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By now, you have seen the Eagles' rather underwhelming free agent signings and trade returns, and you're perhaps asking the same question Peggy Lee asked in her 1969 song:
"Is That All There Is?"
The short answer for the Eagles is probably not.
There is the draft coming up in late April, and all of the Eagles' eight picks come in the first five rounds. Of course, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is more than willing to swing a big trade, perhaps for someone like Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, who has had 17.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons.
Celebrate the Eagles' Super Bowl victory with our new book
Yet through nearly two weeks of the new NFL league year, we have mostly seen Roseman sign low-cost free agents on one-year deals to replace several key players lost to free agency (Josh Sweat, Milton Williams, Mekhi Becton), trades (C.J. Gardner-Johnson) and releases (Darius Slay).
It's also possible that tight end Dallas Goedert could be traded.
Still, the Eagles expect to be a Super Bowl contender this season, mainly because of the core players coming back. It might also require some creativity, perhaps by moving some players around.
That could include cornerback Cooper DeJean, who played nickel as a rookie and had a pick-6 in the Super Bowl. The Eagles also might have to rely on some young players to step up, such as safety Sydney Brown, and perhaps a rookie drafted this spring.
Here, then, is a look at the Eagles' depth chart after the first two weeks of free agency:
Who came: Dorian Thompson-Robinson (trade-Browns)
Who left: Kenny Pickett (trade-Browns)
What they still need: Nothing. Tanner McKee showed last season in 1 1/2 games filling in for the injured Pickett that he can be a capable backup. McKee threw for 323 yards, 4 touchdowns without an interception in those games. Thompson-Robinson, drafted in the fifth round in 2023 (McKee was in the sixth round), had 1 TD pass and 10 interceptions in 15 games (5 starts) with the Browns. He's got a lot of work to do.
Depth chart: Jalen Hurts, McKee, Thompson-Robinson
Who came: A.J. Dillon (free agent-Packers)
Who left: Kenny Gainwell (free agent-Steelers)
What they still need: Nothing. Saquon Barkley rushed for 2,005 yards last season, and Dillon, if healthy, is actually an upgrade over Gainwell, with 2,428 yards rushing in his career. Dillon missed last season with a neck injury. But he has rushed for at least 613 yards in his previous three seasons with Green Bay.
Depth chart: Barkley, Dillon, Will Shipley
Who came: Harrison Bryant (free agent-Raiders), Kylen Granson (free agent-Colts)
Who left: None
What they still need: An early-round draftee to succeed Dallas Goedert, who is in the final season of his contract but could be traded or released. Since Goedert is still with the Eagles, we'll list him as the starter on the depth chart.
Depth chart: Goedert, Grant Calcaterra, Bryant, Granson
Who came: None
Who left: Britain Covey (free agent-unsigned)
What they still need: Nothing. The Eagles could draft a player to succeed Jahan Dotson as the third receiver as Dotson is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Or the Eagles can give bigger roles to 2024 rookies Ainias Smith and Johnny Wilson.
Depth chart: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Dotson, Wilson, Ainias Smith
Who came: Kenyon Green (trade-Texans)
Who left: Mekhi Becton (free agent-Chargers), Fred Johnson (free agent-Jaguars)
What they still need: A tackle to back up Lane Johnson and/or Jordan Mailata now that Fred Johnson has left in free agency. Darian Kinnard or Brett Toth could potentially fill that role, but both are inexperienced. So a veteran free agent could be the answer, or an early-round draft pick.
Depth chart (from l-r): Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Green, Lane Johnson. Top backups: Tyler Steen, Toth, Kinnard, Trevor Keegan
Who came: Azeez Ojulari (free agent-Giants), Josh Uche (free agent-Chiefs)
Who left: Brandon Graham (retired), Josh Sweat (free agent-Cardinals), Milton Williams (free agent-Patriots)
What they still need: It's possible the Eagles could make a trade for a top edge rusher like Trey Hendrickson after losing Sweat in free agency and Graham to retirement. With Ojulari and Uche signed to one-year deals, and Bryce Huff a disappointment, an early-round draftee is likely. The Eagles could also use an early-round pick at defensive tackle to replace Williams.
Depth chart: Edge rusher: Nolan Smith and Ojulari as starters, with Jalyx Hunt, Huff and Uche as backups. Defensive tackle: Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis as starters, with Moro Ojomo and Thomas Booker as backups.
