Philadelphia Eagles Depth Chart Projection: Pre-Training Camp Edition

Philadelphia Eagles training camp 2014 begins in ONE DAY. In some ways it's hard to believe it's truly here. In other ways the offseason doldrums have worn out their welcome. Football is back. Well, almost.

Training camp is where the football season gets started. Players and coaches will take the field in order to prepare for the long journey ahead. But while a total of 90 players will enter Eagles training camp with a roster spot, that number will dramatically dwindle down to only 53 (plus 8 practice squad players) by the time preseason games end and the regular season begins. Jobs will be won and lost over the course of this summer. For now, here's how Bleeding Green Nation sees the Eagles 53 man depth chart playing out.

Brandon Lee Gowton

QB: Nick Foles, Mark Sanchez, Matt Barkley (3)

G.J. Kinne may push for the third spot but for now Barkley, a former fourth round draft pick, has the edge. Perhaps working out with pitching guru Tom House will have helped him improve his arm strength. Barkley could even challenge for the second spot if Sanchez struggles.

RB: LeSean McCoy, Darren Sproles, Chris Polk (3)

The Eagles could easily keep four running backs and the fourth would be Matthew Tucker. For now I'm projecting three because that's how many they kept after breaking camp last season. Tucker spent half of the season on the regular season roster but he was largely inactive.

WR: Jeremy Maclin, Riley Cooper, Jordan Matthews, Josh Huff, Brad Smith, Jeff Maehl (6)

Brad Smith earns a spot because he's a great special teams player. Maehl isn't as prolific on special teams as Smith but he's still good and Chip Kelly likes him. Plus he's proven he can stay healthy until Arrelious Benn.

TE: Brent Celek, Zach Ertz, James Casey, Trey Burton (4)

The Eagles broke camp with four tight ends in 2013 but ended the season with only three. They might only keep the top three in this scenario but undrafted free agent rookie Trey Burton caught my eye in the team's spring practices. He's kind of a WR/TE hybrid. Note that the Eagles gave Burton an extra $20,000 signing bonus to convince him to come to Philadelphia. If the Eagles don't keep 4 TEs, they will keep 4 RBs.

OL: Jason Peters, Evan Mathis, Jason Kelce, Todd Herremans, Allen Barbre, Lane Johnson*, Matt Tobin, Dennis Kelly, David Molk (9 but 8 during suspension)

The starters are in place. Tobin will be a player to keep an eye on this summer. I'm not sure how high the Eagles are on Dennis Kelly but he's a reliable option while Johnson is missing time. David Molk has the potential to beat out Julian Vandervelde because he's more a "natural center", or whatever that means.

DL: Fletcher Cox, Bennie Logan, Cedric Thornton, Vinny Curry, Taylor Hart, Joe Kruger, Beau Allen (7)

The Eagles have a young and talented defensive line. Curry, Hart, and Kruger have the potential to contribute off the bench. Allen, at 333 lbs, could be a nice situational backup to Logan if he can earn a roster spot.

ILB: DeMeco Ryans, Mychal Kendricks, Najee Goode, Jason Phillips, Jake Knott* (5 but 4 with suspension)

Goode projects to be the top inside linebacker off the bench. Phillips is coming off injury and could be a reliable special teams contributor. The team still seems to like Knott despite his suspension.

OLB: Trent Cole, Connor Barwin, Marcus Smith II, Brandon Graham, Bryan Braman (5)

The Eagles OLB situation is intriguing and I'm not sure how it will play out. The team only kept four last season and one was Casey Matthews. I don't like that I have to cut Travis Long here but until he proves something I have to do it.

CB: Cary Williams, Nolan Carroll, Bradley Fletcher, Brandon Boykin, Jaylen Watkins (5)

I'm predicting that Carroll overtakes Fletcher for a starting job. Beyond that, nothing too surprising here. I wouldn't be surprised if the Eagles kept a 6th CB by choosing one of Roc Carmichael, Curtis Marsh, or Davon Morgan.

