Tre Sullivan
After signing with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2017, the Shepherd University product sunk his claws into the practice squad during the team’s Super Bowl winning season. One year later, he earned a spot on the final 53-man roster and like a hungry Dog, refused to let go of that grip.
Amassing 17 tackles, Sullivan’s role on defense started to expand when Rodney McLeod went down with an injury, but he played in 47% of special teams snaps, an area where he made a real impact. This should come as no surprise though, given that in his final season at Shepherd, he blocked 3 kicks. Sullivan’s career has followed a very clear path up to this point, but there is a chance his journey receives a turbo injection this offseason.
On the outside looking in
Deiondre Hall
Drafted by the Bears when former VP of Player Personnel, Joe Douglas, was onboard, Hall could be the player most likely to throw the cat among the pigeons. Acquired in a trade for a conditional pick, Hall racked up 19 tackles for Chicago during preseason. In the year before that, as a rookie, Hall made 9 tackles, 1 interception and 3 pass defenses in 8 appearances. The struggles for Hall were, unfortunately, injury and character-based, after missing 14 games due to a hamstring injury. Hall was also tased by Police a few years back for an off-the-field incident.
If a change of culture can right those wrongs, Hall has now spent a year on the bottom end of the Eagles roster, carving his role on special teams, playing in over 40% of snaps.
Hall and Countess could ultimately be competing over the same role, but the former Bears DB has been hidden away for long enough and could become one of this year’s training camp darlings, throwing some of those bigger discussions a real curveball.
Trae Elston
The former Bills Safety was signed during May when depth was minimal with Jenkins absent. A starter hampered by injury setbacks, Elston returns to Philly for his second stint.
If you remember back in 2017, the Eagles poached Elston then as well, who at that point in time was a preseason standout in Buffalo, going on to play in 30 special teams snaps in the opening two games before being waived. The 6’0, 195 lbs, DB went undrafted out of 2016 and spent time with the Browns, Bucs, and Saints, before that.
He made one tackle for the Eagles that year, before returning to Buffalo and playing in 13 games, notching 18 tackles and a pick in the process. He was later cut once more and found a new home in Miami, but would be looking for a new team for the entire 2018 season after being released just after the 53-man roster cutdown.
Elston is really at a disadvantage coming into camp given the route to a roster spot may well lie on special teams, which at this position at least, is crowded.
Projection
It’s hard to imagine a scenario where Jenkins and McLeod aren’t on the final roster, the question is, who joins them? Sendejo and Countess have the best odds of making the final roster, but there is a possibility the Eagles trial someone like Avonte Maddox at Safety. At this point, I feel it’s unlikely that Sendejo is cut, and we should see a relatively trouble-free camp. Countess is primed to beat out Sullivan and company at the fourth safety spot, but stranger things have happened.
