Eagles Roster Projections: Who Are The Locks, Likelies, and Longshots?

You can use ink when it comes to 34 players and the Philadelphia Eagles' initial 53-man roster.

PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Eagles don’t have to get down to the NFL-mandated roster limit of 53 until Aug. 29 but why wait over two months to end the suspense of what the 2023 team will look like?

SI.com’s Eagles Today surmises there are 34 locks for that initial roster while crossing the summer solstice benchmark. Add in the “likelies” and that number spikes to 42 so training camp will be about finding the final 11 players for the roster and cobbling together the best 16-man proactive squad from there.

Here’s the handicapping:

QUARTERBACKS:

Locks - Jalen Hurts, Marcus Mariota

Bubble Players - Tanner McKee, Ian Book

Insider Intel: Most observers will default to McKee winning the QB3 job as a 2023 sixth-round pick but don’t dismiss Book, a fourth-round pick of New Orleans back in 2021 who was claimed off waivers on Aug. 31 last year.

Book’s former offensive coordinator at Notre Dame, Tommy Rees, is very close to Eagles coach Nick Sirinani and Book arrived in Philadelphia with the stamp of approval from Rees, now the offensive coordinator at Alabama. Book will be given a legitimate opportunity to compete and win the job.

RUNNING BACKS:

Locks: D’Andre Swift, Kenny Gainwell

Likelies: Rashaad Penny, Boston Scott

Bubble: Trey Sermon

Longshot: Kennedy Brooks

Insider Intel: Nick Sirianni really likes Trey Sermon and the coach has brought up the former Oklahoma/Ohio State star unprompted on multiple occasions. A strong Sermon summer coupled with a Rashaad Penny injury could be the cocktail for a surprise.

RECEIVERS:

Locks: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith

Likelies: Quez Watkins, Olamide Zaccheaus

Bubbles: Britain Covey, Joseph Ngata, Jadon Haselwood

Longshots: Devon Allen, Greg Ward, Tyrie Cleveland, Charleston Rambo

Insider Intel: Britain Covey remains the heavy favorite for the No. 5 spot because of his punt-return ability but the Eagles really need upside behind Brown and Smith and undrafted free agents Ngata and Haselwood have a chance to open some eyes.

The former could offer some Zach Pascal-like traits early when it comes to size and the latter has a history with Jalen Hurts. If the Eagles van find another returned the doors could open.

TIGHT ENDS:

Locks: Dallas Goedert, Jack Stoll

Bubbles: Grant Calcaterra, Dan Arnold

Longshots: Tyree Jackson, Dalton Keene, Brady Russell

Insider Intell: Keep an eye on Dan Arnold, a low-cost veteran who laps the backups to Goedert when it comes to receiving skills.

OFFENSIVE LINE:

Locks: Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Jason Kelce, Cam Jurgens, Lane Johnson, Jack Driscoll; Tyler Steen

Bubbles: Sua Opeta, Brett Toth, Trevor Reid

Longshots: Roderick Johnson, Julian Good-Jones, Cameron Tom, Tyrese Robinson, Fred Johnson, Chim Okorafor

Insider Intel: The one to watch is undrafted Louisville rookie Trevor Reid. The Eagles like to give Jeff Stoutland a project each year and the Reid has off-the-charts testing numbers from an athletic standpoint. He needs to get stronger and a year in an NFL strength and conditioning program, coupled with Stoutland’s teaching ability, and that athleticism could pay dividends down the road.

EDGE RUSHERS:

Locks: Haason Reddick, Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham, Nolan Smith

Likely: Derek Barnett (unless traded)

Bubbles: Patrick Johnson, Janarius Robinson

Longshots: Tarron Jackson, Matt Leo

Insider Intel: Once Derek Barnett is deemed healthy in his return from a torn ACL he could be valuable trade bait and a move could open a spot for Patrick Johnson or Janarius Robinson.

INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE:

Locks: Fletcher Cox, Jordan Davis, Milton Williams, Jalen Carter

Bubbles: Marlon Tuipulotu, Kentavius Street, Moro Ojomo, Noah Elliss

Insider Intel: Don’t sleep on Noah Elliss. The Eagles gave him $250,000 last year understanding he wouldn’t be available due to a torn Achilles’. They need a backup for Jordan Davis and Elliss has the size (346 pounds) and background to handle the nose/shade technique if healthy. If not the organization will continue to search for a prospect with similar size and traits.

OFF-BALL LINEBACKERS:

Locks: Nakobe Dean, Christian Elliss

Likely: Nicholas Morrow

Bubbles: Shaun Bradey, Kyon Johnson, Ben VanSumeren

Longshot: Davion Taylor

Insider Intel: This is the position that would be voted most likely for a summer move and that would have a domino effect. Using the status quo, the fourth LB spot would probably be the best special-teamer between Shaun Bradley, Kyron Johnson, and the very athletic Ben VanSumeren.

CORNERBACKS:

Locks: Darius Slay, James Bradberry, Avonte Maddox, Kelee Ringo, Zech McPhearson

Bubbles: Josh Jobe, Greedy Williams

Lonhshots: Josiah Scott, Mario Goodrich, Eli Ricks, Mekhi Garner

Insider Intel: Zech McPhearson’s spring move to the slot knocks Josiah Scott from a bubble player to a longshot. Expect the practice squad to be heavily populated with cornerbacks if the Eagles can get Mario Goodrich, Eli Ricks, and Mekhi Garner through waivers.

SAFETIES:

Locks: Reed Blankenship, Sydney Brown

Likely: Terrell Edmunds

Bubbles: K’Von Wallace, Justin Evans

Longshot: Tristin McCollum

Insider Intel: Terrell Edmunds is going to be a starter barring a late addition but, as Anthony Harris proved last summer, projected starters who don’t play special teams are on the outs if improvements are made so you can probably get to 97-or-so percent on Edmunds but locks are 100 percent barring injury.

SPECIALISTS:

Locks: Jake Elliott, Rick Lovato

Likely: Arryn Siposs

Longshots: Ty Zentner

Insider Intel: If Arryn Siposs does lose the punting job it will be to TBD (to be determined), not Ty Zentner.

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-John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's Eagles Today and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube. John is also the host of his own show "Football 24/7 and a daily contributor to ESPN South Jersey. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen