We’ve recently spent time forecasting the Philadelphia Eagles’ depth chart for the 2026 NFL season. We started with the offense, moved on to the defense, and then finished up with the special teams unit. With OTAs starting up next week, here’s a prediction of who will actually make the final cut down to 53 players. We’ll continue to make updated projections throughout the rest of the offseason to reflect meaningful developments from practices and preseason games. (For fun, take a look at my 53-man
roster projection from this time last year.)
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK: Jalen Hurts, Andy Dalton, Cole Payton (3) [3]
The Eagles are expecting more from Hurts as a passer this season. It’ll be very interesting to see how he performs and how his future is impacted. The Eagles won’t trade Tanner McKee just to trade him but the guess here is that a team will eventually make a strong enough offer to acquire him. If McKee is gone, Dalton is clearly QB2. It’s been suggested that Payton could have a small role as a rookie (Taysom Hill packages and/or Tush Push specialist) but he’ll likely be inactive as the emergency third quarterback … at best. It’s entirely possible he doesn’t even make the roster, just like Kyle McCord didn’t last year.
RUNNING BACK: Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley (3) [6]
Barkley logged 136 fewer touches in 2025 than he took in 2024, so, it stands to reason he’ll be comparatively fresher for 2026. The question of his success is less about him, though, and more about the offensive line improving upon last season’s disappointment. Bigsby was an excellent ball carrier in limited action last season; he logged 5.9 yards per carry! But the Eagles oddly underutilized him and they shouldn’t do that again this year. The coaching staff seems to like Shipley as a dirty work guy (blocking, special teams) who might also contribute in two-minute drill situations. Dameon Pierce could contend for a roster spot but it doesn’t feel necessary to roster a fourth running back when the team could likely keep such a player on the practice squad.
WIDE RECEIVER: DeVonta Smith, Makai Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Darius Cooper (5) [11]
Smitty is more than ready to take over as WR1 with A.J. Brown soon to be traded. I don’t think it’ll take us long to realize if Lemon is equipped to be a serious contributor as a rookie or not. I’m cautiously optimistic; it’ll be nice to see evidence of his talents translating to the NFL. Wicks is an underrated player who could thrive with more opportunity in Philly than he saw with the Packers. Brown’s deep threat ability and general veteran competence makes him worth keeping around. Wicks and Brown have combined for five career special teams snaps, so, they’re probably not going to help out in that category. The Eagles need to keep around a dirty work guy or two and Cooper showed he’s capable of playing that role last year while also flashing offensive potential. Johnny Wilson was a tough cut here; he was showing promise before suffering a season-ending injury in August. Would like to see him back on the field first before assuming he’ll pick up where he left off. Elijah Moore has never really been a special teams guy and there are too many players ahead of him on offense, so, he’s more realistically looking at a practice squad spot unless there are injury issues. The Eagles could try to have Britain Covey begin the season on the practice squad, which they’ve done in the past, and use up his temporary elevations early on to be their punt returner. Doing so would buy them time to open up a spot for him if they want him to stay around for the rest of the season.
TIGHT END: Dallas Goedert, Eli Stowers, Johnny Mundt, Cameron Latu (4) [15]
Goedert is still more than a capable pass-catcher but it remains to be seen what the Eagles will get out of him as a blocker. Stowers might have a smaller role than expected as a rookie; his college coaching staff only trusted him as a part-time player. He might need some time to develop. Mundt is easily the best blocking tight end the Eagles have, so, it feels like he’ll find a way to stick around. Latu can do some really good things on special teams and the Eagles experimented with him as a fullback last season. Grant Calcaterra might have a higher chance of making the roster than most would like but I’m just not seeing the fit. Don’t sleep on undrafted rookie free agent Dae’Quan Wright finding a way to be this year’s Darius Cooper and making the team.
OFFENSIVE TACKLE: Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, Fred Johnson, Markel Bell, Cameron Williams (5) [20]
The Eagles can count on Lane Johnson to play at a very high level when he’s healthy … but the question is if the 36-year-old can avoid missing time. The Eagles are hoping for a stronger year by Mailata (and, really, the offensive line as a whole) in 2026. Fred Johnson currently projects as the Eagles’ swing tackle but we’ll see if he ends up merely being a backup at one of the two tackle positions with Bell being the guy at the other spot. Williams showed some promise as a 22-year-old rookie and I don’t think the Eagles are ready to give up on his potential. Jeff Stoutland really liked Myles Hinton but he’s no longer the offensive line coach.
OFFENSIVE GUARD: Landon Dickerson, Tyler Steen, Willie Lampkin, Micah Morris (4) [24]
Dickerson could be great again if he gets healthy but there are troubling signs that indicate he might not get there. Steen is better than he is largely credit for being; he’s not a star but he’s fine. Drew Kendall could be the new Brett Toth is terms of being the top backup at all three interior offensive line positions. The Eagles ruffled (rustled?) some feathers when they claimed Lampkin off waivers last year, indicating they had more than just casual interest in him. I think Lampkin could be a good player despite his small stature. Morris shouldn’t be considered a lock to make the team; I don’t know that he’s ready to play in 2026. But the Eagles probably won’t want to lose his developmental potential.