S: Malcolm Jenkins, Nate Allen, Earl Wolff, Chris Maragos, Ed Reynolds (5)

Last year the Eagles kept three primary safeties (Nate Allen, Patrick Chung, Earl Wolff) and two special teams safeties (Kurt Coleman, Colt Anderson). I think that's the same way they'll go this time around. I expect Allen to win the starting job next to Jenkins.

K: Alex Henery (1)

Murderleg doesn't stand a chance.

P: Donnie Jones (1)

Heck yeah.

LS: Jon Dorenbos (1)

Still got it.

Practice Squad (8): OLB Travis Long, RB Matthew Tucker, DE Alejandro Villanueva, OG Karim Barton, WR Ifeanyi Momah, DB Davon Morgan, QB G.J. Kinne, ILB Emmanuel Acho

Mike Kaye

QB: Nick Foles, Mark Sanchez, Matt Barkley (3)
MK: Clearly, this seems like the way it will shake out. Maybe Barkley will surprise us.

RB: LeSean McCoy, Darren Sproles, Chris Polk, Matthew Tucker  (4)
MK: Something just tells me that the Eagles believe in Tucker and I think he would be an option if there was an injury. He is the Eagles biggest back and could be good in short yardage.

WR: Jeremy Maclin, Riley Cooper, Jordan Matthews, Josh Huff, Brad Smith, Arrelious Benn (6)
MK: Special teams are important but the roster is full of talented players for that unit. Chip Kelly wants the best of the best and these are the six best wide receivers on the roster. Despite popular belief, Benn has plenty of experience on special teams.

TE: Brent Celek, Zach Ertz, James Casey (3)
MK: This may be the best tight end unit in the league. Hopefully, Casey and Ertz get more looks this season.

OL: Jason Peters, Evan Mathis, Jason Kelce, Todd Herremans, Allen Barbre, Lane Johnson (s)*, Dennis Kelly, David Molk, Matt Tobin (9* but 8 during suspension)
MK: Johnson's suspension won't really change things because Kelly and Tobin can play tackle and guard. I just have a hard time believing that an undrafted rookie will make the team at this point.

DL: Cedric Thornton, Bennie Logan, Fletcher Cox, Vinny Curry, Taylor Hart, Beau Allen, Joe Kruger (7)
MK: The first six are seemingly locks with Kruger competing with Damion Square for that final spot. I think the former draft pick wins out because of his potential.

ILB: DeMeco Ryans, Mychal Kendricks, Najee Goode, Jason Phillips, Jake Knott (5* but 4 with suspension)
MK: Knott being suspended will not impact his standing because the team likes him. I think if Jason Phillips is healthy, he will make the team over the Emmanuel Acho because of his contract and experience.

OLB: Trent Cole, Connor Barwin, Marcus Smith, Bryan Braman, Travis Long (4* but 5 with suspension)
MK: The suspensions allow the Eagles to work another outside linebacker into the lineup. This may help if the Eagles want to facilitate an in-season trade of Graham and choose to stash Long on the practice squad for a few weeks. Long seems to be this offseason's darkhorse. I think Graham will be traded during the preseason when there is a serious injury.

CB: Cary Williams, Bradley Fletcher, Brandon Boykin, Nolan Carroll, Jaylen Watkins (5)
MK: This unit has more depth than last year, but is basically still an injury away from basically being last year's situation. It's an average unit, but if Watkins can work himself into the lineup, this position could be a real plus in the long term.

S: Malcolm Jenkins, Nate Allen, Earl Wolff, Chris Maragos, Daytawian Lowe (5)
MK: I figured I would switch this up a little and add Lowe to the final roster. I think his experience and time in the system will help him in training camp. Ed Reynolds will be redshirted on IR.

K: Alex Henery (1)
MK: They are essentially giving him the job.

P: Donnie Jones (1)
MK: Come on...


LS: Jon Dorenbos (1)
MK: Understood.

Practice Squad (8): ILB Emmanuel Acho, OT Kevin Graf, RB Henry Josey, QB GJ Kinne, WR Quran Pratt, WR Kadrone Boone, OG Donald Hawkins and TE Blake Annen

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Now it's YOUR turn. Predict the Eagles final 53 man roster below in the comments.