Another summer, another loaded Eagles roster. But don’t let the star power fool you; beneath the surface of Hurts, AJB, and Carter, there are numerous positional battles once training camp kicks off at NovaCare.
Here are a few jobs that will be won or lost, as Philly gears up for another Super Bowl run.
Edge
Nolan Smith is no longer a future promise; he’s the guy. He closed 2024 out on a historic postseason run and is now the alpha in the edge room. Behind him is where things get interesting.
Rookie-turned-postseason-breakout Jalyx Hunt could be locking down a starting job. He earned playoff snaps and Fangio’s trust. With Brandon Graham retired and Josh Sweat gone, Hunt is battling for a permanent role.
The question will be – which Eagles will rise behind them?
Training camp will tell us a lot about whether the Eagles have enough depth, or if another Howie Roseman August phone call is on the way to add a piece.
Right Guard
Tyler Steen enters camp penciled in at right guard, but it is certainly not written in pen. He will have competition from Matt Pryor, Marcus Tate, Trevor Keegan, Kenyon Green, and maybe Drew Kendall.
If Steen doesn’t win this job early in camp, Right Guard could be a revolving door into the preseason games.
Safety
With Gardner-Johnson traded away, he leaves a starting safety role available, and this battle will be one of the more intriguing of the summer.
Sydney Brown is back from his ACL and eager to reclaim his physical style. Andrew Mukuba, the second-round draft pick from Clemson, has already made an impression on the offense this spring. And dont forget Tristin McCollum, who is quietly hanging around in the rotation.
The winner will be the one who can be consistent and communicate effectively in Fangio’s demanding system. Right now, it’s wide open.
Outside Corner
On one side, you’ve got Kelee Ringo. He is young, freakishly athletic, and exudes a great deal of untapped potential. A 6-foot-2 corner with legit 4.3 speed and SEC toughness who could be finally coming into his own after two years of on-the-job training. He’s no longer the raw project from Georgia. He’s bigger, smarter, and hungrier. He is an exciting player to watch this summer.
On the other side, you’ve got Adoree’ Jackson. The veteran pickup, ala Isaiah Rodgers last season, who went quiet in the headlines, but flashes a lot of ability when you watch his film. He’s started over 80 games in this league. He’s played in big moments. He’s been burned, bounced back, and battled. He’s not here to teach. He’s here to win a job.
This is going to be a fantastic battle to watch play out!
QB3
Jalen Hurts is the undisputed QB1. That’s not a question. Tanner McKee is QB2, and draft pick Kyle McCord, versus the newly acquired Dorian Thompson-Robinson, will battle for the right to be QB3.
McCord’s got the pedigree, and DTR brings a playmaking edge this coaching staff covets. Only one likely makes the 53.
Some surprise names could sneak onto Eagles’ final 53
Most jobs for the Eagles heading into training camp are already decided, and most of the names are known. But there’s always a Ben VanSumeren type of guy that rises and gets everyone’s attention to force his way onto the 53. The guy who is grinding in the heat unnoticed while fans focus on the stars, that will work their way onto the roster. That is one of the biggest reasons training camp is so exciting every year.
Hollin Pierce, Maxen Hook, ShunDerrick Powell, and Cameron Williams are a few names to pay attention to this summer.
Conclusion
The Eagles enter 2025 as one of the league’s most talented teams on paper. But behind the highlight reels are roster spots being fought for. Don’t blink, because the next Super Bowl hero might just be working with the second team in July.
As always, thank you for reading!
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Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
