Projecting the 53-man roster

Here we are. Please note that I was writing this up and was about to finish when the Eagles dumped 10 and got Reggie Wells.

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Believe it or not, the offseason is nearly over and the 2010 campaign is literally days away from beginning. One thing that must be completed before regular season games can kick off is the final wave of roster cuts and the reduction of teams’ total amount of active players to 53. As usual, there are sure to be some intriguing moves made as teams, including the Eagles, each whittle down their head count. The dreams of many competitors will, at least temporarily, diminish, while some players will see their season shortened or ended completely via an injured list, and others could very well be traded. All in all, the day of final cuts is a thrilling and newsworthy event; because it is fast approaching and comes in less than 24 hours, a prediction for how Philadelphia’s 53-man squad will shape up has been formed and featured in this article.

There are undoubtedly hundreds of projections and opinions as to what analysts and writers would like to see the Eagles do, and there are just as many predictions pertaining to what experts believe the team will actually do as opposed to what they should do. In this foreboding of the team’s final roster, I’ve broken down each of the positions and examined which players are likely to come away with a spot on the regular season team. In addition, the players mentioned under the positions have been listed in the order they are projected to be placed in on the depth chart.

Quarterbacks:

• Kevin Kolb: The Eagles didn’t trade a six-time Pro-Bowler away and give Kolb a signing bonus of over $10 million if they weren’t going to start him. There’s little thought required here.
• Michael Vick: While he remains a controversial figure to many, the speedy Vick isn’t going anywhere unless another team comes out of the blue and suddenly expresses interest in trading for him.
• Mike Kafka: A developmental Draft pick of the team this year, he’s had an up-and-down offseason and is just about guaranteed to make the roster, seeing that there’s no competition for the No. 3 QB spot.

Running back:

• LeSean McCoy: The Eagles hyped up McCoy and rid of veteran Brian Westbrook early in the offseason so that the second-year Pittsburgh product could take over a larger role. There’s no question he will make the team.
• Mike Bell: While he hasn’t been healthy for a good deal of the offseason and looked a bit rusty in the preseason, Bell signed with the Eagles to be the primary backup and there have been no indications that someone will take that job from him.
• Eldra Buckley: The star of last year’s preseason, Buckley remains a passionate and aggressive runner. His true competition was traded not too long ago, and the Eagles like his power as a short-yardage back.

Fullback:

• Leonard Weaver: He’s a Pro-Bowl fullback and the only official FB on the roster. Need I say more?

Wide receiver:

• DeSean Jackson: Entering his third season, Jackson has already garnered recognition as being one of the NFL’s most explosive players and has eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark, in addition to being a reliable punt returner.
• Jeremy Maclin: He isn’t as flashy and as recognized as his teammate and fellow receiver, Jackson, but Maclin is about as sturdy as a second-year starter can be. Last year’s 1st-round Draft pick still has a lot of upside and could prove to be one of the best pass catchers in the game down the road.
• Jason Avant: Re-signed to a five-year contract extension this offseason, Avant is arguably the best reserve wide receiver in the game and has proven to be a successful target on third down situations.
• Riley Cooper: A fan favorite with his wavy, lengthy hair and skills as a possession receiver and red-zone target, the 5th-round Draft pick from Florida is definitely a part of the Eagles’ plans within the offense and could see a lot of action within opponents’ 20-yard lines in his rookie campaign.
• Kelley Washington: Signed during Training Camp for added competition and depth, Washington hasn’t been dominant in common statistical categories, but has shined in the preseason as part of the special teams unit. The seven-year veteran seems to bring a bit more to the table than Hank Baskett, who is fighting for a reserve WR job.

Tight end:

• Brent Celek: He nearly had 1,000 receiving yards last year and is only expected to get better with the short-yardage accuracy of Kolb being a big part of the offense.
• Chase Coffman*: Arguably the boldest projection in this look at the predicted 53-man roster is the inclusion of Coffman, who is currently a member of the Bengals. A solid pass catching option that was reportedly scouted closely by the Eagles before last year’s NFL Draft, Coffman is buried on Cincinnati’s depth chart and could very well be released, opening up the door for Philadelphia to add him as the No. 2 TE.
• Clay Harbor: While he isn’t considered too much of a receiving tight end, Harbor’s versatility and skills as a blocker could prove to be essential on formations in which the drafted rookie is used.

Offensive tackle:

• Jason Peters: He wasn’t as dominant as fans hoped he would be during Training Camp and the preseason, but Peters remains one of the most talented of the Eagles’ linemen and isn’t going anywhere; he is set to return as the starting left tackle.
• Winston Justice: Underappreciated by a lot of analysts and so-called football experts, Justice did a fine job as the leading right tackle in 2009 and is one of the players that needs to be present for the team to experience success in the trenches.
• Austin Howard: The first-year free agent acquisition of the Eagles has, with the exception of a few Camp practices, looked very good and consistent at the tackle position. A product of Northern Iowa, he has a ton of potential and the coaches have admired his abilities as a blocker since he was signed after the Draft.
• King Dunlap: He’s been quite an enigma since his career in the NFL and with the Eagles began and clearly has some things to work on to be a reliable backup, but remains a prospect for the future and still has the potential to develop into a productive lineman. The Eagles could easily dump Dunlap and count on one of their other blockers to fill in as a tackle in an emergency situation, but the fact that he is only 24 years old and has upside might make him glow in the eyes of the coaches.

Offensive guards:

• Todd Herremans: Though he has been bothered by recent foot and leg injuries and spent most of Training Camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list, Herremans is one of the most consistent men on the line and is undoubtedly going to return as the first-string left guard.
• Stacy Andrews: He was the Eagles’ biggest free agent acquisition last year but flopped during the season, missing time with injuries and being demoted to a situational role. However, he seems to have improved and is set to open the year as the starting right guard.

• Mike McGlynn: Also capable of playing at the center position, he is pretty valuable to the team with questions still surrounding the health of some of the regular starters on the O-line.
• Max Jean-Gilles: While he struggled late last season as a replacement at the right guard spot and dealt with weight issues following the team’s lone playoff game, Jean-Gilles remains an intriguing backup with a lot of size and strength. He certainly isn’t the best blocker on the team, but he is more than capable and determined to return as a member of the 53-man squad.

UPDATE: Reggie Wells acquired in trade with Cardinals. Interchangeable with OT King Dunlap, OG Max Jean-Gilles, and/or Kelley Washington/Chase Coffman.

Center:

• Jamaal Jackson: One of the most trustworthy pieces of the offensive line, he tore is ACL late last season but has made extremely good progress in an attempt to return to the field in time for the regular season opener.
• Nick Cole: He missed a good portion of practice this offseason because of recurring knee pain, but is a necessity on the roster as Jackson’s immediate backup at the center spot. His experience at the guard positions is also sure to be a factor in his staying on the roster.

Defensive end:

• Trent Cole: He’s a two-time Pro-Bowler and arguably the best player on the entire defensive side of the ball for the Eagles. There’s not much to it.
• Brandon Graham: The team’s 1st-round Draft pick this year, he displayed his relentless style of pass rushing early in the preseason and was promoted to a starting role, which he is likely to keep throughout his entire rookie campaign.
• Darryl Tapp: The Eagles completed a trade with the Seahawks for Tapp and initially hoped that he would start opposite Cole on the line, but the drafting of Graham all but destroyed his chances of playing in the lineup as a first-stringer. He was rarely noticed at Camp and in the preseason, too, but the coaches seem to like his potential and he is a nice fit as a rotational pass rusher.
• Juqua Parker: Downgraded to a backup job when Graham was given the green light as a starter, Parker is actually a quality and productive defensive end; he simply doesn’t get a ton of credit for the work he does. His run defense is far from dominant, but he provides the team with a veteran option along the line and a solid situational player.
• Daniel Te’o-Nesheim: A 3rd-round pick of the Eagles in this year’s NFL Draft, he hasn’t been much of a threat when looking at his statistics, but gives outstanding efforts and is a determined defender that is likely to see time as a rotational defensive tackle during his rookie season.

Defensive tackle:

• Brodrick Bunkley: Excluding his rookie season, Bunkley has been very consistent as a starter for the Eagles and should again find success as one of the two first-team DTs.
• Mike Patterson: Like his teammate Bunkley, Patterson has been extremely steady as one of the team’s starters along the defensive line.
• Trevor Laws: An injury- and inconsistency-riddled 2009 provoked speculation and rumors that Laws wasn’t going to be kept around for much longer in Philadelphia. An impressive offseason seems to have him back in the good spirits of fans and local analysts, though, and he is sure to get reps as a rotational pass rusher.
• Antonio Dixon: A surprise standout last year as a rookie free agent acquisition, Dixon has dealt with an injury this offseason but remains a reliable pass rushing option within the group of defensive tackles.

