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The DiCecco Daily: Pre-Camp 53-Man Roster Projection, Offense · Inside the Birds: A Philadelphia Eagles Podcast

0:09
Speaker 1: Hey, what's happened everybody? How are you feeling out there?
0:12
Andrew de Checko bringing you another edition of the Checko Daily.
0:15
Hope everybody is getting off to a good start this week,
0:19
and I'm sitting I'm doing this one outside. I'm sitting
0:22
outside and enjoying some sun here and getting some fresh air.
0:26
But with training camp around the corner, those of you
0:29
who have followed my work, you already know that this
0:32
is around the time where I release my annual pre
0:35
training camp fifty three man roster projection. Of course, the
0:39
final one can be expected at cutdowns, but there and
0:44
you'll see this as we start to go through it.
0:46
There's a lot of depth in certain areas and some
0:49
interesting decisions that could be coming down the pike here.
0:52
But we're gonna do something a little bit different, So
0:54
I'm not gonna give you all of my fifty three.
0:56
Speaker 2: Picks in this pod.
0:58
Speaker 1: Today will be solely for these and tomorrow we will
1:02
do the defense. But again, this is pre training camp,
1:08
so a lot of these predictions and forecasting. There's some
1:12
projection that goes into it, obviously, some information and continuity,
1:16
so it depends on the position.
1:17
Speaker 2: But let's get started.
1:19
Speaker 1: With quarterback where I have them keeping three, those being
1:23
Jaywen Hurts, Tanner McKee, and rookie Kyle McCord. Jaywin Hurts
1:28
obviously the reigning Super Bowl MVP. He's going to be
1:30
leading this Kevin Petulo offense, and I think that this
1:34
could be his loftiest statistical season to date. You know,
1:38
when all eyes are on Jaywen Hurts, that's when he
1:41
seems to play his best. And obviously, coming off the
1:44
Super Bowl and drawing all of these different accolades this offseason,
1:48
there is a heightened sense of leadership responsibility and I
1:53
do believe that he's going to rise to the occasion
1:56
here and answer that bell. But then you have McKee,
1:59
who has really improved steadily since joining the Eagles as
2:03
a six round pick in twenty twenty three. Last year,
2:05
he played in one and a half games, I say,
2:08
and he completed thirty or forty five passes for three
2:11
hundred and twenty three yards and four touchdowns. But more importantly,
2:15
he looked in full command of the offense. There didn't
2:17
seem to be a throw that he couldn't make, and
2:19
you can build off of that. I think that that
2:21
can really exude confidence and really it shows the kind
2:27
of quarterback that he is and the work that he's
2:29
put in, and I do believe that now that he's
2:31
stepping up into the number two role, he should be
2:33
viewed among the best reserve quarterbacks in the league. And
2:37
it would not surprise me at all if another team
2:40
looks at Tanner McKee down the line here as a
2:43
starting quarterback or at least competing for a starting job.
2:46
I think he does have that ability in him and
2:49
leading this number two offense in training camp, the second
2:52
team offense, I think if you're a reserve wide receiver
2:56
looking to make the team, having someone like Tanner McKee
2:59
and even to a lesser degree McCord working with you,
3:02
I think gives you the best chance to make plays.
3:04
And sometimes a lot of these back end players fall
3:06
victim to the supporting cast right the quarterbacks in the preseason,
3:11
and they're not really able to showcase what they're able
3:13
to do or they're short changed a little bit. But
3:15
that shouldn't be the case this year. And then, of
3:17
course McCord, the rookie out of Syracuse, I view him
3:20
as someone who has obviously a live arm, but somebody
3:24
who can project as the long term number two, assuming
3:27
that McKee eventually moves on to an elevated role elsewhere.
3:33
So there's the three and then out Dorian Thompson Robinson,
3:36
who the Eagles acquired in the trade with the Browns
3:38
that sent Kenny Pickett over there. I think DTR there's
3:42
a world in which he ends up on the practice squad.
3:44
He has a different type of skill set, and look
3:47
at Will Greer last year he was on the practice squad.
3:49
The Eagles have kept four, so that really shouldn't be
3:52
out of the rum of possibility with DTR sticking around
3:55
on the practice squad if he performs in training camp,
4:00
I have them keeping three. Saquon Barkley, Will Shipley AJ Dillon.
4:06
Barkley's coming off the two thousand yard season, and I
4:09
think for preservation purposes, especially in later that high volume
4:13
year that he just had, it is possible that the
4:16
Eagles will be mindful of his usage and try to
4:19
make sure that he's as fresh as possible down the stretch.
4:22
But I still think Saquon Barkley is gonna have a
4:24
very big season and a productive year for the Philadelphia Eagles.
4:28
But then behind him is where you have some different
4:31
looks because Kenny Gangwell for a while was a secure, stable,
4:36
solid football player holding down that number two role. Good
4:39
in the two and four minute offense. The Eagles believed
4:42
in him there solid and pass protection actually decent, and
4:45
short yardage as well.
4:46
Speaker 2: He did a lot of little things well.
4:48
Speaker 1: But they upgrade in an athleticism perspective in Will Shipley
4:53
because Will offers a tremendous pass catching ability and he
4:57
has home run hitting potential and just basically his juice
5:01
and that explosiveness can add another dimension to the backfield.
5:04
Speaker 2: So I think he'll be the number two.
5:07
Speaker 1: But it's interesting because at three, I have aj Dillon,
5:10
who I do believe is on the roster bubble sticking
5:14
as the third running back and being that between the
5:16
tackles Bruiser sparing Saquon Barkley maybe in short yardage and
5:22
the Shipley and Dillon rolls could be varied based on circumstance,
5:28
right because in game, it would make sense to put
5:31
Will Shipley out there because he offers that change of
5:33
paceability and forces defenses to perhaps play the Eagles differently,
5:38
whereas if Saquon bark We had to miss time for
5:40
any reason or if the Eagles build start the stack
5:44
up wins earlier in the season, and maybe some of
5:47
the last couple of games of the year are rendered
5:49
quote unquote meaningless. I say quote unquote because no game
5:53
in the NFL during the regular season should be considered meaningless.
5:56
But that's where you could see someone like aj Dillon
5:59
shoulder eight team to twenty carries if need be. That's
6:02
really more of his wheelhouse. And then at fullback, I
6:06
have the Eagles keeping Ben Van Sumern. He's the only
6:09
fullback on the roster. The Eagles would not ask Van
6:12
Sumer to transition to fullback. They also wouldn't mention him
6:15
on prompted and if they didn't have a plan for
6:19
him and he otherwise, you just keep me at linebacker,
6:21
where the team's already really light. I just think that
6:24
Ben offers a unique athletic profile. He's physical, and that's
6:29
not to mention what he can bring on special teams.
6:31
He adds multifaceted value to this team. At six two
6:35
two forty two, You're not going to see many fullbacks
6:37
in the NFL be able to run a four to
6:38
four and jump a forty two and a half inch
6:41
vertical and then catch the football naturally. He has an
6:44
exceptional pair of hands, was a collegiate wide receiver and
6:48
set Michigan record at the high school level, and then
6:52
he was also a running back at Michigan. For those
6:54
who didn't read the article or maybe unfamiliar with Ben's background,
6:57
so I have him sticking at full back. Then we
7:00
get to wide receiver, where I have them keeping six
7:03
AJ Brown, Davonte Smith, Johan Dotson, Johnny Wilson, Danny Gray,
7:10
and Avery Williams. So obviously the top three are AJ Brown,
7:14
DeVante Smith, and Johan Dotson.
7:15
Speaker 2: I don't really need to elaborate much on that.