Who came: None
Who left: Oren Burks (free agent-Bengals)
What they still need: Perhaps a low-cost veteran free agent for depth in case Nakobe Dean, who's recovering from a torn patellar tendon, isn't ready to start the season.
Depth chart: Zack Baun, Dean (injured), Jeremiah Trotter, Ben VanSumeren, Dallas Gant
Who came: Adoree Jackson (free agent-Giants)
Who left: Darius Slay (released-signed with Steelers), Isaiah Rodgers (free agent-Vikings), Avonte Maddox (free agent-Lions)
What they still need: A bona-fide starter opposite Quinyon Mitchell to replace Slay. It's possible that DeJean could move outside if the Eagles don't feel confident enough in Kelee Ringo or Adoree Jackson, who lost his starting job with the Giants, to be the full-time starter. If the Eagles move DeJean outside (he played all across the secondary in college at Iowa), then Jackson, Lewis Cine and Sydney Brown can compete to be the nickel.
Depth chart: Mitchell and DeJean outside, Jackson at nickel. Top backups: Ringo, Eli Ricks, Cine, Sydney Brown
Who came: None
Who left: C.J. Gardner-Johnson (trade-Texans), James Bradberry (released)
What they still need: A veteran and draft pick for depth. The Eagles want to give Sydney Brown every opportunity to win Gardner-Johnson's job. But Gardner-Johnson had 6 INTs last season and will be tough to replace. In addition, Reed Blankenship is entering the final year of his contract. So the Eagles might have to find his replacement in the draft.
Depth chart: Reed Blankenship and Sydney Brown as starters. Cine, Tristin McCollum, Andre Sam as backups
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Who came: Charley Hughlett (free agent-Browns)
Who left: Rick Lovato (free agent)
What they still need: Nothing. Kicker Jake Elliott and punter Braden Mann are both returning, and Hughlett replaces Lovato.
Depth chart: Elliott-kicker, Mann-punter, Hughlett-long snapper
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 depth chart: A new position for Cooper DeJean after free agency?
Continue reading...
"Is That All There Is?"
The short answer for the Eagles is probably not.
There is the draft coming up in late April, and all of the Eagles' eight picks come in the first five rounds. Of course, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is more than willing to swing a big trade, perhaps for someone like Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, who has had 17.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons.
Celebrate the Eagles' Super Bowl victory with our new book
Yet through nearly two weeks of the new NFL league year, we have mostly seen Roseman sign low-cost free agents on one-year deals to replace several key players lost to free agency (Josh Sweat, Milton Williams, Mekhi Becton), trades (C.J. Gardner-Johnson) and releases (Darius Slay).
It's also possible that tight end Dallas Goedert could be traded.
Still, the Eagles expect to be a Super Bowl contender this season, mainly because of the core players coming back. It might also require some creativity, perhaps by moving some players around.
That could include cornerback Cooper DeJean, who played nickel as a rookie and had a pick-6 in the Super Bowl. The Eagles also might have to rely on some young players to step up, such as safety Sydney Brown, and perhaps a rookie drafted this spring.
Here, then, is a look at the Eagles' depth chart after the first two weeks of free agency:
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Quarterback
Who came: Dorian Thompson-Robinson (trade-Browns)
Who left: Kenny Pickett (trade-Browns)
What they still need: Nothing. Tanner McKee showed last season in 1 1/2 games filling in for the injured Pickett that he can be a capable backup. McKee threw for 323 yards, 4 touchdowns without an interception in those games. Thompson-Robinson, drafted in the fifth round in 2023 (McKee was in the sixth round), had 1 TD pass and 10 interceptions in 15 games (5 starts) with the Browns. He's got a lot of work to do.
Depth chart: Jalen Hurts, McKee, Thompson-Robinson
Running back
Who came: A.J. Dillon (free agent-Packers)
Who left: Kenny Gainwell (free agent-Steelers)
What they still need: Nothing. Saquon Barkley rushed for 2,005 yards last season, and Dillon, if healthy, is actually an upgrade over Gainwell, with 2,428 yards rushing in his career. Dillon missed last season with a neck injury. But he has rushed for at least 613 yards in his previous three seasons with Green Bay.
