The Eagles’ first unofficial depth chart is out, and as always with a preseason list like this, the real story is in the little wrinkles.
This chart is compiled by the communications department, so it’s not a perfect snapshot of every practice rep from training camp. Still, it gives a pretty good read on where things stand heading into the preseason opener, especially with several jobs still up for grabs.
At quarterback, the order is clear enough to start the conversation. Tanner McKee and Dorian Thompson-Robinson are both listed on the second team, with no official leader shown.
That fits what’s happened in camp: the two have split second-team reps, though Thompson-Robinson has the slight edge right now. Nick Sirianni has not said whether the starters will play in the preseason opener, so the first crack at QB2 remains one of the key storylines.
It could be McKee or Dalton, and who gets the nod Saturday won’t be known until pregame warmups.
Wide receiver has its own moving parts. Ainias Lemon has missed the last week with a hamstring injury, and the chart reflects that he’s still being treated like the top option in that group.
He has been the sixth best wide receiver in camp and didn’t do much while healthy. Meanwhile, Darius Cooper has outplayed him, and Elijah Moore has been pushing for a roster spot as well.
Cooper could be in line for a bigger role, maybe even as a WR3. When Lemon returns, he’s expected to go right back into the first-team mix, likely in the slot, where he has the best chance to make an early impact.
The tackle spots brought a couple of notable twists. Kendall Lamm and Fred Johnson have been battling all summer for the No. 3 tackle job, with Johnson first getting the look at right tackle before Bell took over and played well there.
This week, the Eagles moved Johnson back to right tackle and Bell to left tackle. The chart doesn’t need to spell out the No. 3 tackle pecking order, but Bell showing up as the second-team right tackle is worth noting.
Right guard has been a rotating door in camp, and Micah Morris was getting early work there before an injury last week. He’s back, but the chart has him on the third team.
Willie Lampkin is there too, which stands out after the summer he’s had. It wouldn’t have been a shock to see Lampkin listed on the second team.
Drew Kendall is the second-team center, and that makes sense because he’s also likely the No. 3 guard, the first man up for Landon Dickerson at left guard and Tyler Steen at right guard. Michael Jordan is listed as the second-team left guard.
Majors is still a surprise, even with the kind of summer he’s put together.
In the secondary, the Eagles made their clearest statement with Cooper DeJean. He’s listed as the starting safety, ahead of Marcus Epps and Michael Carter, but that only tells part of the story.
DeJean is the starter in base defense, and the Eagles use base at most 20% of the time. He’s also the first-team slot corner, which means he’s on the field constantly.
When the Eagles are in base, DeJean is at safety. When they’re in nickel, he’s in the slot.
That’s a typical move for this depth-chart exercise, so it’s not a surprise to anyone who has watched how these lists are handled.
Epps and Carter are both listed at safety because the battle there still hasn’t produced a winner. Epps has been getting more first-team reps, but Carter has picked up steam in recent practices.
The Eagles can live with either one starting in nickel packages, though the depth behind them is shaky. Even so, the starters look fine at a position where the team spends the fewest money in the NFL.
Carter’s value also goes beyond the safety competition, since he’s been learning the position while cross-training in the slot. That versatility matters in Vic Fangio’s scheme and helps explain why he makes the roster even beyond pure performance.
There were also a few interesting notes at corner. McWilliams has been getting first-team chances with Jonathan Jones injured.
Jones is the top outside corner and the top slot option behind the starters, and McWilliams has held his own after a slow start to camp. He’ll get a long look this preseason, though he still looks like a long shot for a roster spot.
Behind Epps and Carter, the Eagles have not gotten much from the safeties, which is part of why the depth chart looks the way it does. Sam has been the best of that group, while Maximus Pulley has made plays.
The team is not likely to put a rookie UDFA on the second team, so Sam is listed next to Carter and Epps there. For him, this may be the best shot he’s had to make the active roster.
Up front, the defensive tackle picture may be the most eye-catching part of the whole chart. Ojomo is listed with the first team, alongside Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter, which shows exactly how highly the Eagles view him.
He’s in the rotation with those two and isn’t even on the second team. Instead, the Eagles listed three defensive tackles on the second team: Ty Robinson, Byron Young, and Gabe Hall.
That leaves one of the bigger questions still hanging: who gets the No. 5 defensive tackle spot, Robinson or Hall?
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