7:17
Speaker 1: I've talked quite a bit about all three players and
7:20
sort of their outlook entering the twenty twenty five season
7:24
at various points this offseason. But things get interesting towards
7:29
the back end of this room, and that's where Johnny
7:34
Wilson I think has the inside track being the wide
7:36
receiver four, reprising his role. Obviously unique dimensions at six
7:41
foot seven, two hundred and twenty five pounds, and he
7:44
does play on special teams. He played twenty four percent
7:46
of the Eagles special team snaps three hundred and sixty
7:49
nine which comes out to thirty four percent during the
7:51
regular season. And more importantly, the role that he fulfills
7:55
is doing.
7:55
Speaker 2: The dirty work right, the gritty, grimy.
7:58
Speaker 1: Zach Pascal to a lesser degree, Alamine's a Kias type
8:01
of jobs that not every receiver is willing or capable
8:05
of doing. But I want to see Johnny Wilson make
8:09
make a notable leap in terms of receiving, meaning showcase
8:14
the ability to separate with more regularity and the ability
8:18
to come up with passes in contested cat situations and
8:21
in the red zone. And that's where I'm looking to
8:24
see him make that leap, because otherwise you can make
8:27
a case for Terrist Marshall, who had a good spring.
8:30
He has over eight hundred yards receiving in the NFL
8:34
once a second round pick of the Carolina Panthers, seems
8:37
to have established a rapport with Jaywen Hurts, so that
8:39
a Terriss Marshall. He doesn't have the six foot seven
8:42
body type. I think he's about six' two or six,
8:44
three but conceivably he could fulfill that role If Johnny
8:48
wilson doesn't really make a splash this, summer take that.
8:52
Speaker 2: Leap but for NOW i Have wilson.
8:53
Speaker 1: On the big one here Is Danny gray because when
8:57
you look at somebody.
8:58
Speaker 2: Who has four to three three.
9:00
Speaker 1: Speed he was a third round pick of the forty nine,
9:02
ers he got injured there never quite panned. Out he
9:05
offers a unique skill set that teams covet right the,
9:09
speed the vertical. Element teams placed the premium on. That
9:12
and if you're looking at someone Like Terris marshall Versus Dandy, gray,
9:16
Well Danny gray offers down the downfield speed more so
9:21
than any other player on this, roster AND i think
9:25
you have to give that. Consideration he had a good.
9:27
Spring he was on the practice squad last, season productive
9:29
on the practice, squad working on the scout, team AND
9:32
i think that maybe that year In philadelphia allows him
9:35
to kind of hit that reset button and hit the
9:37
ground running when he gets to the training. Camp he's
9:40
a confident guy AND i think he will be in
9:42
the running as long as he stays.
9:43
Speaker 2: Healthy SO i have him as the. Fifth the sixth
9:46
Is Avery.
9:47
Speaker 1: Williams he's a return specialist listed as a wide, receiver
9:50
but The eagles signed him in free. Agency he did
9:52
not participate during the spring with an undisclosed. Injury but
9:56
When Nick sirianni raves about the prospects of Utilizing Avery,
10:01
williams because he has played running, back he's played, receiver
10:03
he was a cornerback At Boise. State he offers some unique.
10:07
Dimensions he's, quick he's about five foot, nine one.
10:09
Speaker 2: Hundred and ninety five.
10:10
Speaker 1: Pounds we'll have to wait and see if he's. Healthy
10:13
and first and, foremost but they signed him in free.
10:15
Agency he does offer the ability to return kicks and.
10:18
Punts The eagles Lost Isaiah, Rodgers Kenny, Gangwell Britain, covey
10:22
so you could see why he would be the preference
10:25
there as the sixth, spot THOUGH i don't know how
10:27
much whole factor as a wide, receiver but he might
10:30
see some sporadic touches.
10:31
Speaker 2: Offensively so for NOW i Have Avery williams.
10:34
Speaker 1: There the tough ones were Obviously Terras, marshall WHO i,
10:37
mentioned but Also Anaias, smith who was a fifth round
10:40
pick last, season suffered an, injury missed the early part
10:43
of his rookie, campaign and then he played a little
10:47
bit during the regular, season finished with actually more receiving
10:50
yards and more receptions Than Johnny wilson he had seven
10:54
for forty one yards and a, touchdown and that came
10:57
in the regular season.
