One week out from training camp, the Eagles’ roster picture is still a mess in the best possible way. Philadelphia has talent everywhere, which is exactly why the final cutdown could get tricky. There are battles at multiple spots, and the coaching staff is going to have some real decisions to make before this thing settles.
At quarterback, the projection keeps Jalen Hurts at the top with Tanner McKee and Cole Payton backing him up. Running back is just as straightforward on paper, with Saquon Barkley joined by Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley. At receiver, the group includes DeVonta Smith, Makai Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks, Marquise Brown, Johnny Wilson, and Darius Cooper.
The tight end room lands on Dallas Goedert, Eli Stowers, and Johnny Mundt. Up front, the defensive tackle group is projected to include Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Byron Young, and Ty Robinson.
Edge rusher is crowded too, with Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith Jr., A.J. Epenesa, Arnold Ebiketie, and Keyshawn James-Newby making the cut in this prediction.
At linebacker, the roster keeps Zack Baun, Jihaad Campbell, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., and Smael Mondon Jr. The cornerback group is where the boldest call shows up: Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Riq Woolen, Kelee Ringo, and Mac McWilliams.
Safety features Andrew Mukuba, Marcus Epps, J.T. Gray, Michael Carter II, and Cole Wisniewski.
The specialists are Jake Elliott, Braden Mann, and Rocco Underwood.
The biggest surprise here is Mac McWilliams beating out Jonathan Jones. Jones brings veteran experience and will challenge the room, but the projection leans toward McWilliams because the Eagles invested in him and have seen signs of growth. The thinking also points to Philadelphia’s shaky recent history with veteran cornerback additions, plus McWilliams’ comfort in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s scheme.
There are a few names hovering on the edge of the roster, too. Darius Cooper is in a fight with Wilson and Elijah Moore, but his special teams work could be enough to get him through.
Cole Wisniewski gets a boost from a thin safety group, and the comparisons to Reed Blankenship make him tough to cut. Ty Robinson is also right on the bubble, though if Brandon Graham returns for another season, Robinson could end up on the practice squad.
The most unsettled position battle in camp looks like safety. Epps appears to be the favorite to start, but the competition behind him is wide open.
Carter is his biggest challenger, Wisniewski could force his way into the conversation, and Gray is there more as a special teams piece. Mukuba is projected to hold down the other starting job, leaving the rest of the room to sort itself out.
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Eagles Face A Brutal Camp Verdict On Six Young Players
The Eagles camp inventory on their young players came back with a mixed verdict, and the overall theme is pretty clear: some prospects still deserve runway, while others are already running out of it. Tyler Steen and Andrew Mukuba both landed in the keep-developing category, along with Pierce, whose size and upside make him the kind of project teams are still willing to bet on when the traits are obvious even if the polish is not.
The tougher calls came on the other side of the ledger, where roster competition and limited paths to playing time pushed the conversation toward moving on. Will Shipley, Smael Mondon Jr. and Nolan Smith were all framed as players whose current value may not match the roster spot they occupy, with Smiths case especially notable for a former first-round pick who has not yet turned promise into enough production to feel secure. [Read more 🡒]
One Eagles Rookie Could Change A Familiar Training Camp Worry
The Eagles spent the offseason thinning out the guard room, and that has turned a familiar training camp concern into one of the more interesting early roster battles. Micah Morris, a sixth-round pick out of Georgia, enters camp with a real chance to carve out a role behind the starters, especially with the team needing someone who can handle guard work and be ready if the depth chart gets tested.
Michael Jordan, added after minicamp, brings the kind of NFL starting experience that usually makes a veteran the safe answer for a backup job. But Morris has the size and guard background to make this more than a routine camp formality, and with several young linemen also in the mix, the Eagles may find out quickly whether the rookie can push himself into the conversation for meaningful snaps early in his first season. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Have A Camp Battle Fans Can't Ignore On Defense
The Eagles head into 2026 training camp with a real opening at safety after Reed Blankenship moved on in free agency, and the picture around him is still taking shape. Drew Mukuba is back to anchor one spot after a rookie year interrupted by a fractured ankle in Dallas, while Cooper DeJean is expected to keep bouncing between safety and nickel cornerback depending on the package, giving Philadelphia a flexible but unfinished back end.
What makes this battle worth watching is the competition for the final safety snaps, where Marcus Epps, Michael Carter II, Andre Sam and Cole Wisniewski are all in the mix. There are other bodies on the roster who could get a look, and Howie Roseman has shown he is willing to keep adjusting if the room does not sort itself out quickly, which leaves this as one of the more unsettled spots on the defense entering camp. [Read more 🡒]