The Eagles roster is, in theory set for Week 1, though there is still plenty of time to make changes. Unintentionally, their roster construction led the way. Howie Roseman does it again!
Fantastic 4 QBs
There has been some consternation about teams carrying 4 QBs on their 53 man roster this year: the Eagles, Steelers, Falcons, Vikings, and Browns all had four on their initial 53 man roster, though since then the Browns put Dillon Gabriel on IR and the Vikings cut Max Brosmer and re-signed him to the practice squad.
This is no big deal. Teams have always used the bottom of their rosters to store either big, raw athletes (usually linemen, sometimes WRs or TEs) or QBs because those types of players are rare. And those types of players are rare because teams have always used the bottom of their rosters to store big, raw athletes or QBs. It’s a bit of a self fulfilling prophecy. Brady Cook got claimed. To use another Brady on the other end of the scale, in his rookie season Tom Brady was the 4th QB on a 5-11 team.
There are over 500 players on practice squads and over 600 players who were in a camp that are currently free agents (or on LSU’s roster). If you need another backup running back, slot receiver, slot corner, off ball LB, there’s plenty lying around.
The Eagles problem isn’t that they have 4 QBs. Their problem is that one who is second on the depth chart is a washed up Andy Dalton.
4 on the roster floor
That said, the Eagles did have, in a weird coincidence, 4 players claimed by other teams, the most of any team. Is that a sign that the team is deep, or a sign that they may have cut some players they shouldn’t have?
Last year the Chargers, Rams, and Ravens led the way with three players claimed by other teams. The Chargers got hit with injuries and still won 11 games, the Rams won 12, and the Ravens had injury problems of their own and won 8 games. In 2024 the 49ers and Packers also had three. The Packers won 11 games while the 49ers got obliterated by injuries and went 6-11, which is a pretty good record for a team that started 3 different QBs and had half their starters miss at least 3 games.
The Eagles QB, WR, and TE depth charts have issues, but the rest of this roster looks pretty good.
College Football Watch List
12:00 – Boise State at Oregon
Oregon is loaded. With Moro Ojomo scheduled to hit free agency in March, I’ve got my eye on DTs A’Mauri Washington, a run stuffer who needs to show better pass rush ability, and Bear Alexander, who has completely turned his career around (a weird thing to say about a college kid, but it’s true) with the Ducks.
7:30 – Clemson at LSU
The only game between a ranked team and a Power 4 opponent on Saturday. It might be over by half time.
LSU has a pair of EDGEs to watch. Princewill Umanmielen, brother of Princely, who had a breakout season at Ole Miss last year and followed Lane Kiffin to LSU. He needs to add to his repertoire but his size, length, and motor are really good. Jordan Ross is getting some buzz in the amateur scouting world. He was one of the top EDGE recruits in 2024 but spent two years in a situational role at Tennessee. Now he’s at LSU and should see regular playing time so long as Jack Pyburn is on the Chiefs.
Clemson EDGE Will Heldt is one of the top senior prospects. Here in September he seems like a day two pick, but that might be too high.
Sunday – 7:30 – Louisville at Ole Miss
Trinidad Chambliss is getting way too much hype based off of two (very good) games last year. His draft stock probably won’t be higher than it was this offseason when he decided that a paycheck at Ole Miss was a better option (he was right). He’s a day three pick, and to me he feels like a Howie Roseman pick.
Sunday – 7:30 – Wisconsin at Notre Dame
Notre Dame has prospects all along the defense, and might have the best secondary in 2026. CB Leonard Moore is a top prospect, while CBs DJ McKinney and Christian Grey and safeties Tae Johnson and Adon Shuler are highly rated as well.
Wisconsin is just trying to not get anyone fired this year.
Monday – 7:30 – SMU at Florida State
6’7” FSU WR Johnny Wilson was a worthy gamble in the 6th round. It didn’t work out, but that’s the way it usually goes with gambles. Maybe 6’6” FSU WR Duce Robinson is worth a try.