10:58
Speaker 2: Finale but as.
11:00
Speaker 1: He could flip the script, here if he's able to
11:02
showcase value as a punt returner where he was a
11:06
decorator returner At TEXAS a AND, m that's where he
11:09
can kind of elbow who's way into the consideration because right,
11:13
now taking the return element out of the, equation he
11:17
is just a slot only. Player so when you're trying
11:20
to assess the game day value and where each player slots,
11:23
in it's kind of difficult to activate or roster someone
11:27
Like Ania smith if he's only a reserve slot, receiver
11:30
and if you already have someone Like Gavey, williams let's,
11:32
say holding down the punt return. Game but everyone who's
11:36
listened to me you already KNOW i think highly Of.
11:38
Anius he puts the work, in he's got a positive,
11:40
attitude AND i thought he did some nice things in the.
11:43
Spring but he does have his work cut out for.
11:45
Him but you can't rule him out just. Yet but
11:47
as of right, NOW i have him on the outside looking,
11:50
In so officially out Tis, Marshall Annias, Smith Taylor morin
11:55
rookie free Agent Darius, cooper rookie free Agent Giles, jackson
11:59
rookie free Agent Elijah, cooks who was spent a couple
12:02
weeks on The eagles practice squad during the. Postseason he
12:05
was Actually pukinakuwa that week during practice and he was
12:11
there With KYLE i can't remember his, name a small
12:15
receiver FROM, ucla but those two guys were running the
12:19
scout team at wide receiver that.
12:21
Speaker 2: Week and.
12:23
Speaker 1: Tight END i have them keeping Two Dallas, Goddard grant Cal.
12:27
Katara obviously a lot can change, here but The eagles
12:31
had a lot of success last year elevating the tight
12:33
end from the practice squad when they needed. Three it
12:36
could be matchup dependent or what have. You BUT i
12:38
think there's a world where two of those three players
12:41
That i'm going to mention in a, second you could
12:43
roster them on the practice, squad AND i think you
12:45
can safely take turns elevating them depending on what you're
12:47
looking for or what the game plan calls. For so,
12:51
OUT i Have Harrison bryant And Kylon, grants and two
12:55
free agent additions who signed one year deals E. J,
12:58
jenkins who you all KNOW i Like Nick muse And Cameron.
13:02
Lattu so the tough ones here Were bryant And. Granson
13:05
both have some special teams. Background they've played a number
13:08
of years in THE. Nfl they were fourth round picks
13:11
at one point in, time and they.
13:14
Speaker 2: Offer something a little bit.
13:15
Speaker 1: Different grandson's more a little bit, undersize more in the
13:17
mold of an h back can play some special, teams
13:20
can move a little, bit And, BRIAN i just think
13:23
it is a rangy pass catcher who has a little
13:27
bit of, upside but not enough so THAT i think
13:29
you want to detract from another position WHERE i think
13:32
The eagles may need to go a little bit heavier
13:34
to keep some young talent in the. Building so THEREFORE
13:38
i have them keeping just two tight ends and maybe
13:40
you see someone like an E. J jenkins Or brian
13:43
Or granson on the practice squad where The eagles had
13:46
a lot of success doing the practice squad. Elevations we're
13:51
going to round things off here with the offensive, line
13:54
WHERE i have The eagles keeping. Ten That's Jordan, Mylatta Lannon,
13:58
Dickerson Cam, Jurgens, Tyler, Stein Lane, Johnson Kendall, Lamb Matt,
14:04
Pryor Drew, Kendall Miles, hinton And Darien canard rounding things.
14:09
Out so aside from the projected. Starters AND i say
14:14
projected Because Tyler stein hasn't quite cemented his status as
14:17
The eagles right, guard though he does have the inside.
