The BGN staff makes final predictions for the Eagles' 53-man roster

The preseason is in the books and there is little (if anything) that the current 75 men on the Eagles' roster can do to determine their fate with the team. With the coaching staff having to cut the roster down to 53 players by Saturday evening, the BGN staff decided to take one more crack at predicting the opening day roster. Since we have already done a handful of these predictions, we will make this short and sweet.

Brandon

QB: Michael Vick, Nick Foles, Matt Barkley (3)

Obvious.

RB: LeSean McCoy, Bryce Brown, Chris Polk (3)

I'm leaving Matthew Tucker off but I have him on the practice squad.

TE: Brent Celek, James Casey, Zach Ertz, Clay Harbor (4)

I'm starting to think Clay Harbor could be traded. I still think the Eagles keep 4 TEs even if it's not Harbor. Maybe they pick up one?

WR: DeSean Jackson, Riley Cooper, Jason Avant, Damaris Johnson, Russell Shepard, Greg Salas (6)

OT: Jason Peters, Lane Johnson, Allen Barbe, Dennis Kelly (4)

Barbe has earned a spot.

OG: Evan Mathis, Todd Herremans (2)

Leaving Watkins off because Barbe and Kelly can also play OG. Chip doesn't seem to be high on Danny.

C: Jason Kelce, Julian Vandervelde (2)

Batmandervelde has stepped up and looks like he'll be the backup at C.

DE: Fletcher Cox, Cedric Thornton, Vinny Curry, Clifton Geathers (4)

Curry has been a beast in the preseason. He won't "start" but he will play. Big Clif Geathers makes the roster.

NT: Isaac Sopoaga, Bennie Logan, Damion Square (3)

Sopoaga is a veteran presence who will "start" but only play around 25% of the reps on defense. Bennie Logan will play meaningful reps, and Square has earned a roster camp after a good training camp/preseason.

OLB: Trent Cole, Connor Barwin, Brandon Graham, Chris McCoy (4)

The starters are obvious. McCoy is a lock after his performance against the Jets.

ILB: DeMeco Ryans, Mychael Kendricks, Emmanuel Acho, Jake Knott (4)

Ryans and Kendricks are set as starters. Casey Matthews has had a good preseason prior to the Jets game where he looked not so good. Acho is the 3rd ILB and Knott is the 4th.

CB: Cary Williams, Bradley Fletcher, Brandon Boykin, Brandon Hughes, [player not on roster], Jordan Poyer (6)

The depth at CB isn't pretty. Hughes is currently injured but he could still make the team. The Eagles will likely add another body at CB via a trade or signing a player another team has cut. Poyer has had a rough camp but they keep him because of a lack of depth and they spent a 2013 draft pick on him.

S: Patrick Chung, Nate Allen, Earl Wolff, Kurt Coleman, Colt Anderson (5)

Patrick Chung is a lock as a starter. Beyond that, it's not too pretty. Kurt Coleman has also been playing at CB. His versatility helps him stick on the roster.

K: Alex Henery (1)
P: Donnie Jones (1)
LS: Jon Dorenbos (1)

Nothing to say here.

Practice Squad: QB GJ Kinne, RB Matthew Tucker, DL David King, OT Michael Bamiro, OT Matt Tobin, TE Derek Carrier, WR Jeff Maehl, OLB Travis Long (8)

Since the Eagles are only keeping 3 RBs they will keep 1 on the PS. Maehl makes the PS instead of Ifeanyi Momah

Mike

QB: Michael Vick, Nick Foles, Matt Barkley (3)

Surprise!

RB: LeSean McCoy, Bryce Brown, Chris Polk, Matthew Tucker (4)

Cutting Tucker would be risky, especially on a team that really could use a good goal-line back. I think it's a 50-50 that he would pass through waivers and I don't like those odds at all.

WR: DeSean Jackson, Riley Cooper, Jason Avant, Damaris Johnson, Greg Salas, Russell Shepard (6)

Salas makes the team as the backup to Avant and Shepard could become a dynamo on special teams and as a returner. I am still not sold that both of these guys will make it past Week 2 when teams can sign veterans to non-guaranteed contracts.

TE: Brent Celek, Zach Ertz, James Casey, Clay Harbor (4)

Habor will make the initial roster but could be traded a few days later. Watch the waiver wires at tight end.

OT: Jason Peters, Lane Johnson, Allen Barbre (3)

Barbre has been the story on offense that really all started with Evan Mathis.

OG: Evan Mathis, Todd Herremans, Matt Tobin (3)

Tobin impressed me in the running game on Thursday night and he has flashed at time during the other games. Danny Watkins can go become a Mountie or be the CFL version of Tim Tebow.

C: Jason Kelce, Julian Vandervelde (2)

I think Vandervelde is extremely low-level backup and I think he will be cut soon after the waiver wire fills up.

DE: Fletcher Cox, Cedric Thornton, Vinny Curry, Damion Square (4)

No surprises.

NT: Isaac Sopoaga, Bennie Logan (2)

Logan will be the starter by midseason.

OLB: Trent Cole, Connor Barwin, Brandon Graham, Chris McCoy (4)

ILB: DeMeco Ryans, Mychal Kendricks, Emmanuel Acho, Jake Knott (4)

Casey Matthew is a goner.

CB: Bradley Fletcher, Cary Williams, Brandon Boykin, [Player Not On Roster], [Player Not On Roster], Jordan Poyer (6)

I am iffy on Poyer but keeping him makes sense.

S: Patrick Chung, Nate Allen, Earl Wolff, Kurt Coleman, Colt Anderson (5)

Like it or not, Coleman's willingness play anywhere will get him on the roster.

LS: Jon Dorenbos (1)

K: Alex Henery (1)

P: Donnie Jones (1)

Practice Squad: QB G.J. Kinne, WR Jeff Maehl, RB [Player Not On Roster], OT Michael Bamiro, TE/FB Emil Igewenagu, DE Joe Kruger, DE Dave King, OG [Player Not on Roster].

You can follow Brandon Lee Gowton on Twitter at @BrandonGowton and Mike Kaye at @mike_e_kaye.