It’s officially the calm before the storm. As all eyes await the thudding of pads down at the NovaCare Complex, it’s fair to wonder if the Philadelphia Eagles are done adding players to their roster this offseason. But if you’re familiar with Howie Roseman, you know his job is never quite finished.
There are some spots on the roster lacking in depth that could well be circled in red by the esteemed GM as the team looks to bolster each position ahead of a crucial Summer.
Cornerback
As things stand, Kelee Ringo and Adoree Jackson look set to fight it out over the starting CB spot opposite Quinyon Mitchell. The Eagles are high on their young corner and have every right to be, but whether or not he’s ready to jump into a full-time starting role is anyone’s guess.
Outside of that, the whispers of Cooper DeJean taking on a more expanded role at Safety could leave a potential spot for improvement in the nickel, with rookie Mac McWilliams and veteran Parry Nickerson currently the only other options on the depth chart.
The Eagles have enough depth and young talent to feel comfortable at cornerback, but if a player like Jaire Alexander was available on a cheaper contract than expected? I wouldn’t be shocked to see Howie Roseman pull the trigger on prove-it deal for one of the best corners in the NFL when healthy.
I can’t envision them signing another prominent name barring an exceptional circumstance, but stranger things have happened. However, with some unproven players potentially in-line for bigger roles in 2024, adding some more veteran depth wouldn’t be the worst idea.
Safety
As aforementioned, we could well see some more formations including Cooper DeJean lining up in the defensive backfield this season, which is an exciting prospect. If the Eagles were to keep things as they are, however, Reed Blankenship would be joined by rookie Andrew Mukuba, and Sydney Brown is a total wildcard at this point.
Depth is top-heavy at the position and a proven veteran to head up a very young positional group could be a worthwhile addition to Vic Fangio’s defense.
Right Guard
This is a big year for Tyler Steen. Mekhi Becton has moved on following his Super Bowl win, leaving Steen to fill the cleats he was assumed to in 2024. That didn’t happen, but with another year under Jeff Stoutland, it’s very much now-or-never for the 2023 Draft selection.
Behind him sits only returning Eagle Matt Pryor, and the guard position in general is filled with younger players who will need time to grow in Stoutland University.
The presence of Kenyon Green is important, especially if he can rekindle some of that form that once made him a first-round selection, but whether or not he could man both spots in this offense is a question mark, meaning the Eagles might want to find one or two more names just to bridge the gap until the likes of Trevor Keegan and Marcus Tate are ready.
Offensive tackle
There’s a similar story at offensive tackle. Nobody is close to displacing Jordan Mailata or Lane Johnson, but rookie Myles Hinton currently figures to be the blindside backup, and two more rookies sit in behind him.
The Eagles do have a slight wildcard in 33 year old Kendall Lamm, who has played in at least 15 games in 6 of his 10 seasons and is a proven starter. He has limited starting experience on the left hand side however and this may prompt the Eagles to again try and bridge the gap.
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