Eagles 53-man roster prediction: How tough decisions at wide receiver, tight end and D-line will shake out

Howie Roseman has all the pieces laid out in front as he whittles the Eagles’ 91-man roster down to 53 players ahead of Sunday’s 6 p.m. deadline.

Most of the team is in place, but it isn’t like some piece of furniture from IKEA with specific parts. Roseman will build his makeshift roster by balancing the Eagles’ immediate needs with the long-term, while also factoring in injury variables, the salary cap, and other potential moves.

The general manager is scanning the rest of the NFL for upgrades at positions in question. He’s yet to make any trades since camp started, but no one likes to wheel and deal as much as Roseman. C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Jahan Dotson are just two of the players Roseman acquired in and around this time.

Wide receiver, tight end, and safety are among potential areas that could be addressed.

The 16-man practice squad will also afford the Eagles a landing spot for vested veterans, players they will taxi up on game days, or prospects they hope to develop. So while only 53 will make the initial cut, Roseman considers his roster a 69-man outfit (70 if they have an international prospect).

It is an ever-evolving list that will likely change ahead of the season opener vs. the Commanders on Sept. 13. But for one fleeting moment there will be those who make it, and those who don’t. Here’s one beat reporter’s predictions:

Quarterbacks (3): Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, Cole Payton.

Traded: Andy Dalton.

Practice squad: None.

Dalton’s play this summer hasn’t earned him the No. 2 job. McKee has been only marginally better, but has shown improvement. The best man doesn’t always win. But the educated guess here is that Roseman will trade Dalton to a backup-needy team — of which there are many. He may need to keep all four quarterbacks past Sunday’s deadline to get what he wants in return, however.

Payton has displayed more than last year’s rookie project — Kyle McCord — and probably wouldn’t pass through waivers if the Eagles consider stowing him on the practice squad.

Running backs (3): Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley.

Cut: Dameon Pierce, Carson Steele, Jordan Mims.

Practice squad: Steele.

A position of strength, the top three running backs have virtually been locked into place since the start of camp. Shipley’s development made Pierce expendable. Steele’s preseason film could make him a waiver claim. His fullback experience — which he never got to show in camp — makes him a versatile practice squad possibility.

Wide receivers (5): DeVonta Smith, Makai Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Darius Cooper.

Injured reserve: Johnny Wilson.

Cut: Elijah Moore, Britain Covey, Quez Watkins, Danny Gray, Samori Toure, Erik Ezukanma, Tahj Washington.

Practice squad: Moore, Covey.

There was little chance the Eagles could replace A.J. Brown with just one player, so Roseman went the by-committee route with Lemon as the biggest investment. A nagging hamstring injury has stunted the first-round draft pick’s early development. Wicks solidified the No. 2 outside spot, but there’s a significant dropoff after Smith. That Cooper, who cooled off after a hot summer start, is the only receiver with some size could also be of concern.

Moore performed better than Hollywood Brown in camp, but the latter is guaranteed $5 million. He also has a proven track record. Moore is also primarily a slot and that job belongs to Lemon — for better or worse. Maybe he’s an early-season practice squad call-up to offset the rookie’s expected learning curve. Covey’s been down this road before and could stick on the practice squad, unless Lemon can field punts right away.

Tight ends (4): Dallas Goedert, Johnny Mundt, Eli Stowers, Cameron Latu.

Cut: Grant Calcaterra, E.J. Jenkins, Stone Smartt.

Practice squad: Calcaterra, Jenkins.

Tight end has overtaken safety as the most likely area Roseman might address via trade or by some other means. The Eagles were probably expecting Stowers to need time, especially when it came to blocking. But he rarely practiced with Hurts, if at all, and recently suffered a setback with his hamstring. Redshirting the second-rounder would set off alarms, so it’s unlikely Roseman takes that route.

But a swap — or signing a veteran like Zach Ertz off the street — would also speak volumes. Goedert is still a competent “Y” receiver, while Mundt will shoulder some of the “F” blocking responsibilities. But tight ends often need to be dual-purpose within Sean Mannion’s new Kyle Shanahan-style scheme and neither is as competent in the opposite discipline.

If Stowers isn’t healthy by the opener, or is unable to contribute on special teams in the early going, Latu seems the likely fourth option. He can also fill the fullback role if Mannion adds that wrinkle to the offense.

Offensive linemen (10): Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Markel Bell, Drew Kendall, Willie Lampkin, Micah Morris, Fred Johnson.

Cut: John Ojukwu, Jake Majors, Michael Jordan, Cameron Williams, Myles Hinton, Zeke Correll.

Practice squad: Ojukwu, Majors, Williams.

The starting five — among the best units in the NFL when healthy — has long been predictable. In question entering camp was if the youngsters would be viable backups. The answer appears to be a provisional yes after a promising summer of Bell, Kendall and Lampkin working with Jeff Stoutland replacement Chris Kuper. Ultimately, they have to go out there and do it against actual starters when called upon.