Depth chart: Barkley, Dillon, Will Shipley
Tight end
Who came: Harrison Bryant (free agent-Raiders), Kylen Granson (free agent-Colts)
Who left: None
What they still need: An early-round draftee to succeed Dallas Goedert, who is in the final season of his contract but could be traded or released. Since Goedert is still with the Eagles, we'll list him as the starter on the depth chart.
Depth chart: Goedert, Grant Calcaterra, Bryant, Granson
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Wide receiver
Who came: None
Who left: Britain Covey (free agent-unsigned)
What they still need: Nothing. The Eagles could draft a player to succeed Jahan Dotson as the third receiver as Dotson is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Or the Eagles can give bigger roles to 2024 rookies Ainias Smith and Johnny Wilson.
Depth chart: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Dotson, Wilson, Ainias Smith
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Offensive line
Who came: Kenyon Green (trade-Texans)
Who left: Mekhi Becton (free agent-Chargers), Fred Johnson (free agent-Jaguars)
What they still need: A tackle to back up Lane Johnson and/or Jordan Mailata now that Fred Johnson has left in free agency. Darian Kinnard or Brett Toth could potentially fill that role, but both are inexperienced. So a veteran free agent could be the answer, or an early-round draft pick.
Depth chart (from l-r): Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Green, Lane Johnson. Top backups: Tyler Steen, Toth, Kinnard, Trevor Keegan
Defensive line
Who came: Azeez Ojulari (free agent-Giants), Josh Uche (free agent-Chiefs)
Who left: Brandon Graham (retired), Josh Sweat (free agent-Cardinals), Milton Williams (free agent-Patriots)
What they still need: It's possible the Eagles could make a trade for a top edge rusher like Trey Hendrickson after losing Sweat in free agency and Graham to retirement. With Ojulari and Uche signed to one-year deals, and Bryce Huff a disappointment, an early-round draftee is likely. The Eagles could also use an early-round pick at defensive tackle to replace Williams.
Depth chart: Edge rusher: Nolan Smith and Ojulari as starters, with Jalyx Hunt, Huff and Uche as backups. Defensive tackle: Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis as starters, with Moro Ojomo and Thomas Booker as backups.
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Linebacker
Who came: None
Who left: Oren Burks (free agent-Bengals)
What they still need: Perhaps a low-cost veteran free agent for depth in case Nakobe Dean, who's recovering from a torn patellar tendon, isn't ready to start the season.
Depth chart: Zack Baun, Dean (injured), Jeremiah Trotter, Ben VanSumeren, Dallas Gant
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Cornerback
Who came: Adoree Jackson (free agent-Giants)
Who left: Darius Slay (released-signed with Steelers), Isaiah Rodgers (free agent-Vikings), Avonte Maddox (free agent-Lions)
What they still need: A bona-fide starter opposite Quinyon Mitchell to replace Slay. It's possible that DeJean could move outside if the Eagles don't feel confident enough in Kelee Ringo or Adoree Jackson, who lost his starting job with the Giants, to be the full-time starter. If the Eagles move DeJean outside (he played all across the secondary in college at Iowa), then Jackson, Lewis Cine and Sydney Brown can compete to be the nickel.
Depth chart: Mitchell and DeJean outside, Jackson at nickel. Top backups: Ringo, Eli Ricks, Cine, Sydney Brown
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Safety
Who came: None
Who left: C.J. Gardner-Johnson (trade-Texans), James Bradberry (released)
What they still need: A veteran and draft pick for depth. The Eagles want to give Sydney Brown every opportunity to win Gardner-Johnson's job. But Gardner-Johnson had 6 INTs last season and will be tough to replace. In addition, Reed Blankenship is entering the final year of his contract. So the Eagles might have to find his replacement in the draft.
Depth chart: Reed Blankenship and Sydney Brown as starters. Cine, Tristin McCollum, Andre Sam as backups
Buy our Eagles commemorative photo pages
Specialists
Who came: Charley Hughlett (free agent-Browns)
Who left: Rick Lovato (free agent)
What they still need: Nothing. Kicker Jake Elliott and punter Braden Mann are both returning, and Hughlett replaces Lovato.
Depth chart: Elliott-kicker, Mann-punter, Hughlett-long snapper
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 depth chart: A new position for Cooper DeJean after free agency?
Continue reading...
