Philadelphia Eagles: Predicting 53-Man Roster to Start the Season
The Philadelphia Eagles have yet to play their fourth and final preseason game, but the chances of that game significantly influencing the final roster are slim.
At this point, the team likely has made up their mind on who will stay and who will go, with the final game helping only to settle any ties or disputes within the front office on battles for backup roles.
For instance, there are currently battles for backup roles at tight end, defensive tackle, defensive end, safety, and along the offensive line. If the team is still trying to decide whether or not to keep a guy like Chad Hall, Colt Anderson, Donald Lee, etc. this final game could be used to make that decision for them. Past that, the roster is likely set.
Trying to predict what head coach Andy Reid, general manager Howie Roseman, and team president Joe Banner are thinking is a scary prospect for anyone, but we’ll give it a shot.
Quarterbacks (3)
1. Michael Vick – Despite what Skip Bayless thinks, this is pretty obvious.
2. Vince Young – He’s still behind on the offense, but would likely get the nod with a simplified gameplan should Vick go down.
3. Mike Kafka – Kafka has an extremely bright future, and will likely be Vick’s No. 2 next season.
Just Missed Out: Jerrod Johnson was on the roster through camp and a week into the preseason, but it was a forgone conclusion he was only a camp body.
Running Backs (3)
1. LeSean McCoy – Again, a guy entrenched firmly as the starter, and rightfully so.
2. Ronnie Brown – Brown has been very impressive during the offseason and should be a great change-of-pace to McCoy.
3. Dion Lewis – He’s outperformed any of the competition and looks like he could develop into a playmaker.
Just Missed Out: Eldra Buckley has seen his value drop greatly thanks to the ridiculous new kickoff rule. He’s just not athletically gifted enough to beat out a guy like Lewis, who also has special teams value as a returner. Graig Cooper was a longshot, anyway.
Fullback (1)
1. Owen Schmitt – This was never really a competition. Schmitt has always been the guy.
Just Missed Out: Seventh-round pick Stanley Havili did nothing to stand out, and will almost certainly get his walking papers.
Tight Ends (2)
1. Brent Celek – Despite his struggles last season, there is no one making a push for Celek’s starting job.
2. Clay Harbor – His blocking has improved, but his real value should be as a receiver. He’ll need to show it soon.
Just Missed Out: Donald Lee is a guy the Eagles would like to keep, but likely are not willing to carry three tight ends. Martell Webb has stuck around longer than I thought and has no chance of making the final roster. Cornelius Ingram is a guy who had great ability before shredding both knees. He’s one to root for, but will not make the roster.
Wide Receivers (5)
1. Jeremy Maclin – Yes, folks, Maclin is the No. 1 receiver on this team. He makes this offense work.
2. DeSean Jackson – Barring some unforeseen scenario where they can’t work out a deal and he’s traded, Jackson is here to stay.
3. Jason Avant – He has some of the best hands in the league, and will resume his normal duties in the slot.
4. Steve Smith – This is one of the more intriguing guys on the roster. If he can get back to his old form, he could be a huge steal.
5. Riley Cooper – He looks close to taking that next step, but is stuck behind a lot of talent.
Just Missed Out: Chad Hall is the key casualty here. But like Danny Amendola before him, I expect Hall to stick somewhere. Gerald Jones, Johnnie Lee Higgins, and Sinorice Moss simply did not shine like they had to in order to have a chance at the roster.
Offensive Line (10)
LT1. Jason Peters – This is about the only thing along the line set in stone.
LG1. Evan Mathis – This is exactly why Mathis was signed, although I’m not crazy about it.
C1. Jason Kelce – Another move I hate, but this looks to be the way it’s going down.
RG1. Danny Watkins – Expect things to click for the rookie a few weeks into the season. Hopefully he doesn’t mess up before then.
RT1. Todd Herremans – Probably better suited as a tackle than guard, but he’s already been on the interior in the NFL.
6. Jamaal Jackson – He could get the “veteran cut,” but I doubt the team is that confident in Kelce.
7. King Dunlap – With the ability to play both right and left tackle, Dunlap is a valuable backup to have.
8. Mike McGlynn – There’s a lot of talk about McGlynn getting cut, but I just don’t see them cutting him after starting last season.
9. Reggie Wells – With his ability to play both guard and tackle, Wells provides great depth, and should be a starter.
10. Julian Vandervelde – Personally, I don’t think he belongs on the team, but Reid isn’t quick to cut linemen he drafted.
IR/PUP: Ryan Harris will likely hit wind up on IR after back surgery, and Winston Justice will start the season on the PUP. When Justice returns, it’s likely Wells will be the one to get cut, but it should be Vandervelde.
Just Missed Out: The only real notable cut is Austin Howard, and he’s always been more potential than anything. Along with Howard, A.Q Shipley, Dallas Reynolds, Spencer Johnson, Jose Acuna, and Fenuki Tupou will hope to play elsewhere. Tupou could find his way to the practice squad.