And that time will most likely come. Jurgens has looked more nimble than he did a year ago after back surgery. But Dickerson may be put together by Scotch tape and chewing gum after multiple injuries, while the 36-year-old Lane Johnson is entering his likely final season. Bell may have beat out Fred Johnson for the swing tackle spot, but the latter has helped the Eagles through multiple injuries the previous two seasons. He’s the last guy on here, but may not survive.

There also isn’t an obvious second reserve tackle with Williams and Hinton still not close to ready.

Defensive tackles (6): Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Byron Young, Ty Robinson, Uar Bernard.

Cut: Gabe Hall, Zion Wilson, David Blay.

Practice squad: Hall, Wilson.

Roseman has balanced winning in the short term vs. building for the long term better than most franchises (see: Mailata). Bernard has a ways to go before he sees the field in the regular season. But the Eagles have that luxury with significant depth at defensive tackle.

Carter, Davis and Ojomo give defensive coordinator Vic Fangio a formidable interior. Young and especially Robinson have taken steps forward in the offseason. Bernard, the International Player Pathway (IPP) program project the Eagles drafted in the seventh round, could befall injury and save a roster spot. But he wouldn’t be able to practice with the team while on injured reserve.

Edges (6): Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, A.J. Epenesa, Arnold Ebiketie, Joshua Weru.

Cut: Keyshawn James-Newby, Jose Ramirez, Tarron Jackson.

Practice squad: James-Newby.

Roseman’s continued investment in the trenches influences the roster makeup. Fangio has said he can get away with just a three-man rotation on the edge, which would theoretically not make it necessary to stockpile at the position. But Greenard’s pectoral muscle tear and Weru’s potential ceiling should make keeping as many as six here a necessity.

Fangio has hinted that Greenard may not suit up for Week 1, but if the veteran edge is going to be out for significantly longer he’ll likely stay on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. That would open a roster spot. Hunt and Smith, meanwhile, appear better equipped to start than they were a year ago.

Epenesa was a solid late spring addition. Ebiketie hasn’t stood out, and could be a surprise cut. But Weru, like Bernard an IPP project, needs polishing and strengthening. There’s little doubt another team would be willing to snatch the undrafted rookie off waivers.

Inside linebackers (5): Zack Baun, Jihaad Campbell, Jeremiah Trotter, Smael Mondon, Chance Campbell.

Cut: Deontae Lawson, Brandon George.

Practice squad: Lawson.

Fangio has openly touted his depth at off-ball linebacker. He still harps on Jihaad Campbell’s mental inconsistency, but the former first-rounder has all the tools to thrive alongside Baun. Trotter has starter capabilities. He and Mondon will be core special teams performers.

Chance Campbell has put solid preseason film out there. Could he or Mondon be trade bait for a tight end or safety?

Cornerbacks (6): Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Riq Woolen, Jonathan Jones, Kelee Ringo, Mac McWilliams.

Cut: Jakorian Bennett, Tariq Castro-Fields, Shaun Wade, Ambry Thomas, Isaiah Bolden.

Practice squad: Bennett.

Mitchell, DeJean and Woolen — provided the latter keeps ascending — give the Eagles an impressive trio. If the outside guys were to get injured, DeJean would likely be the replacement. Fangio might want his third corner to come off the bench, but no one has made a claim to that spot. Jones was the best candidate. He has 78 career starts. But a shoulder injury got in the way and he wasn’t all that impressive before the setback.

Ringo can be a frustrating player on defense. But he has talent and length and ably fills the gunner role on special teams. McWilliams gets the benefit of being a former draft pick, but the second-year former fifth-rounder isn’t guaranteed anything. The same could be said for Bennett, who has also missed time to injury, and hasn’t justified the trade that sent Thomas Booker IV to the Raiders.

Safeties (3): Andrew Mukuba, Marcus Epps, Michael Carter II.

Cut: Cole Wisniewski, Maximus Pulley, Andre Sam, Kapena Gushiken, Jaylen Mahoney.

Practice squad: Wisniewski, Pulley, Sam.

DeJean will play safety in base personnel, while Epps has all but won the nickel spot. Carter gave him a run for his money and may end up there at some point. But his versatility has been a blessing and a curse. He’s had to learn multiple spots in the secondary and never got the chance to major at safety. Carter allows Fangio the luxury of moving DeJean to outside corner if needed.

Wisniewski has just been hurt too much to warrant a roster spot at this point. Pulley and Sam have done enough to sneak in, but extra safeties are what the practice squad is for.

Specialists (2): Jake Elliott, Braden Mann.

Cut: Rocco Underwood.

Practice squad: Underwood.

Elliott faced no competition in camp after successive down seasons. The Eagles believe he will return to form, but how long could his leash be if he continues to miss key kicks? He had a decent camp, but wasn’t as automatic as in years past.

The flexibility of the practice squad has made it a more suitable spot for most long snappers. Underwood hasn’t made any glaring snafus, but experts can see he’s not yet elite. So the Eagles won’t have to worry about losing him to waivers and can scour the wire after teams with two long snappers get to 53.

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