Projecting the Eagles’ ideal 53-man roster before training camp

The Philadelphia Eagles will enter training camp with one of the NFL’s deepest rosters, creating difficult decisions at wide receiver, running back, offensive line and throughout the secondary.

Philadelphia has established starters at most positions. The more complicated part involves determining how many players to retain behind them. Cooper DeJean’s ability to play nickel cornerback and safety creates flexibility, while several offensive linemen can work at multiple positions. Those traits could allow general manager Howie Roseman to keep additional players at receiver or cornerback.

Here is one way Philadelphia could construct its ideal 53-man roster.

Quarterback: 3

Jalen Hurts, Andy Dalton, Tanner McKee

Hurts remains the unquestioned starter, while Dalton provides the Eagles with one of the league’s most experienced backup quarterbacks. McKee’s development and low-cost rookie contract make him worth retaining as the third option.

Rookie Cole Payton could provide value on the practice squad. Keeping four quarterbacks would be difficult to justify when Philadelphia faces more demanding roster decisions at receiver, offensive line and defensive back.

Running back: 4

Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley, Dameon Pierce

Barkley will continue to handle the majority of the workload, but the Eagles have enough depth to avoid overworking him during a 17-game season. Bigsby provides a physical complement and flashed during spring practices, while Shipley offers receiving ability and special teams value.

The final decision could come down to Pierce and Elijah Mitchell. Mitchell has demonstrated explosiveness when healthy, but injuries have interrupted his career. Pierce offers size, experience, and special-teams ability, giving him a slight advantage in an ideal roster construction.

Carson Steele will also receive opportunities, but keeping five running backs would create unnecessary pressure elsewhere.

Wide receiver: 6

DeVonta Smith, Hollywood Brown, Dontayvion Wicks, Makai Lemon, Elijah Moore, Darius Cooper

Philadelphia’s receiver room presents the most difficult roster math. Smith enters the season as the unquestioned No. 1 target, while Brown, Wicks, Lemon and Moore were added to reshape the supporting cast.

Those five should be secure if healthy. The sixth position will involve Darius Cooper, Johnny Wilson, Britain Covey, Quez Watkins, Danny Gray, Samori Toure, Erik Ezukanma and other reserve candidates.

Cooper earns the final spot in this projection because of his developmental upside after spending his first NFL season in Philadelphia. Wilson remains one of the most difficult omissions. His 6-foot-6 frame and blocking ability provide traits the other receivers cannot replicate, but he must demonstrate greater consistency as a pass catcher and offers nothing as a special teams contributor.

Covey’s return ability, Watkins’ speed and Wilson’s size will keep the competition open. Keeping seven receivers would be tempting, but doing so would require Philadelphia to sacrifice depth at another position.

Tight end: 3

Dallas Goedert, Eli Stowers, Grant Calcaterra

Goedert remains the starter, while Stowers arrives as a second-round pick with the receiving ability to become an immediate part of Sean Mannion’s offense. Calcaterra provides continuity and experience as the third option.

Johnny Mundt is a proven blocker, and Stone Smartt offers receiving versatility. Either could push Philadelphia toward keeping four tight ends, particularly if the Eagles plan to use heavier personnel groupings.

The ideal roster keeps three and attempts to retain Cameron Latu or Dae’Quan Wright on the practice squad.

Offensive line: 9

Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Lane Johnson, Fred Johnson, Markel Bell, Cameron Williams, Drew Kendall

Philadelphia’s starting five is settled. Steen earned the starting right guard job after playing 1,008 offensive snaps in 2025 and finishing among the league’s more productive guards. The primary questions involve constructing a reserve group capable of covering every position.

Fred Johnson provides proven swing-tackle experience. Bell, a third-round rookie with exceptional size, gives Philadelphia a developmental option behind Mailata and Lane Johnson. Williams increases his value if he can play tackle and guard, while Kendall can provide depth at center and both guard positions.

That combination allows the Eagles to cover all five positions with four reserves. Michael Jordan, Jake Majors, Micah Morris, Willie Lampkin and Myles Hinton make this one of the roster’s deepest competitions.

Morris is a particularly difficult omission because Philadelphia invested a draft pick in him. The Eagles would risk losing him on waivers, but keeping 10 offensive linemen would require a reduction elsewhere. Injuries or preseason performance could ultimately make that decision for them.

