The Philadelphia Eagles wrapped up their organized team activities (OTAs) and are preparing for the mandatory minicamp that is set to begin on June 10. During OTAs, the Eagles coaching staff got a chance to evaluate the complete roster for the first time, including the rookies, newcomers, and veterans on the bubble.
While training camp and preseason can still change a lot of things in terms of the starters, rotation, and the 53-man roster, Nick Sirianni & Co. must have a better idea of what they have on their hands heading into their pursuit of back-to-back Super Bowl wins.
One of the early standouts so far has been Philadelphia's second-round pick, Andrew Mukuba. After the surprise departure of C.J. Gardner-Johnson this offseason, the starting spot alongside Reed Blankenship opened up. So far, Mukuba has been getting the reps in the offseason workouts and has looked the part of an instant contributor, per reporting from Eagles insiders.
First look at rookie Safety Andrew Mukuba 👀
— Word On The Birds (@WordOnTheBirds) May 28, 2025
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Andew Mukuba Making One Eagles Vet Expendable Before Mandatory Minicamp
While it is a great sign for the Eagles that the rookie looks ready to go on day one, it doesn't bode well for some of the competitors vying for a roster spot. If Mukuba is indeed able to start next to Blankenship immediately, Tristin McCollum's days in Philadelphia may be numbered.
McCollum played a role for Vic Fangio last season, appearing in 14 games and 250 defensive snaps. He had a large role on special teams once again, but wasn't particularly impressive in his snaps defensively, receiving a 39.6 grade on Pro Football Focus.
Fangio said during OTAs that McCollum is still part of the competition at safety, but it's hard to imagine the third-year player beating out the likes of Mukuba and Sydney Brown. There is also Maxen Hook, to whom the Eagles gave their most guaranteed money among undrafted free agents. He has enough versatility and upside that the Eagles may choose to give him a shot over McCollum.
Even if McCollum finds a way to stick around, maybe on the practice squad, he has clearly been made expendable after the latest developments. What the future holds for him in Philadelphia remains to be seen.