Eagles post-draft depth chart: Secondary filled out, LB remains unpredictable

The Philadelphia Eagles entered the offseason with a succession plan to stabilize a roster transitioning into its next generation of core players. An organization seeking its second Super Bowl title further positioned itself as a contender by being aggressive in free agency, and the nine rookies the Eagles acquired in a trade-happy draft helped fill most of the holes remaining, especially in the secondary.

The Eagles now have 83 players who will eventually be under contract, which means they have room to sign seven undrafted free agents before hitting their offseason roster limit. Plenty can change between now and the beginning of training camp. But here’s what Philadelphia’s roster looks like exiting the draft. (Rookies are italicized.)

Quarterback

Projected starter: Jalen Hurts

Backup: Kenny Pickett

Others: Tanner McKee, Will Grier

The most impactful thing the Eagles did for Hurts during the draft was sign A.J. Brown to a three-year, $96 million extension. Brown and DeVonta Smith have both had multiple 1,000-yard seasons since the Eagles first traded for Brown in 2022, and Hurts could be throwing to one of the NFL’s best duos for at least the next five seasons. Think he’s happy? Hurts attended a news conference Tuesday in which Brown addressed his new contract.

Running back

Projected starter: Saquon Barkley

Backup: Kenneth Gainwell, Will Shipley

Practice squad battle: Tyrion Davis-Price, Lew Nichols II

The Shipley pick was my “biggest question mark” of the Eagles’ draft. There’s still logic to the selection. Gainwell’s contract expires after the 2024 season, and there was an apparent lack of interior linemen at that level of the draft. Shipley was a former five-star recruit who, after starting three years at Clemson, is projected to be handy as an all-around back. Should something befall Barkley, who’s missed eight regular-season games since returning from a 2020 ACL tear, the Eagles should have two reliable backs available.

Wide receiver

Projected starters: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Parris Campbell

Backups: DeVante Parker, Ainias Smith, Johnny Wilson

Practice squad battle: Britain Covey, Austin Watkins Jr., Jacob Harris, Joseph Ngata, Shaquan Davis

The Eagles are top-heavy at wide receiver in the most enviable way. They needed depth at the position and a reliable No. 3 target who would demand more attention from defenses. Ainias Smith is an intriguing addition. He’s smaller (5-foot-9, 190 pounds), but versatile (lined up in the slot, outside and in the backfield) and successful on special teams (two career punt return touchdowns). The Eagles had enough security at the position to take a flier on Wilson, who, at 6-6, 231 pounds, supplies them with someone with a considerable size advantage but will need development to capitalize on his frame.

Tight end

Projected starter: Dallas Goedert

Backups: Albert Okwuegbunam, C.J. Uzomah, Grant Calcaterra

Practice squad battle: E.J. Jenkins, Noah Togiai

Goedert is the NFL’s fifth-highest-paid tight end at $14.25 million per year, according to Over the Cap. He’s performed to the caliber of his contract when healthy, and the Eagles, who had little production from the position in 2023 when Goedert missed three games with a fractured forearm, decided the depth they added in free agency was sufficient. Okwuegbunam, who signed a one-year extension, gets a full offseason to acclimate after general manager Howie Roseman acquired him from the Denver Broncos in a training camp trade last year.

Offensive tackle

Projected starters: Jordan Mailata (left tackle), Lane Johnson (right tackle)

Backups: Mekhi Becton, Tyler Steen

Practice squad battle: Brett Toth, Darian Kinnard, Fred Johnson, Le’Raven Clark

There were plenty of tackles available in the draft for the Eagles to have secured a successor for Johnson, who’s entering his age-34 season but is under contract through 2026. Six offensive tackles were taken before the Eagles spent the No. 22 overall pick on cornerback Quinyon Mitchell. Eight total tackles were taken in the first round. It’ll be considered a lost opportunity if Johnson doesn’t play through at least 2025.

Guard

Projected starter: Landon Dickerson (left guard), Tyler Steen (right guard)

Backups: Matt Hennessy, Trevor Keegan, Dylan McMahon

Practice squad battle: Jason Poe

The Eagles entered the offseason with no clear starter at right guard. They still don’t have a clear starter at right guard. It’s now their biggest position battle of the summer. They spent two late-round picks on interior linemen who’ll compete for the job along with Steen and Hennessy. The Eagles liked that Keegan and McMahon were both team captains. Roseman said Keegan, who started all 15 games at left guard for Michigan’s national championship team, “can play with power.” And he said McMahon, who played 49 career games at right guard, left guard and center for NC State, is an “elite athlete” who logged a 4.33 short shuttle and 7.26 three-cone at the NFL combine at 6-3, 299 pounds.

