, Trevor Keegan, Drew Kendall, Myles Hinton, Kendall Lamm
There are going to be some tough decisions on the offensive line this year. Obviously, the four known starters are safe and even if Tyler Steen doesn’t win the right guard job, he’ll be on the team. Matt Pryor was working at second-team right guard and that’s a clue that he’s competing for that job so we’ll keep him too. After that, we’ll need to see it play out. I have Kendall Lamm as the veteran swing tackle. Trevor Keegan is a bit of a wild card but the Eagles have invested a year in him. And even though they drafted three Day 3 linemen, they probably can’t keep all three on the roster; the last of those three picks was Cameron Williams, so he’s out for now. And Darian Kinnard is a tough cut too. He has a shot to make the roster again.
Out: Kenyon Green, Cameron Williams, Darian Kinnard, Brett Toth, Laekin Vakalahi, Hollin Pierce, Marcus Tate
Defensive tackle (5): Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Ty Robinson, Thomas Booker IV
The Eagles lost Milton Williams to the Patriots in free agency but Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo are locks at the position. The Eagles also drafted Ty Robinson in the fourth round so he’s sticking too. In fact, Robinson should be able to find his way into the rotation in his first season. If the Eagles keep five (like they did last year), then Thomas Booker IV is the next guy in. He didn’t play a ton last season but gave the Eagles some solid snaps.
Out: Byron Young, Gabe Hall
Edge rusher (5): Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, Azeez Ojulari, Josh Uche, Antwaun Powell-Ryland
This edge rusher group looks much different than this time last year. Josh Sweat is in Arizona, Bryce Huff is in San Francisco and Brandon Graham is … well, he’s still at the NovaCare Complex a lot but he’s retired. That means that Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt are the top returners. The Eagles signed Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche in free agency and then they drafted Antwaun Powell-Ryland in the sixth round. Patrick Johnson has a chance to make the team for his special teams ability but that could go either way. This is a position where the Eagles could add during or after training camp.
Out: Patrick Johnson, K.J. Henry, Ochaun Mathis
Linebacker (4): Zack Baun, Jihaad Campbell, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Smael Mondon Jr.
Nakobe Dean is still recovering from a torn patellar tendon so we’ll leave him on the PUP list for now. If he starts the season on PUP, he’ll miss at least the first four games. These other four linebackers seem like locks. Even rookie Smael Mondon Jr., a fifth-round pick, should make this team based on his special teams potential. Zack Baun and either Jihaad Campbell or Jeremiah Trotter Jr. seem like the likely starters.
Out: Lance Dixon, Dallas Gant; PUP: Nakobe Dean
Cornerback (6): Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Kelee Ringo, Adoree’ Jackson, Mac McWilliams, Eli Ricks
Darius Slay, Isaiah Rodgers and Avonte Maddox are all gone but the Eagles bring back Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean from last year’s starting lineup. Either Kelee Ringo or Adoree’ Jackson will be the other outside corner; but both should be on the roster. The Eagles just used a fifth-round pick on Mac McWilliams. The Eli Ricks inclusion is an interesting one. Even though he was buried on the depth chart last year, he’s still just 23 and the Eagles have kept him on the roster the last two seasons for a reason.
Out: Parry Nickerson, Brandon Johnson, A.J. Woods, Tariq Castro-Fields, B.J. Mayes
Safety (5): Reed Blankenship, Andrew Mukuba, Sydney Brown, Tristin McCollum, Andre’ Sam
Reed Blankenship is one of the Eagles’ starters, while Andrew Mukuba, Sydney Brown and Tristin McCollum battle it out for the job next to him. That spot is vacant after the Eagles traded C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans. I have Andre’ Sam as the 53rd and final player on the roster, mostly for his special teams ability.
Out: Lewis Cine, Maxen Hook
Specialists (3): K Jake Elliott, P Braden Mann, LS Charley Hughlett
The Eagles this offseason moved on from long snapper Rick Lovato and signed 35-year-old veteran Charley Hughlett, who spent 10 years with the Browns. There is no competition for any of these three jobs.
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