Defensive end
Joe Ostman, Casey Toohill
Casey Toohill was drafted in the seventh-round by the Eagles, while Ostman has been a scout-team darling who has been hampered by injuries. Coming off a torn ACL, Ostman’s potential may well be put on hold and Toohill could be the man to kick him to the curb providing he sails smoothly into the Summer. The adoration given to Ostman is a lifeline he’ll be clinging onto as Camp unfolds.
Defensive Tackle
Anthony Rush, Raequan Williams
I loved Anthony Rush out of UAB last year. The 6’5, 350 lbs, DT was the perfect big-body to suck up double teams and allow Cox to thrive if he could refine his technique and explosion off the line. We did see development when on the field last year, but the rotation is stacked and he now has a new UDFA breathing down his neck. Someone who had 17.5 sacks during his last two years as a Spartan. Keep your eyes on this battle at the very edge of the Eagles roster bubble.
Linebacker
Shaun Bradley, Jatavis Brown, Dante Olson
A seventh-round pick, a free agent addition who is a poor tackler in the open field, and a UDFA. This is the Eagles linebacker content we all come for.
Letting Bradham and KGH walk could be costly if they don’t find long-term replacements. Whether that’s through guys like Davion Taylor and even Will Parks, or developmental talents like T.J Edwards, it will be project players like these that can keep the conveyor belt moving.
Cornerback
Craig James, Rasul Douglas
I hate listing Rasul Douglas here, I really do. There may not be a battle as such, but the Eagles have 7 CB’s on their roster as things stand. With Jones and Maddox battling for CB2 duties, Cre’Von LeBlanc juking it out with Nickell Robey-Coleman in the slot, and Darius slay locking down the CB1 spot, it leaves him out in the cold.
Douglas has been putting in a lot of work this offseason but there definitely appears to be a rift between how the coaching staff and front office view him. He still has a really high ceiling and could force himself onto the roster, but he’d need to comfortably beat out the heroics of Craig James, who is best known for that tipped pass against the Packers.
Safety
Grayland Arnold, Marcus Epps, Rudy Ford
Marcus Epps will be forever linked with the awful play against Seattle in the playoffs, while Rudy Ford’s hard-hitting special teams ability will now be matched up with UDFA Grayland Arnold. Someone who the Eagles coaching staff love so much, they’ve moved him from CB to S to try and groom into a future starter. For that to happen, he’ll have to show he’s got what it takes at the NovaCare Complex proving grounds.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