Center

Projected starter: Cam Jurgens

Backups: Matt Hennessy, Dylan McMahon

Practice squad battle: Jason Poe

The Eagles have all but officially named Jurgens their starting center in 2024. He’ll succeed Jason Kelce. Staffers already moved Jurgens into Kelce’s old locker. They still needed to consider depth. Jurgens missed six games last season with a foot injury. Hennessy started in 22 games at center in three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. McMahon also became NC State’s primary center because the starter suffered a season-ending injury in 2022. His quickness and mobility in a multiple-run scheme should translate in Philadelphia.

Edge

Projected starters: Bryce Huff, Josh Sweat

Backups: Brandon Graham, Nolan Smith Jr., Jalyx Hunt

Practice squad battle: Julian Okwara, Tarron Jackson, Terrell Lewis

The Eagles needed to add depth at edge rusher with Sweat entering the final year of his contract and Graham signing a one-year deal to secure his “farewell tour.” Philadelphia seized the opportunity to take on a project in Hunt, who could yield considerable upside with development. He’s a former Cornell safety who moved to edge rusher at Houston Christian. Roseman said “he’s got freaky tools” at 6-3, 252 pounds. No, the Eagles didn’t need him. But “these guys are hard to find,” Roseman said.

Defensive tackle

Projected starters: Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis

Backups: Milton Williams, Marlon Tuipulotu, Moro Ojomo

Practice squad battle: PJ Mustipher, Thomas Booker

This is the first draft since 2020 where the Eagles didn’t pick a defensive tackle. Of course, that’s mostly because two of their previous three first-round picks (Carter, 2023; Davis, 2022) are expected to start in 2024. For all the necessary preparation that goes into a draft, it’s still somewhat of a crap shoot. Drafting well means teams don’t have to waste picks on needs that should’ve already been addressed. Will Carter and Davis secure their leading roles and stabilize the defensive front?

Linebacker

Projected starters: Devin White, Nakobe Dean

Backups: Oren Burks, Zack Baun, Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

Practice squad battle: Ben VanSumeren, Brandon Smith, Patrick Johnson

We underlined Trotter as a possibility during the pre-draft process, and, again, his addition is far more sensible than just him being a legacy pick. Roseman insisted the Eagles stuck to their board and “can’t make up a grade on any player just because we like them.” This is the most unpredictable position group on the roster. Dean hit injured reserve twice in 2023. White signed a one-year deal after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers benched him during a contract year. Burks was a reliable backup for the San Francisco 49ers, and Baun still hasn’t found his fit in an NFL scheme. Of the draftees who need development, Trotter has the clearest path to significant playing time.

Cornerback

Projected starters: Darius Slay, Quinyon Mitchell

Backups: James Bradberry, Eli Ricks, Avonte Maddox, Isaiah Rodgers, Kelee Ringo, Cooper DeJean

Practice squad battle: Josh Jobe, Mario Goodrich, Mekhi Garner, Tyler Hall, Zech McPhearson

The Eagles believe they’ve drafted their cornerback of at least the next half-decade in Mitchell. He has the skill set to beat Bradberry in a training camp battle for a starting job, but the Eagles may decide to still hold on to a veteran Roseman has often supported verbally this offseason. Will they? Injuries forced the Eagles to field 10 different starting configurations in the secondary in 2023. They’ll want depth. They’ll also want to give defensive coordinator Vic Fangio options. Mitchell can play inside and outside, and the Eagles could use the rookie to shadow No. 1 receivers while deploying Bradberry along the outside with Slay.

Safety

Projected starters: C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Reed Blankenship

Backups: Sydney Brown, Avonte Maddox, Cooper DeJean

Practice squad battle: Tristin McCollum

How much can the Eagles stretch versatility, especially in a rookie? They must now decide how much they intend to deploy DeJean at safety, cornerback or both. They gave DeJean a first-round grade. So, it’s worth considering the plan they have to develop him. Will they begin the process of transforming him into a safety? Is that best for his development if they intend to play him at cornerback eventually? Can DeJean handle learning two positions in a new playbook while also adjusting to the NFL?

Specialists

Projected starters: Jake Elliott (kicker), Braden Mann (punter), Rick Lovato (long snapper)

Michael Clay’s unit ranked No. 1 in special teams defense-adjusted value over average last season. Elliott, Mann and Lovato all signed contract extensions. Clay and company now must decide how they’ll manage the NFL’s newest kickoff rules. The Eagles have plenty of options for return specialists after drafting DeJean, Shipley and Ainias Smith. How many of them do they intend to utilize? Is there a roster spot available for Covey?

(Top photo of C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Reed Blankenship: Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images)