Training camp is about to put the Philadelphia Eagles’ roster under the microscope, and the most interesting questions are all clustered around the back half of the depth chart. The starters are mostly in place, but the real summer drama is going to come from the fights for the final spots on the 53-man roster.
At quarterback, the No. 2 job is the one to watch. Dalton is the front-runner after taking most of the QB2 reps during the media-viewing portions of minicamp.
McKee could be traded this summer, which is why Dalton is listed with the second team, but as long as McKee is still around, that competition is alive. Payton also has work to do after what he showed this spring.
Running back has a clearer leader behind the starters. Shipley is ahead in the race for the No. 3 role after a strong minicamp, and he separated himself from Pierce.
Pierce does bring kick-return value, though, and Shipley can handle that too. Mitchell is another name worth keeping in mind once camp opens.
The wide receiver group has been shaken up by the loss of A.J. Brown, and that has opened the door for a real battle for WR2.
Wicks is currently the leader after Lemon missed the end of spring practice with a hamstring injury. Lemon said he’s 100% last week and will be ready for camp, while Brown had a solid spring and pushed himself into the mix.
The fight for the No. 5 receiver spot is crowded. Wilson, Cooper, Moore, and Covey are all in that mix, and the Eagles could carry six wideouts depending on how the summer plays out.
Tight end has its own under-the-radar competition. TE2 is a spot to watch, especially with Stowers coming off a poor spring.
The Eagles are banking on a rebound there. Behind Goedert, Stowers, and Mundt, the question is whether anyone else can force the team to keep a fourth tight end on the 53.
Up front, the offensive line could shift almost daily because of the No. 3 guard battle. Michael Jordan appears to be the front-runner, but Micah Morris and Drew Kendall are both in the conversation.
At tackle, the No. 3 job should come down to Fred Johnson and Markel Bell. If Bell wins that spot, it would be one of the more interesting developments of camp.
There are still plenty of questions about the second unit overall.
The top of the defensive line is largely locked in, and that group only gets more settled if Brandon Graham returns. The Eagles are deep enough there that they don’t even need him at this point. Hunt and Smith will split first-team reps, though Hunt should be the starter.
The real battle on the defensive front is for the No. 4 defensive tackle job. Young is the favorite, with Robinson - a fourth-round pick last season - as the biggest challenger. Zion Wilson is another player to watch this summer because he could make some noise.
Linebacker looks more stable. The top three - Baun, Campbell, and Trotter - are already starters in this league, and Mondon has also earned first-team looks in the past after developing last year. Chandler Martin was brought in for a visit this week as the Eagles checked on his recovery from the ACL injury he suffered last year.
At cornerback, the starters are set. Jones is the top backup on the outside and in the slot, but the real question is who comes after the top four.
Bennett may have slipped in the scheme, though he still has a path to making the team. Ringo has a strong chance because of special teams, and the bigger roster question is whether the Eagles keep five or six corners.
Safety is the most unsettled spot on the roster. Epps is battling everyone for the starting job, and two undrafted free agents could end up making the 53. The Eagles may also look to add help there, especially since they spend the least amount of money in the NFL at the position.
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