Outside linebacker:

• Ernie Sims: A hard-hitting, productive linebacker acquired in a three-way trade this offseason, Sims brings a steep level of physicality to the defense and was one of the most aggressive players in Camp.
• Akeem Jordan: He came into the summer as a backup, but reclaimed the starting job he held at the start of ‘09 with a string of great practices. There’s no doubting that Jordan will make the team.
• Keenan Clayton: When he was drafted by the Eagles this past April, it was widely believed that he was taken earlier than he should have been, but the Oklahoma product has looked fast and good as a reserve OLB and is all but a guarantee to crack the final roster.
• Moise Fokou: He’s lately been taking reps as a defensive end and lost his starting linebacker spot during Training Camp but remains an intriguing, young defender that the Eagles aren’t ready to give up on.

Middle linebacker:

• Stewart Bradley: He missed all of last season with a severe knee injury but has returned with success and looks to make an impact as the leading middle linebacker for the Eagles’ defense.
• Omar Gaither: While he doesn’t have as much upside as some competitors within the LB corps, Gaither is an experienced veteran that is versatile enough to play at multiple positions and act as an injury replacement.
• Jamar Chaney: A late-round Draft choice, Chaney came into the summer with high expectations but faltered in Camp and failed to stand out during the exhibition games. Even so, the coaches love his speed and potential for the future, so it’s likely the rookie will stick around as part of the 53-man roster.

Cornerback:

• Asante Samuel: He had nine interceptions last year and is a perennial Pro-Bowl selection as one of the two starting corners. Is any more explanation needed?
• Ellis Hobbs: Despite an up-and-down Training Camp, Hobbs overcame doubts and solidified his role as one of the starting cornerbacks with a solid preseason. He is also expected to man the kick return duties.
• Joselio Hanson: He had a lot of trouble containing opposing teams’ receivers during the preseason and failed to take advantage of most of the opportunities he was given, but Hanson remains a reliable option as a situational defensive back and was given a long-term contract only last offseason.
• Trevard Lindley: Another of the team’s Draft picks, he had nice outings in the preseason and impressed during OTAs, as well. Some believe he could push for a starting job in the future, and the potential is certainly there.
• Dimitri Patterson: Somewhat of a surprise last year as he made the final roster, Patterson continued to shine as a member of the special teams unit this offseason and also appeared to have improved his skills as a coverage man, intercepting a pass against the Bengals in Week 2 of the preseason.

Free safety:

• Nate Allen: The Birds’ 2nd-round Draft pick was named a starter early in the offseason after the planned first-stringer went down with a season-ending injury.
• Macho Harris: A starter for several games last year as a rookie, Harris planned on competing for a backup cornerback job this offseason but missed a lot of time with an injury and was recently converted back to the free safety spot. While he hasn’t looked too consistent in coverage, the versatility and upside he has are surely great things in the eyes of the Eagles’ staff.

Strong safety:

• Quintin Mikell: He went to his first Pro-Bowl last year, and is still looking to make improvements in his game. Mikell is undeniably going to be part of the final roster and an important piece of the starting lineup.
• Kurt Coleman: Initially regarded as a long shot to make the team as a late-round Draft pick, Coleman exploded in Camp and the preseason and is all but a guarantee to earn a backup job; some believe he has the tools to develop into a starting-caliber safety.

Kicker:

• David Akers: He’s been one of the most reliable and accurate kickers with the Eagles for many seasons. There’s no reason to believe this is the year he will not be wearing midnight green.

Punter:

• Sav Rocca: While he is generally criticized for a lack of consistency, Rocca is the only punter on the roster and performed quite well in this year’s preseason games.

Long snapper:

• Jon Dorenbos: A fan favorite, he is great at what he does and is, barring a serious injury, undoubtedly going to return for another year with the Eagles.

Injured Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list:

• DE Victor Abiamiri (knee)
• DE Ricky Sapp (knee)
• FS Marlin Jackson (Achilles tendon)

Please know that an asterisk (*) denotes a player not currently on the Eagles’ roster.

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What do you think of the projection? The idea of acquiring TE Chase Coffman is certainly the boldest of the predictions included on the roster, though the following may have also sparked some debate: the removal of rookie defensive tackle Jeff Owens; the inclusion of King Dunlap along the O-line; and the removal of third-year safety Quintin Demps.

Be sure to leave your comments on how you think my vision for the roster shapes up, what you might change in regards to the team, or anything else that comes to mind!

(picture source)