The Eagles’ unofficial depth chart is out, and naturally, everyone has already started reading into it.
Who’s first? Who got bumped down? Who isn’t where we expected?
Keeping things in perspective and knowing that context is important when reading; it’s unofficial for a reason.
There will be overreaction, but this is designed to be fun and lighthearted and look at clues of where the organization head’s at regarding certain players, not declaring winners or losers during the middle of August while training camp is going on.
The unofficial chart doesn’t tell us much here. Jalen Hurts is QB1, Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee are battling in camp, and both are listed at QB2, with rookie Cole Payton third.
This reads less like a depth chart and more like a math problem nobody wants to solve. The preseason games and final couple of weeks of training camp should provide the answer. Eagles GM Howie Roseman has stated he would keep four quarterbacks, but I am not sure anyone believes that.
This is a position where most know the top two are Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby, but the shock comes with Dameon Pearce and Carson Steele listed ahead of Will Shipley. It would be a slight upset if Shipley is not on the roster.
Will is currently the third wheel, and nobody likes being the third wheel. Expect him to play the pre-season games with purpose.
The receiver room has DeVonta Smith, Makai Lemon, and Dontayvion Wicks as the top 3, which by all accounts is how most thought that would be. Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore, and camp standout Darius Cooper round out the top six. With a deep room, it is hard to see them going with less than six receivers for the final 53. Johnny Wilson is listed as 3rd string, which may come as a surprise to some, but he is facing an uphill climb.
The Eagles are going to a more horizontal offense and will spread the ball around; there are plenty of mouths to feed, but with this many receivers in camp, somebody is going to be left hungry when the roster gets trimmed.
The tight end position is where the depth chart surprised many people. Dallas Goedert and Grant Calcaterra are your current first-team TEs. Most did not think Grant would make the roster, much less be listed as highly as he was. Johnny Mundt and Cameron Latu are second, and rookie second-round draft pick Eli Stowers is listed as third, along with E.J. Jenkins and Stone Smartt filling out the rest of the room.
Eli Stowers is making this team. That much is certain. But seeing a second-round pick listed on the third-team depth chart is probably not the bulletin-board material Stowers expected. Although it might make for pretty good motivation.
At left tackle, Jordan Mailata is the one, and Fred Johnson is on the second team. Right tackle is Lane Johnson, and his backup on the chart is another camp standout and riser, Markel Bell. The interior of the OL is Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, and Tyler Steen, followed by Michael Jordan at LG, Jake Majors at center, and Drew Kendall at RG as the 2nd team. Willie Lampkin has been having an impressive camp, but is 3rd on the depth chart. I would still be shocked if he does not make the team, but he needs to show his value in the pre-season games.
Camp tape has a funny way of moving people up the ladder, and this ranking is far from being etched in stone.
The players who take advantage of their snap counts, net pass-rush production, and hold up against the run will ultimately determine which of them earns reps behind starters Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo. Byron Young, Gabe Hall, and Ty Robinson as the second team, with Uar Bernard currently on the third team, have plenty of time to prove their worth. Uar is another player I would be surprised to see get exposed to waivers, but he is raw, and Fangio described him as light years away.
The depth chart may say three deep, but the Eagles could be digging a little deeper before this is settled. They recently signed DT David Blay and may still be looking for someone who can eat meaningful snaps.
The Eagles have multiple players competing for opportunities behind the current first team of Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith Jr. That presumably changes when Jonathan Greenard returns to health. A.J. Epensa and Arnold Ebiketie are your second team, with four more fighting for what will likely be five spots. At Edge, who starts isn’t necessarily who plays the most snaps, so the real story will be how the rotation develops once the games begin, especially between Nolan and Jalyx.
With a loaded pass rushing room, we know there will be plenty of people to rush the QB with; the only question is who gets there first.
Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell are the starters; Smael Mondon and Jeremiah Trotter Jr are your second team, with Chance Campbell and Deontae Lawson fighting for the last spot. Chance likely holds the edge due to his special teams prowess, if he can stay healthy.
The current depth chart may tell us who’s first in line, but special teams could have the final say for that last spot. always has a say in determining final roster spots.
The Eagles value players who can line up in different spots, communicate, and handle both coverage and run responsibilities, and their room reflects this. The current depth chart has Druw Mukuba and what will be a surprise to some, Cooper DeJean, as the first-team safeties. Michael Carter and Marcus Epps are both listed as second-team safeties.
Versatility is clearly the name of the game, so don’t be surprised if this depth chart needs a few seatbelts before Week 1 as the pieces move around fast.
Quinyon Mitchell and Riq Woolen are your starting outside corners. Veteran newcomer to the Eagles, Jonathan Jones, and former Georgia Bulldog 2023 fourth-round pick Kelee Ringo are listed as the second-team.
Cooper DeJean is NCB 1, followed by Michael Carter and Mac McWilliams as the second-team NCB.
Outside of the starters, nobody in this room should be printing the depth chart on a T-shirt just yet.
An unofficial depth chart in August is more of a conversation starter than a final verdict. Some of the placements are surprising, while others reinforce what we already expected.
The most interesting part will be watching which players challenge those early rankings once the preseason games begin.
As always, thank you for reading!
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