Projecting Eagles 53-man roster: Does James Bradberry survive cutdown day? Who played their way onto roster?

PHILADELPHIA — All the training camp practices and preseason games for the Philadelphia Eagles are completed. The film is in, meaning the final stage of the summer is the final cuts to shape up the initial 53-man roster. 

Some players played their way onto this roster this summer, while other splayed their way off. Initial 53-man rosters are harder to project, thanks to the expanded practice squads and vested veterans (three or more credited seasons) being able to skip through waivers. Those veterans can land on a practice squad and be elevated early in the season, giving teams time to actually make a decision on their active roster status. 

The practice squad is up to 16 players now, four of which can be reserved to vested veterans. This makes the 53-man rosters difficult to project, along with which of the young players teams will project so they don’t go through the waiver frenzy in the 24-hour aftermath of the roster deadline cuts. 

This is the final of two Eagles’ 53-man roster projections for CBS Sports, as this one follows the final preseason game played Saturday. Here is the final 53-man roster projection with final cuts on Tuesday: 

Quarterback (3)

Jalen Hurts, Kenny Pickett, Tanner McKee

This one is pretty obvious, as the Eagles have Hurts as their franchise quarterback and traded for Pickett to be the QB2 this offseason. The battle between Pickett and McKee for the QB2 job is essentially over, as Pickett is the QB2. 

Running back (3)

Saquon Barkley, Kenneth Gainwell, Will Shipley

Would the Eagles keep four running backs like last year? None of the backs behind the three roster locks has stood out, as Lew Nichols, Kendall Milton, and Tyrion Davis-Price could be stashed on the practice squad.

The Eagles are likely to go with three backs. Barkley is the clear No. 1, while Gainwell and Shipley have their own packages in this offense. This is the rare year the Eagles have three running backs on the active 53. 

Wide receiver (6)

A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jahan Dotson, Britain Covey, Johnny Wilson, Parris Campbell

The trade for Dotson changes the whole complexion of the wide receiver room, as he becomes the WR3 and ends the battle that lasted throughout camp. The Eagles were looking outside the organization for wide receiver help, even if the field for roster spots started to play itself out. 

Brown, Smith, and Dotson are obvious locks, while Covey is one of the game’s best punt returners and impressed as a receiver this camp. Covey played his way into a roster lock. Wilson had a strong start to camp and is a receiver Hurts trusts on the outside. Campbell has enough veteran experience to garner the final spot (he was with the first team prior to his groin injury), and backed it up with a strong preseason finale

John Ross could land on the practice squad as a vested veteran. The question still lies with Ainias Smith, as the Eagles did use a fifth-round pick on him. Smith has struggled through most of camp, but improved in the final week of practice. Would Philadelphia part ways with a draft pick and let Smith hit waivers? This may be a chance the Eagles are willing to take. 

This spot may come down between Smith or Wilson, but the Eagles don’t have much depth at outside receiver. Wilson gets the edge here. 

Tight end (3)

Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcaterra, E.J. Jenkins 

Calcaterra won the TE2 job with an impressive summer, which left the TE3 job open between Jenkins, C.J. Uzomah and Albert Okwuegbunam. Jenkins has impressed the most of the three, and the Eagles already made their decision on Uzomah by cutting him prior to the final preseason game. Okwuegbunam has been nonexistent for most of camp (and is injured), so this spot goes to Jenkins. 

Offensive line (9)

Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Mekhi Becton, Lane Johnson, Fred Johnson, Trevor Keegan, Brett Toth, Tyler Steen

With the addition of Dotson, the Eagles go with six wide receivers and down to nine offensive linemen. This second team offensive line is deeper than many think, with two intriguing rookies in Keegan and Dylan McMahon (who the Eagles and put on the practice squad). Fred Johnson has the third tackle spot, but Philadelphia also likes Darian Kinnard as extra tackle depth. Kinnard can move inside to play guard, but the Eagles haven’t used him much there in camp. 

This is where the spot goes to Brett Toth — who can play center, guard, and tackle — making his versatility very difficult for the Eagles to part ways with. Someone has to be the odd man out here, especially if Steen’s ankle injury isn’t long term (also where things get difficult). The final spot may be coming down to Toth and Kinnard, but if Steen has a long-term injury both could make the 53.