CENTER: Cam Jurgens, Drew Kendall (2) [26]
It remains to be seen if Jurgens can bounce back after a disappointing 2025 where he undeservedly made the Pro Bowl. He seems to be optimistic about how he’s feeling after visiting Medellín for stem cell treatment. As previously noted, Kendall could have a much more important role in Year 2 after playing just 89 snaps as a rookie. The aforementioned Lampkin also has center experience.
DEFENSE
EDGE DEFENDER: Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, Arnold Ebiketie, Brandon Graham (5) [31]
People should be excited to watch Greenard; he’s going to be good. Hunt has star potential and it’ll be interesting to see if he reaches it this season after a very encouraging Year 2. Smith is looking to bounce back from his injury-riddled 2025. The top three at this position will have the biggest roles with Ebiketie coming in as a rotational role player. He’s more suited for that capacity. Graham proved he can still play … and not just at edge rusher but on the interior as well. Not to mention he’s a good locker room presence as an added bonus. Keyshawn James-Newby should be able to make it to the practice squad without getting claimed off waivers. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka could push for a roster spot.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Ty Robinson, Byron Young (5) [36]
Carter should be motivated to return to form and earn a massive contract extension. Davis is coming off the best season of his career and the Eagles are counting on him to continue to be a big part of the defense. Ojomo is entering a contract year and he’s only gotten better every season. Robinson needs to prove he can at least be a rotational defensive tackle. Vic Fangio seems like to like Young (whom he calls “BY”) more than most others. Gabe Hall is pushing for a roster spot. The Eagles could keep Uar Bernard on the 53-man roster to avoid exposing him to waivers but the thought here is that they’ll use one of their two pre-roster cuts injured reserve/designated for return slots to stash him away. They used the same maneuver on Myles Hinton last summer.
LINEBACKER: Zack Baun, Jihaad Campbell, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Smael Mondon Jr. (4) [40]
In 2025, Baun proved that 2024 wasn’t a fluke; he’s just a really good player. The Eagles are counting on Campbell to build on the promise he flashed as a rookie in order to replace Nakobe Dean’s spot in the starting lineup. The feeling here is that Trot Jr. could be a good starter for other teams so the Eagles are lucky to have him as a quality backup who also helps out on special teams. Mondon Jr. also showed some promise as a rookie last offseason. Chance Campbell is a name to watch here since his teammates were impressed by him on the practice squad last season.
CORNERBACK: Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Riq Woolen, Kelee Ringo, Brandon Johnson (5) [45]
Mitchell and DeJean could very well make first-team All-Pro for the second season in a row. Woolen is a volatile player whose upside is tantalizing. All told, it’s a very strong trio, perhaps the strongest in the entire league. The depth behind them remains to be seen. At the very least, Ringo is worth keeping around for his special teams value and perhaps the 23-year-old can still get better on defense (not feeling optimistic on that front). Johnson can provide depth at nickel corner and also potentially compete for safety snaps. We left off Jonathan Jones, who is a vested veteran. The team could try to bring him back after Week 1 to avoid guaranteeing his salary for the entire season. Jakorian Bennett will have the benefit of a full offseason in the Eagles’ defense this year but he’s fighting an uphill battle to make the roster as a depth guy who doesn’t factor in much on special teams.
SAFETY: Andrew Mukuba, Marcus Epps, Michael Carter II, Cole Wisniewski, J.T. Gray (5) [50]
The Eagles need Mukuba to make a leap from Year 1 to Year 2. It doesn’t help that he’s going to miss some offseason practice time while recovering from injury. Though it’s not ideal, Epps starting at safety going to sink the season. MC2 will reportedly push for a starting safety role in addition to being able to provide nickel corner depth. Wisniewski has the best chance of any Day 3 Eagles draft pick to see meaningful snaps as a rookie. Even then, he’s probably just a special teams guy to start. Gray was an All-Pro special teamer in the past, so, we’ll include him here. Andre’ Sam could be on the roster bubble for a similar role.
SPECIAL TEAMS
KICKER: Jake Elliott (1)
Elliott has made just six of his last 16 attempts from 50+ yards. It’s possible this is his last season with the Eagles.
PUNTER: Braden Mann (1)
Solid punter.
LONG SNAPPER: Jacob Bobenmoyer (1)
The Eagles currently have undrafted rookie free agent Rocco Underwood as the only long snapper on the roster. His scouting report troubled me. Guessing the Eagles end up signing a veteran down the road.
INJURY DESIGNATIONS
It’s currently unclear if anyone is in jeopardy of beginning the season on the reserve/physically unable to perform (PUP) or the reserve/non-football injury (NFI) lists.
INJURED RESERVE (ELIGIBLE TO RETURN): Uar Bernard
Quick reminder that the NFL now allows teams to put up to two players on injured reserve prior to cutting down to 53 players with eligibility to return after four missed games (read: “phantom IR”). As previously noted, the Eagles used this maneuver with Myles Hinton last year. The guess here is that they’ll use it with Bernard this year to prevent him from being exposed to waivers. Then again, he won’t actually be able to practice with the team while on IR.
PRACTICE SQUAD
RB Dameon Pierce, WR Elijah Moore, WR Britain Covey, WR Johnny Wilson, TE Dae’Quan Wright, OT Myles Hinton, OG Jaedan Roberts, C Jake Majors, EDGE Keyshawn James-Newby, DT Gabe Hall, DT Ta’Quon Graham, LB Deontae Lawson, LB Chance Campbell, CB Ambry Thomas, S Andre’ Sam, S Kapena Gushiken
