Football is truly the ultimate team sport. NFL teams, especially the Eagles, need good health and production from their star players and almost every member of the 53-man-roster. The contributions from rookies, newly signed players, and guys who have been developing and training with the team are typically one of the largest factors in determining if a team progresses or regresses.
These five players could have a significant role in 2024, and play a vital part in determining if the Eagles can have a Championship season.
Britain Covey
Covey has proven all summer that he belongs in the conversation as one of the WRs to fill the third wide receiver role. Sirianni has intimated that WR3 might not be one player, but yet a hybrid of different players, if that is the case, Covey is making a strong case.
He further illustrated that vs the Ravens. He showed off his hands by hauling in all 4 of his targets and displayed his punt returner ability with a 27-yard return. He can take one to the house at any time.
Britain Covey is catching everything pass thrown his way at camp as well. In practice last week, Covey created separation versus Avonte Maddox, who could not contain the shifty receiver, for a long pass completion. His improvement as a receiver has been turning heads consistently all summer.
Covey might be the most improved receiver from last season. He is a lock to make the roster and positioning himself to have a larger impact in the passing game.
Johnny Wilson
The Eagles took a chance on Wilson when they drafted him in the 6th round due to his unique traits, so far the gamble has paid off.
Johnny Wilson is 6’7 237 lbs and fast for his size, he has been GPS at 21.3 mph. He has long 36′ arms, 10 1/4 hands, and displays a 10–5 broad-catch radius!
He owns 50/50 balls and should be a BIG red-zone threat. With his deceptive speed, he is surprisingly effective as a deep threat. He could be an underrated scoring weapon for the Birds in 2024.
Wilson also should see the field often due to his blocking skills. Johnny made a nice block during the first preseason game that sprung Will Shipley free to score a TD, and he has had many of those moments at camp.
The hype around him to be WR3 is real. Jalen Hurts has shouted him out a couple of times post-practice. Wilson is taking advantage of the extra reps while Parris Campbell is out and may have surpassed him on the depth chart.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr
Jeremiah Jr is no stranger to Philadelphia Eagles fans. For starters, his father is a linebacking legend in the city, for another, Jr. wears number 54 like his father did. But more importantly, he plays the position with the same instincts, ferocity, and purpose.
His elite play recognition is one of the reasons he put up such great numbers at Clemson, and is also one of the traits that separated him from the other linebackers in the 2024 NFL Draft class. That trait was on display in his first NFL preseason vs the Ravens.
Trotter Jr played with the second team on Friday night and made his presence known. He was always around the ball and ended the night with 4 tackles and a sack. He will contribute to special teams right away, and with a few more games like this, he could be moving up to 1st team LB sooner than many thought.
Who isn’t looking forward to that first sack celly?
Zack Baun
For most of the summer, Baun has looked good at camp and it has been assumed that he will be one of the starting LBs. After a very average showing in the first preseason game, it may have opened the competition. Zack will need to be consistent to secure the starting job.
Baun played for Wisconsin in college and had a breakout season in 2019 with 12.5 sacks. He showed coverage ability and versatility at the Senior Bowl that year, and Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio plans on utilizing those attributes this season.
Fangio’s system seems to match Baun’s skill set and this offseason there appeared to be a desire for Fangio to have a player on the Eagle’s defense to play a role similar to what Van Ginkel did in Miami last season.
“Vic’s (Eagles DC) scheme is eerily similar to the same scheme we ran at Wisconsin” – Zack Baun
In a similar role for Miami with Fangio as DC last year, Van Ginkel had 6 sacks, 1 int (TD), 69 tackles, 19 QB hits, and 8 TFLs.
There is an opportunity for Baun to have a successful season.
Moro Ojomo
Moro Ojomo has looked like one of the better-run defenders for the Eagles this preseason. Ojomo appears ahead of Marlon Tuipulotu and is fighting for significant playing time. Those reps will be key if the defense is to have a good season.
The D-line was gassed at season end and losing Fletcher Cox’s 684 snaps has put more stress on the coaching staff to find someone who can effectively take them over. The snap counts in 2023 illustrate how much more production they are counting on from their 2nd year DT.
Moro Ojomo played 68 snaps, Marlon Tuipulotu 162, Milton Williams 494, Jordan Davis 519, Jalen Carter 563, Fletcher Cox 684 (66%).
Moro looks like a player who could have a breakout season and move up the depth chart. He was disruptive and played with an edge. He has the talent and attitude to be a fan favorite.
As always, Thank you for reading
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Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
