Training Camp is just around the corner for the Philadelphia Eagles which means it’s officially the most exciting time of year. We’re just a few short breaths away from the thudding of pads and the build toward the regular season as teams around the league look to reduce their 90-man roster down to just 53.
From the legends of Paul Turner and Aaron Grymes, to the breakouts of Corey Clement and Rasheed Bailey, Philadelphia has often been home to underdogs who have stolen the spotlight during Training Camp and preseason. But which Eagles could be poised to take that leap in 2023?
Josh Jobe
The Eagles have a ton of cornerback depth going into this season and although the starting spots are locked in, there’s a very interesting battle between Josh Jobe and Greedy Williams for one of the key backup spots.
Jobe is entering his second NFL season after spending his opening year in Philadelphia as a UDFA. He put together a fairly impressive preseason, racking up 12 tackles and a pass breakup in two games and would feature sporadically on defense as the regular season drew on.
The Alabama product spent most of his first year as a special teamer, but made a real impact on Eagles fans in their blowout win over the Giants, demonstrating impressive click-and-close technique on a huge hit against WR Richie James.
Jobe has long been known for his physicality and after a year of working with James Bradberry and Darius Slay, one would assume that patience at the line and better hand usage when jamming would’ve caught on. If so, the Eagles could well have a future starter in their midsts and one who could comfortably beat out Greedy Williams for a roster spot.
Christian Elliss
The backup linebacker was one of the biggest standouts during Eagles OTA’s and will be looking to carry that momentum into the Summer. Depth at the LB spot is still fairly thin and experience is lacking. While Nakobe Dean may be entrenched as the heart and soul of the position, there is still room for an underdog to carve out a role, and the former Minnesota standout is looking to do just that.
He’s the brother of Eagles DT, Noah Elliss, and son of former Pro Bowler, Luther Elliss. Football very much runs in the family and Christian is an explosive athlete who can be used off the edge or as an off-ball linebacker.
Ellis will be battling almost directly with Nicholas Morrow, but an impressive OTA period will have put the position on notice. He’s only 24-years-old and appears to have taken a significant leap in his development over the offseason. Keep an eye out for his name once Camp opens.
Moro Ojomo
With a reduced preseason schedule and an emphasis on keeping starters as healthy as possible, it’s very much going to be battleground for rookies and vets who will be justling for those vital spots on the back end of the roster. With Jordan Davis, Fletcher Cox, and Jalen Carter having sealed their spots in the rotation, there’s no need to burn them out. This means we should get a healthy look at rookie Moro
Ojomo made 30 career starts for Texas and ended 2022 with 32 tackles, 5.5 TFL, and 3 sacks. He’s a versatile lineman who displays an explosive get-off and enough power to execute rushes and swallow up double teams. His RAS score came in at 9.28, and we all know the Eagles love their hyper-athletes. At 6’2, 293 lbs, he’s a little lighter which does aid his agility. It will be interesting to see how he compares to someone like Milton Williams, who is built in a near-identical way and possesses a similar skillset.
If we see a strong dose of Ojomo in the preseason, there’s no reason he can’t enjoy a summer breakout en-route to securing a spot on the back-end of the rotation or on the practice squad.
K’Von Wallace
At this point, it’s very much do-or-die for K’Von Wallace. The former Clemson Safety arrived on the scene with a stamp of approval from Brian Dawkins and a highlight reel that mirrored the physicality of Weapon-X. Since then, he’s struggled to break onto the field.
However, not all hope is gone. When Reed Blankenship was taken out of the week 14 game against the Giants on a medical cart, it was Wallace who burst onto the scene and played extremely well, holding down the fort. He then led the team in tackles in a start against the Bears.
Some of that progress was undone when he was ejected from the playoff game with the Niners.
Time is ticking. Reed Blankenship has earned one starting role and it’s not like the other is within reach. The Clemson product has to do something this Summer to keep his place on the team.
Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire
