The Philadelphia Eagles start their OTA workouts today down at the NovaCare Complex. While there is still plenty of time between now and Training Camp, this is a great opportunity to get an early look at the 2024 roster and focus on some players who could well shine this offseason or have particular focuses in mind.
5 Eagles to watch during OTA’s
Jordan Davis
Jordan Davis came under a lot of unnecessary fire in 2023-24 and not a lot of it was through his own volition. The monstrous defensive tackle was criticized for being ‘overweight’ and lacking production, despite his role demanding more a space-eating skillset out of him.
Fast forward to 2024 and the Eagles have a new defensive coordinator in the way of Vic Fangio. A new scheme presents new opportunities for the Georgia product, and it’s safe to say he heard all of the noise last year.
Davis was seen at a recent Eagles Autism Challenge event and he appears to have really slimmed down.
We don’t yet know what the season has in store for the former first-round pick, but Jordan Davis appears to have hit the gym hard and if he can add some explosiveness and agility to his game then he’s going to be a real problem alongside Jalen Carter.
Tyler Steen
This is a big offseason for the young offensive lineman. Selected back in the third round of last year’s NFL Draft, the Alabama product is still relatively inexperienced. But Jason Kelce’s retirement pushed the conveyor belt forward in Philadelphia, which means Cam Jurgens is likely to replace the future Hall of Famer, while Landon Dickerson mans the LG spot. This leaves Steen as the natural heir to the RG throne.
Steen only started once in 2023, playing in 71 snaps against the Dallas Cowboys in a fairly underwhelming effort. However, one offseason can make the world of difference when Jeff Stoutland is involved, and the fact that the Eagles didn’t invest heavy at the position this past offseason should inspire some confidence.
It’s important that Steen hits the ground running in the spring so that he’s ready to roll by the time the going gets tough during Training Camp.
Bryce Huff
Haason Reddick’s departure left a gaping hole in Philadelphia’s pass-rush, but one that was quickly filled by rising star Bryce Huff. After breaking out in 2023 for the Jets last year, Howie Roseman was quick to snipe his talents and bring him onboard.
The main question marks here are over Huff’s trajectory out of the gate. He played in a rotational role with the Jets, which worked well due to how freakishly athletic he is. With Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham still on the roster, the Eagles are likely in no rush to throw Huff into a three-down role, but fans will want to see plenty of Huff given how much he’s being paid.
It will be interesting to see how he fares against two of the best tackles in the league throughout the remainder of the offseason and whether or not he can earn a starting role by the time week 1 rolls around. It would be ideal to give Brandon Graham a slightly reduced role given his age, but only time will tell as to how Huff can handle the Lion’s share of snaps.
Nakobe Dean
The Eagles did very little to bolster a depleted linebacker position this offseason outside of signing Devin White. It appears all hopes are still pinned on Nakobe Dean, who was bitten by the injury bug last year and was hardly playing at an elite level when he was starting.
This is a big offseason for the former third-round pick, who will once again have a chance to earn a starting role in this defense. It’s now his third NFL season and the excuses simply won’t wash for a team looking to make the Super Bowl for three second time in three seasons. It’s very much boom or bust now.
Cooper DeJean
It’s hard not to get excited about one of the most versatile DB’s in this class. While DeJean was drafted as a Safety, he has plenty of experience on the boundary and working out of the slot. The Eagles want to be patient with their prized rookie, but OTA’s are going to be the ultimate playground for Vic Fangio, who is bound to try and test DeJean in a variety of spots to not only see what he’s capable of during his first season, but how he can best impact a defense that has very few starting spots open.
Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire
