PHILADELPHIA − Now that the NFL Draft is over, the Eagles roster is starting to round into shape.
The Eagles didn’t address all of their needs, particularly at tight end. But at least a few of the 10 players drafted should see a significant role this season.
That’s especially true for first-round pick Jihaad Campbell and second-rounder Drew Mukuba. It’s just a question of where. Campbell can play either off-ball linebacker or edge. Mukuba can play both safety and nickel corner.
But there will be other roster battles among the players signed in free agency, mostly veterans on a low-cost one-year deals. For now, that gives the rest of the rookie class a chance to adjust to the NFL. If they adjust faster, they’ll play sooner.
Here, then, is a way-too-early Eagles roster projection and depth chart. The backups are listed in order of their spot on the depth chart.
Quarterbacks
Starter: Jalen Hurts
Backups: Tanner McKee, Kyle McCord, Dorian Thompson-Robinson
Comment: The looming battle is for the third-string job between McCord, the Eagles’ sixth-round pick, and Thompson-Robinson, whom the Eagles acquired in the Kenny Pickett trade. Thompson-Robinson has struggled with turnovers as he has 1 touchdown and 10 interceptions in two seasons in Cleveland. McCord threw for an FBS-high 4,779 yards last season at Syracuse after three seasons at Ohio State. The preseason finale will be their Super Bowl.
Running backs
Starter: Saquon Barkley
Backups: A.J. Dillon, Will Shipley
Comment: The pecking order is pre-determined after Barkley put together a season for the ages in 2024 with 2,005 yards rushing. Dillon, signed in free agency from the Packers, had three straight seasons with at least 600 yards rushing before missing last season with a neck injury. Shipley was the Eagles’ third-round pick last season. The Eagles added two undrafted free agents in ShunDerrick Powell and Montrell Johnson, who will battle it out with practice squad returnee Tyrion Davis-Price.
Tight end
Starter: Grant Calcaterra
Backups: Kylen Granson, Harrison Bryant, E.J. Jenkins, Nick Muse
Comment: I’m going with the premise that the Eagles will trade Dallas Goedert even though the Eagles did not draft a tight end. Eagles GM Howie Roseman has stated the team’s goal is to save salary cap room for players due for extensions. Goedert, while still a top player, is too much of a luxury with his cap hits of $11.8 million this year and $23.8 million next year.
Wide receiver
Starters: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jahan Dotson
Backups: Terrace Marshall, Johnny Wilson, Ainias Smith, Danny Gray
Comment: Marshall, a 2021 second-round pick of the Panthers, was the only player signed in free agency. He had just 3 catches last season. He’ll be competing with Wilson and Smith, who were drafted last year, along with Gray, who spent last season on the practice squad, for the final 2 or 3 spots.
Offensive line
Starters (left to right): Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Kenyon Green, Lane Johnson
Backups: Kendall Lamm, Tyler Steen, Matt Pryor, Myles Hinton, Cameron Williams, Drew Kendall, Trevor Keegan
Comment: The best battle for a starting job will be at right guard between Green, acquired from Houston in the C.J. Gardner-Johnson trade, and Steen, the Eagles’ 2023 third-round pick. The best battles for the last few roster spots should be among Pryor (originally drafted by the Eagles in 2018), Keegan (a sixth-round pick last year), Hinton and Williams.
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Edge rushers
Starters: Nolan Smith, Azeez Ojulari
Backups: Jihaad Campbell, Jalyx Hunt, Bryce Huff, Josh Uche, Antaun Powell-Ryland
Comment: Once Nakobe Dean returns (see below), Campbell will move into a starting edge role. There will be an interesting battle for the last spot in a five-man rotation among Huff, who barely played towards the end of last season, Uche and Powell-Ryland.
Defensive tackle
Starters: Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis
Backups: Moro Ojomo, Ty Robinson, Thomas Booker, Gabe Hall, Byron Young
Comment: Carter will play the vast majority of the snaps. So expect a mini-rotation with Davis, Ojomo and Robinson, the Eagles’ fourth-round pick. Returnees Booker, Hall and Young will battle for that last roster spot.
Linebacker
Starters: Zack Baun, Jihaad Campbell
Backups: Nakobe Dean, Jeremiah Trotter, Smael Modron, Ben VanSumeren
Comment: I have Campbell starting here until Dean is recovered from his torn patellar tendon at some point during the season. Once Dean is back, the interesting battle will be between Trotter, picked in the fifth round last year, and Modron, picked in the fifth round this year.
Cornerback
Starters: Quinyon Mitchell, Kelee Ringo, Cooper DeJean (nickel)
Backups: Adoree Jackson, Lewis Cine, Andrew Mukuba (nickel), Mac McWilliams (nickel), Eli Ricks
Comment: I can see a scenario where DeJean moves outside and Mukuba is the starting nickel. But for now, the Eagles plan to have Mukuba start at safety. Eagles DC Vic Fangio has always said he wants his best five defensive backs on the field. So that could come down to whether the Eagles are better off with Ringo on the outside, DeJean at nickel and Mukuba at safety; or DeJean on the outside, Mukuba at nickel and Sydney Brown at safety.
Safety
Starters: Reed Blankenship, Mukuba
Backups: Sydney Brown, Tristin McCollum, Cine, Andre Sam
Comment: Before the draft, Brown was the front-runner to start next to Blankenship. But Mukuba was the second-round pick. As mentioned above, it’s about getting the five best DBs on the field, so there would still be a path for Brown to start if Mukuba is at nickel and DeJean at outside corner. But if it’s a battle for one spot, expect Mukuba to win it.
Specialists
Starters: Jake Elliott-kicker, Braden Mann-punter, Charley Hughlett-long snapper
Punt returner: Avery Williams, Ainias Smith, DeJean
Kick returner: Williams
Comment: Eagles coach Nick Sirianni raved about Williams as a returner, unprompted, at the owners’ meetings. If DeJean is playing the entire game on defense, as expected, the Eagles would want to limit his touches as a punt returner.
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Eagles spring schedule
OTAs: May 27-28, 30; June 2-3, 5
Mandatory minicamp: June 10
Training camp: Late July
Eagles needs
It’s pretty clear that tight end is the only real Eagles’ need after bypassing on drafting a Goedert replacement − assuming Goedert does not return. The Eagles will be young, but talented, in the secondary. Adding a veteran safety could still be on the table.
Eagles NFL Draft picks 2025
- Round 1, Pick 31: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
- Round 2, Pick 64: Drew Mukuba, S, Texas
- Round 4, Pick 111: Ty Robinson, DT, Nebraska
- Round 5, Pick 145: Mac McWilliams, CB, Central Florida
- Round 5, Pick 161: Smael Mondon, LB, Georgia
- Round 5, Pick 168: Drew Kendall, C, Boston College
- Round 6, Pick 181: Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse
- Round 6, Pick 191: Myles Hinton, T, Michigan
- Round 6, Pick 207: Cameron Williams, T, Texas
- Round 6, Pick 209: Antwaun Powell-Ryland, EDGE, Virginia Tech
Contact Martin Frank at [email protected]. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a new hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles roster projection: Depth chart prediction after 2025 NFL Draft
PHILADELPHIA − Now that the NFL Draft is over, the Eagles roster is starting to round into shape.
The Eagles didn’t address all of their needs, particularly at tight end. But at least a few of the 10 players drafted should see a significant role this season.
That’s especially true for first-round pick Jihaad Campbell and second-rounder Drew Mukuba. It’s just a question of where. Campbell can play either off-ball linebacker or edge. Mukuba can play both safety and nickel corner.
But there will be other roster battles among the players signed in free agency, mostly veterans on a low-cost one-year deals. For now, that gives the rest of the rookie class a chance to adjust to the NFL. If they adjust faster, they’ll play sooner.
Here, then, is a way-too-early Eagles roster projection and depth chart. The backups are listed in order of their spot on the depth chart.
Quarterbacks
Starter: Jalen Hurts
Backups: Tanner McKee, Kyle McCord, Dorian Thompson-Robinson
Comment: The looming battle is for the third-string job between McCord, the Eagles’ sixth-round pick, and Thompson-Robinson, whom the Eagles acquired in the Kenny Pickett trade. Thompson-Robinson has struggled with turnovers as he has 1 touchdown and 10 interceptions in two seasons in Cleveland. McCord threw for an FBS-high 4,779 yards last season at Syracuse after three seasons at Ohio State. The preseason finale will be their Super Bowl.
Running backs
Starter: Saquon Barkley
Backups: A.J. Dillon, Will Shipley
Comment: The pecking order is pre-determined after Barkley put together a season for the ages in 2024 with 2,005 yards rushing. Dillon, signed in free agency from the Packers, had three straight seasons with at least 600 yards rushing before missing last season with a neck injury. Shipley was the Eagles’ third-round pick last season. The Eagles added two undrafted free agents in ShunDerrick Powell and Montrell Johnson, who will battle it out with practice squad returnee Tyrion Davis-Price.
Tight end
Starter: Grant Calcaterra
Backups: Kylen Granson, Harrison Bryant, E.J. Jenkins, Nick Muse
Comment: I’m going with the premise that the Eagles will trade Dallas Goedert even though the Eagles did not draft a tight end. Eagles GM Howie Roseman has stated the team’s goal is to save salary cap room for players due for extensions. Goedert, while still a top player, is too much of a luxury with his cap hits of $11.8 million this year and $23.8 million next year.