Defensive end/pass rusher (6)

Bryce Huff, Josh Sweat, Nolan Smith, Brandon Graham, Jalyx Hunt, Patrick Johnson

Unlike most years, this position has five locks with Huff, Sweat, Smith, Graham and Hunt. The Eagles keep six because of the performance of Johnson, who has stood out this preseason as a pass rusher and his ability to play special teams. 

Julian Okwara has had a solid camp and played his way deeper into the conversation with a strong preseason finale. It appears this spot will come down to Okwara and Johnson. 

Huff and Sweat are the starters on the edge, while Smith and Graham are expected to rotate off the edge. Don’t be surprised if Hunt earns some snaps in the rotation as well. He’s been a pleasant surprise in camp. 

Defensive tackle (5)

Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Milton Williams, Moro Ojomo, Thomas Booker

The back end of the defensive tackle battle is one of the toughest to predict. The Eagles have three worthy candidates in Booker, Marlon Tuipulotu and PJ Mustipher, as defensive coordinator Vic Fangio seeks a backup nose tackle behind Jordan Davis for odd fronts. 

Fangio mentioned Booker at his press conference earlier in the week, and the defensive coordinator has been honest to a fault. Booker has played his way into serious roster consideration, perhaps as a player the Eagles do not want to lose to waivers. 

The Eagles could go six defensive tackles based on how well Booker and Mustipher are playing. Tuipulotu has been with the team for several years, and was a draft pick who the Eagles still like. Based on Booker’s performance this summer, that spot goes to him. 

Off-ball linebacker (5)

Devin White, Nakobe Dean, Zack Baun, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Ben VanSumeren

This is another position the Eagles could keep six, and veteran Oren Burks certainly played his way into the conversation over the final week. Burks had an excellent preseason finale, making the decision to cut him even more difficult. White and Dean have emerged into the contenders to start — with Baun still in the mix with the first team (Baun and White still start practice with the first team).

Trotter has been impressive this camp, with his instincts definitely showing on tape. VanSumeren is a standout special teamer who can cover tight ends in space (and also had an impressive preseason finale. Because the Eagles can protect Burks as a vested veteran (and has a guaranteed salary if he’s on the roster Week 1) and VanSumeren is subject to waivers, VanSumeren gets the nod and Burks starts on the practice squad. 

Cornerback (6)

Darius Slay, Isaiah Rodgers, Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Kelee Ringo, Josh Jobe

Slay and Rodgers appear slated to start on the outside with Mitchell in the slot. DeJean is back from his hamstring injury, but still is getting ramped up before he earns significant snaps in the secondary. Ringo can start on the outside, is an excellent second-team corner and standout special teamer. 

The final spot comes down to Jobe or Eli Ricks. Jobe is arguably the best special teamer on the Eagles and the coaching staff likes him, so he gets the nod. Ricks could be used as trade bait, as he’s good enough to be on an active roster. It will be hard for the Eagles to cut Ricks and put him on waivers. 

Safety (4)

C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Reed Blankenship, Avonte Maddox, Tristin McCollum

Thanks to the game of chicken with Bradberry, this one is tough to project. Bradberry is learning safety after the Eagles decided not to let him go earlier this summer, still hoping to find a trade partner to take on his contract. The Eagles may just release him on cutdown day, but Fangio likes his coverage ability — and Bradberry can always slide back into cornerback for certain packages. Keep in mind Bradberry didn’t play the final preseason game, which might be a signal he makes the roster. 

McCollum is a player the Eagles don’t want to let go, as he’s had a good camp — and one can make the case he’s outplayed Bradberry. He also played very well in the final preseason game. Perhaps the Eagles cut bait with Bradberry and roll with McCollum until Brown returns. Being a good special teamer works in McCollum’s favor (Bradberry doesn’t play special teams). This will be one of the most interesting roster decisions come Tuesday

The Eagles have an out with Sydney Brown still on the PUP list and Caden Sterns working his way back from injury. They can figure out the safety puzzle later. The Eagles finally cut bait with Bradberry and take a shot with McCollum. 

Kicker, punter, long snapper (3)

Jake Elliott (K), Braden Mann (P), Rick Lovato (LS)

The Eagles have their kicker, punter and long snapper on lock. The only question that remains: Who’s taking the kickoffs in the new formation: Elliott or Mann?