Defensive Line (10)
RE1. Trent Cole – Probably the best defensive player on this team, this is a no-brainer.
DT1. Mike Patterson – Back from a seizure and down a few pounds, Patterson could be a disruptive force this season.
DT1. Cullen Jenkins – One of the Eagles’ many signings, Jenkins has shown an ability to get to the quarterback in the preseason.
LE1. Jason Babin – Another free agent signing will be starting along the defensive line for the Eagles.
DE3. Darryl Tapp – He will be the first guy called upon in the rotation or if something should happen to Cole or Babin.
DE4. Juqua Parker – Injuries have slid him down the depth chart, but he should be very effective as a role player.
DE5. Phillip Hunt – He’s shown great burst and a knack for getting to the quarterback. Cutting this CFL pickup would be a big mistake.
DT3. Anthony Hargrove – An under-the-radar signing when depth was needed has turned into the primary backup.
DT4. Trevor Laws – Despite not playing this preseason, I believe Laws showed enough last year to warrant a roster spot.
DT5. Derek Landri – Not many know of Landri, but he’s been a starter around the league and has looked impressive.
Just Missed Out: The notable name missing is Antonio Dixon. He’s been injured all preseason and simply does not fit what Jim Washburn wants from his defensive tackles. Do not be surprised, however, if the Eagles find a way to stick him on the IR. At defensive end, the notable name left out is last year’s third-round pick Daniel Te’o-Nesheim. He hasn’t shown anything to warrant a roster spot, and certainly not over Hunt. Cedric Thorton and Chris Wilson will also get the axe.
Linebackers (6)
SAM1. Jamar Chaney – As the team’s best linebacker, Chaney is guaranteed to start somewhere.
MIKE1. Casey Matthews – Like it or not (my vote is “not”), Matthews is starting in the middle.
WILL1. Moise Fokou – Like Matthews, Fokou likely is not a starter, but the Eagles don’t feel they have a better option.
LB4. Keenan Clayton – Last year’s fourth-round pick could be a starter if he could pack on some weight.
LB5. Brian Rolle – He fits the prototypical Eagles linebacker: short, light, but extremely fast.
LB6. Akeem Jordan – Underutilized and undervalued, Jordan should be a starter but will be relegated to special teams.
Just Missed Out: Rashad Jeanty has shown just a notch above absolutely nothing and is on his way out. Seventh-round pick Greg Lloyd has been injured and could easily become the Eagles’ annual stash-a-rookie-on-the-IR-with-a-hangnail candidate.
Cornerbacks (6)
RCB1. Nnamdi Asomugha – The prize of free agency will step in and replace the failed Ellis Hobbs/Dimitri Patterson experiment.
LCB1. Asante Samuel – Samuel across from Asomugha gives the Eagles the best cornerback tandem in the league.
CB3. Joselio Hanson – Despite trade rumors, Hanson is more valuable to the team than a late-round pick in 2012.
CB4. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie – DRC will see plenty of playing time and will be the primary backup everywhere.
CB5. Trevard Lindley – On the outside, Lindley has shown a lot of potential.
CB6. Curtis Marsh – The third-round pick has become a darling with the media, but right now he’s a project.
Just Missed Out: Brandon Hughes is on the outside looking in, but he won’t be out of work long. He’s looked good when he’s been on the field, but I don’t believe the Eagles would part ways with any of the six guys ahead of him just to keep Hughes around.
Safeties (4)
FS1. Kurt Coleman – Last year’s seventh-round pick is turning into a very solid starter.
SS1. Jarrad Page – He was on the bubble a couple weeks ago, but Page has taken advantage of every opportunity and will likely start.
S3. Nate Allen – Were it not for the injury, Allen would likely start, but that knee is not where he was hoping it would be.
S4. Jaiquawn Jarrett – The Eagles’ second-round pick has failed to impress in the preseason, but will get better as the season goes on.
IR: Marlin Jackson, once again, will find his way to the IR or perhaps cut via an injury settlement.
Just Missed Out: It’s a shame to see Colt Anderson go, but he doesn’t have enough talent defensively to beat out any of the four guys ahead of him, and the new kickoff rule kills a lot of his value to the team. Jamar Adams is also gone.
Specialists (3)
K1. Alex Henery – The fourth-round pick will face a ton of pressure as David Akers’ replacement, and a fourth-round kicker.
P1. Chas Henry – He’s looked impressive during the preseason. It’s the Henery and Henry show in the Eagles’ kicking game.
LS1. Jon Dorenbos – Insert lame magician joke here.
Returners
KR1. Dion Lewis – Expect Lewis to earn his keep mostly by returning kickoffs.
PR1. DeSean Jackson – Even with a big-money deal, Jackson will likely still return punts. If not, it could be Lewis pulling double-duty.