Defensive tackle: 5

Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Ty Robinson, Byron Young

Carter, Davis and Ojomo give the Eagles one of the NFL’s most talented interior defensive trios. Robinson and Young provide enough depth to complete the initial group.

Young received first-team work during spring practices and has an opportunity to earn a meaningful rotational role. Robinson enters his second season after demonstrating the size and effort needed to contribute against the run.

Uar Bernard, Zion Wilson, Gabe Hall and Ta’Quon Graham would compete for a possible sixth position. Bernard’s athletic upside makes him a strong practice-squad candidate if Philadelphia can get him through waivers.

Keeping five defensive tackles is possible because several edge defenders have enough size to move inside in specific passing packages.

Edge rusher: 5

Jonathan Greenard, Nolan Smith Jr., Jalyx Hunt, A.J. Epenesa, Arnold Ebiketie

The Eagles enter camp with five established members of their primary edge rotation. Greenard was acquired to provide proven production, while Smith and Hunt give Philadelphia two ascending homegrown defenders.

Hunt led the Eagles in sacks and interceptions last season and could continue expanding his role. Epenesa adds size and length, while Ebiketie provides another experienced pass-rush option after four seasons with Atlanta.

Jose Ramirez, Joshua Weru and Keyshawn James-Newby face a difficult path unless injuries alter the competition. Philadelphia could attempt to retain at least two of them on the practice squad.

Linebacker: 4

Zack Baun, Jihaad Campbell, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Smael Mondon Jr.

Baun and Campbell should handle the majority of the defensive snaps. Campbell enters his second season with an opportunity to expand his responsibilities after demonstrating his range and versatility as a rookie.

Trotter provides experience in the system and special teams value. Mondon gives Philadelphia another athletic option for coverage and should remain a core member of the kicking units.

Deontae Lawson and Chance Campbell could challenge for the fourth position. Lawson’s upside makes him an attractive developmental player, but Mondon’s NFL experience gives him the advantage entering camp.

Cornerback: 7

Quinyon Mitchell, Riq Woolen, Cooper DeJean, Kelee Ringo, Jakorian Bennett, Jonathan Jones, Michael Carter II

Philadelphia can justify keeping seven cornerbacks because DeJean and Carter provide positional flexibility. DeJean will play safety in base packages before moving into the slot in nickel, while Carter can also receive work on the back end.

Mitchell and Woolen project as the starting outside cornerbacks. Ringo remains an important developmental option with starting experience, and Bennett provides speed and additional outside depth.

Jones adds veteran experience, leadership and the ability to play multiple cornerback positions. He started seven games for Washington last season and has spent most of his career playing significant defensive snaps. Philadelphia’s official position preview highlighted his experience as one of the defining elements of the competition.

The depth makes it difficult for Shaun Wade, Ambry Thomas, Tariq Castro-Fields and undrafted rookie Kapena Gushiken to survive final cuts. Gushiken generated early attention during spring practices and would be a priority practice-squad candidate.

Safety: 4

Andrew Mukuba, Marcus Epps, J.T. Gray, Cole Wisniewski

Mukuba returns as the established starter after recording 46 tackles and two interceptions before a fractured ankle ended his rookie season. Epps is the favorite to start next to him when Philadelphia uses nickel personnel.

Gray makes the roster because of his special teams value. He has earned three All-Pro selections in the kicking game and gives Philadelphia an experienced coverage player who can handle emergency defensive snaps.

Wisniewski earns the fourth spot over Andre’ Sam and Maximus Pulley. The seventh-round rookie brings size, physicality and tackling ability, although he must show that he can hold up in coverage. Pulley’s ball production makes him an intriguing practice-squad candidate.

DeJean’s base-defense role at safety allows Philadelphia to carry four traditional players at the position without sacrificing depth. Carter’s ability to move between cornerback and safety creates additional protection.

Special teams: 3

Jake Elliott, Braden Mann, Rocco Underwood

Elliott and Mann return as Philadelphia’s established kicker and punter. Underwood enters camp as the only long snapper on the roster, giving the undrafted rookie a direct path to the job if he handles the operation consistently.

The larger special teams questions involve the return and coverage units. Covey’s roster case would become stronger if Philadelphia is uncomfortable with its other punt-return options. DeJean has proven he can handle the role, but using a starting defensive back as the primary returner creates unnecessary injury exposure.

Gray, Shipley, Mondon and several reserve defensive backs would provide the foundation of the coverage units.

Projected 53-man roster

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Projecting the Eagles’ ideal 53-man roster before training camp