Philadelphia Eagles: Training camp battles to look out for

With training camp in full swing the Philadelphia Eagles need to address openings at several positions. With new faces all throughout the roster there will be plenty of battles for playing time.

Whether it be the rookie trying to make a name for himself or the former top draft pick trying to turn his career around, there will be fighting this training camp. With so much upside for a fringe playoff team several new players will be looking to start. These are the top training camp battles Philadelphia Eagles fans need to keep an eye on.

Slot Wide Receiver: Jordan Matthews vs Nelson Agholor

This is the battle getting the most publicity so far this training camp. Jordan Matthews has shown he has what it takes to be a productive wide receiver, but now he is the third (or fourth) option on offense.  Combine that with a possible contract stalemate and a nagging knee injury and all of a sudden he could be thrust out of the starting lineup. Nelson Agholor has been a disappointment so far in his career but all signs seem to be pointing upwards as he’s looked great this training camp.

If Agholor can continue to show improvement on his route running and hands, he could take snaps away from Matthews come the regular season. As of now I do believe that Matthews will win this training camp battle, but not by a large margin.

Right Defensive End: Derek Barnett vs Vinny Curry vs Chris Long

Many fans were shocked when the Eagles decided to draft Derek Barnett with their first pick in the 2017 NFL Draft because of the depth already at the position. Vinny Curry was ready to step in as a starter after having success as a role player and free agent signing Chris Long would become the new situational pass rusher.

With Brandon Graham locked in on the left side, right defensive end is up for grabs, and it may not be settled until after the season starts. Barnett is too talented to not play, so what I believe will happen is a three way rotation will start the year until someone separates themselves from the pack. My money would be on Barnett to separate himself, but it may not happen for a while.

Cornerback: Jalen Mills vs Patrick Robinson vs Rasul Douglas vs Ron Brooks

The most wide open battle seems to be at the Eagles weakest position. Cornerback is one of the reasons the Eagles couldn’t stay in games late last year. While they did make some changes, some players will have more of an effect in 2018. New players Patrick Robinson and Rasul Douglas are set to compete with returning Jalen Mills and Ron Brooks.

Mills showed enough promise last year to be given another chance to start on the outside, and the team invested a third round pick in Rasul Douglas, who’s body type and play style matches up better opposite Mills than does another small cornerback like Robinson or Brooks. That should lead to these two starting the year with Brooks and Robinson mixing in at slot cornerback.

Next: Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp: What to watch on special teams

The Philadelphia Eagles have more talent on this years roster, management made sure of it. While these training camp battles may not include the biggest stars on the team, these are the types of battles that win a team games. If these players can win a starting spot and produce, the Eagles will be in a much better position than they were last year.