Wide receiver
Starters: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jahan Dotson
Backups: Terrace Marshall, Johnny Wilson, Ainias Smith, Danny Gray
Comment: Marshall, a 2021 second-round pick of the Panthers, was the only player signed in free agency. He had just 3 catches last season. He’ll be competing with Wilson and Smith, who were drafted last year, along with Gray, who spent last season on the practice squad, for the final 2 or 3 spots.
Offensive line
Starters (left to right): Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Kenyon Green, Lane Johnson
Backups: Kendall Lamm, Tyler Steen, Matt Pryor, Myles Hinton, Cameron Williams, Drew Kendall, Trevor Keegan
Comment: The best battle for a starting job will be at right guard between Green, acquired from Houston in the C.J. Gardner-Johnson trade, and Steen, the Eagles’ 2023 third-round pick. The best battles for the last few roster spots should be among Pryor (originally drafted by the Eagles in 2018), Keegan (a sixth-round pick last year), Hinton and Williams.
Celebrate the Eagles’ Super Bowl win with our new book
Edge rushers
Starters: Nolan Smith, Azeez Ojulari
Backups: Jihaad Campbell, Jalyx Hunt, Bryce Huff, Josh Uche, Antaun Powell-Ryland
Comment: Once Nakobe Dean returns (see below), Campbell will move into a starting edge role. There will be an interesting battle for the last spot in a five-man rotation among Huff, who barely played towards the end of last season, Uche and Powell-Ryland.
Defensive tackle
Starters: Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis
Backups: Moro Ojomo, Ty Robinson, Thomas Booker, Gabe Hall, Byron Young
Comment: Carter will play the vast majority of the snaps. So expect a mini-rotation with Davis, Ojomo and Robinson, the Eagles’ fourth-round pick. Returnees Booker, Hall and Young will battle for that last roster spot.
Linebacker
Starters: Zack Baun, Jihaad Campbell
Backups: Nakobe Dean, Jeremiah Trotter, Smael Modron, Ben VanSumeren
Comment: I have Campbell starting here until Dean is recovered from his torn patellar tendon at some point during the season. Once Dean is back, the interesting battle will be between Trotter, picked in the fifth round last year, and Modron, picked in the fifth round this year.
Cornerback
Starters: Quinyon Mitchell, Kelee Ringo, Cooper DeJean (nickel)
Backups: Adoree Jackson, Lewis Cine, Andrew Mukuba (nickel), Mac McWilliams (nickel), Eli Ricks
Comment: I can see a scenario where DeJean moves outside and Mukuba is the starting nickel. But for now, the Eagles plan to have Mukuba start at safety. Eagles DC Vic Fangio has always said he wants his best five defensive backs on the field. So that could come down to whether the Eagles are better off with Ringo on the outside, DeJean at nickel and Mukuba at safety; or DeJean on the outside, Mukuba at nickel and Sydney Brown at safety.
Safety
Starters: Reed Blankenship, Mukuba
Backups: Sydney Brown, Tristin McCollum, Cine, Andre Sam
Comment: Before the draft, Brown was the front-runner to start next to Blankenship. But Mukuba was the second-round pick. As mentioned above, it’s about getting the five best DBs on the field, so there would still be a path for Brown to start if Mukuba is at nickel and DeJean at outside corner. But if it’s a battle for one spot, expect Mukuba to win it.
Specialists
Starters: Jake Elliott-kicker, Braden Mann-punter, Charley Hughlett-long snapper
Punt returner: Avery Williams, Ainias Smith, DeJean
Kick returner: Williams
Comment: Eagles coach Nick Sirianni raved about Williams as a returner, unprompted, at the owners’ meetings. If DeJean is playing the entire game on defense, as expected, the Eagles would want to limit his touches as a punt returner.
Buy our commemorative Eagles photo pages
Eagles spring schedule
OTAs: May 27-28, 30; June 2-3, 5
Mandatory minicamp: June 10
Training camp: Late July
Eagles needs
It’s pretty clear that tight end is the only real Eagles’ need after bypassing on drafting a Goedert replacement − assuming Goedert does not return. The Eagles will be young, but talented, in the secondary. Adding a veteran safety could still be on the table.
Eagles NFL Draft picks 2025
- Round 1, Pick 31: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
- Round 2, Pick 64: Drew Mukuba, S, Texas
- Round 4, Pick 111: Ty Robinson, DT, Nebraska
- Round 5, Pick 145: Mac McWilliams, CB, Central Florida
- Round 5, Pick 161: Smael Mondon, LB, Georgia
- Round 5, Pick 168: Drew Kendall, C, Boston College
- Round 6, Pick 181: Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse
- Round 6, Pick 191: Myles Hinton, T, Michigan
- Round 6, Pick 207: Cameron Williams, T, Texas
- Round 6, Pick 209: Antwaun Powell-Ryland, EDGE, Virginia Tech
Contact Martin Frank at [email protected]. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a new hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles roster projection: Depth chart prediction after 2025 NFL Draft
