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Eagles played a game and made some cuts.

 


Sorry for my recent absence, it’s been a few weeks.  And the Eagles lost a preseason game, but it really was a morale victory!  The starters got a 7-0 lead before exiting by handing the Eagle 2nd stringers the ball on the Jet 20.  The backups punched it in and left with a 14-3 cushion.  The Eagle depth players lost to the Jet depth players, predominantly in the second half, 21-7.  What counted was the guys who will make the 53-man roster played well.

We’ll be seeing 3 consecutive weeks of cuts to get to 53.  Yesterday we went from 90 to 85.  Next Tuesday, the 23rd, we’ll go from 85 to 80.  Then, on the penultimate day of August, it’ll be down to 53!  After mentioning yesterday’s 5 cuts (no surprises… OT Bill Dunkle, SAM LB Ali Fayad, CB Jim Moreland, WR Lance Lenoir & Safety Jared Mayden) and the trade to dispose of future cut & former 2nd round pick JJ Arcega Whiteside (one of Howie’s 2 biggest draft mistakes these past 5 years) for Safety/Slot/Special Teamer potential depth piece Ugo Amadi, lets review the future of the remaining 85 (actually 88… you’ll see) players.

First, a few caveats.  It is almost certain the Eagles will target a few cuts from other teams, either for their practice squad or even the 53 man roster.  One area is Running Back… although less than 50/50 that Jordan Howard returns (too injury prone), it is possible.  I do think the Eagles like Kennedy Brooks and will stash him on their practice squad, but if a trade (Karim Hunt?) or appealing player appears on waivers, they’ll make a move.  Similar areas to address could be both Safety and Tight End, the former to add either depth or competition for the starters, the latter simply to add higher quality depth. 

There will be almost 1200 NFL players who were rostered on August 15th available for teams to pursue on August 30th, to either roster or sign to their respective practice squads.

Here is one future projection, circa say September 1st, for current Eagles! Note- 2023 means players will be cut with the desire to bring them back to camp next year.


Here are some metrics for the above, an associated “key” if you will:


Eagle Lesson: This is more than just about 2022.  Projections regarding players that will be gone in 2023 create future needs, accounted for with ’22 roster or practice squad spots (example is Defensive Tackle).  Similarly, players not yet NFL ready (Carson Strong) but whose talent projects favorably, may require a ’22 spot to insure their ’23 availability and thus avoid “pilfering.”


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