14:20
Speaker 2: Track there are.
14:22
Speaker 1: Some interesting names here at play and vying for roster.
14:26
Spots Cameron, williams a rookie draft, pick very intriguing athletic,
14:31
profile though he's a little bit. Raw you Have Trevor,
14:33
keegan who was a fifth round pick last.
14:37
Speaker 2: Year he's a. Holdover Kenyon green who was acquired in THE.
14:40
Speaker 1: Cj Gardner johnson trade a first round pick in twenty twenty.
14:43
Two so you have some, names but ultimately the, RESERVES
14:47
i Have Kendall. Lamb Kendall LAMB i view as The
14:50
Fred johnson replacement on game, day being that invaluable swing tackle.
14:54
Speaker 2: Who's played a lot of football in his.
14:56
Speaker 1: Career SO i think that experience maybe when out and
15:01
he secures, that you feel comfortable maybe having to throw
15:04
him into a game in a pinch if you have.
15:06
To Matt, PRYOR i have him staying on as a reserve.
15:11
GUARD i think in a perfect, world through The Eagles
15:14
Lens Matt pryor does not beat Out Tyler stein or push,
15:18
him and he becomes The Tyler seene of last, year
15:21
where he's that reserve guard coming in off the bench
15:25
you as, needed so he'll be active on game. Day
15:28
then you Have Drew, kendall the rookie From Boston, college
15:31
who is a center by. Trade he can also play
15:34
guard if need, be but he's really a. Center they
15:37
tried it With dylan McMahon drafting him last. Year it
15:40
didn't work. Out he was grossly undersized and he's bounced around.
15:43
Speaker 2: Since BUT i think they really do have something there In.
15:46
Speaker 1: KENDALL i wouldn't be surprised if pretty early on in training,
15:49
camp maybe even to start training, camp he's running with
15:51
the second. Team remember With Cam jurgen's sidelined recovering from the,
15:55
back it Was Brett toth who got the first team
15:59
wraps And Drew kendall was behind. Him wouldn't be surprised
16:02
if very shortly you start to See Drew kendall eat
16:05
Into Brett toath's. Opportunities and so because of that, VALUE
16:10
i Think Drew kendall will be active on game day as.
16:12
Well he really has to Be Miles. HINTON i told
16:17
YOU i Mentioned Cameron. Williams, well the other tackle they
16:19
drafted On day three Is Miles hinton From, michigan more
16:22
of a polished. PRODUCT i actually view him as the
16:25
long term swing, tackle so you see the value there
16:28
and the long term. PROJECTION i think that he sticks
16:31
around just because if you needed, to if you had
16:34
to play a, game you'd feel more confident Putting Miles
16:37
hinton in then you Would Cameron. Williams Cameron williams is
16:39
more of an intriguing developmental, prospect and on a team like,
16:43
THIS i don't know if you can afford to keep
16:45
one of them on and have them inactive knowing that
16:47
they really won't be able to be up on game
16:49
day and help you in any meaningful. Way and Then
16:52
Darien canard hangs on because one he was on the
16:56
team last. Year so last year was kind of a
16:59
really telltale signed for. Me he only appeared in two.
17:01
Games he was a future. SIGNING i got the impression
17:05
The eagles were intrigued and like what they saw in
17:08
training camp and giving him that year in the meeting
17:11
rooms With Jess stotland and on the practice field every single.
17:14
DAY i think that indicates that they like what they
17:18
see and now we'll have another year in the.
17:20
Speaker 2: System but also you.
17:22
Speaker 1: Look at the injuries and things from last season and
17:26
the elevation Signing Paris, campbell for, example multiple times.
17:30
Speaker 2: To the active.
17:30
Speaker 1: Roster they never Affected Darren. Canard that never Affected Darren.
17:35
Cannard he was on the fifty three all year despite
17:38
only appearing in two.
17:39
Speaker 2: Games so again you have to go with what you know.
17:42
Speaker 1: Actions you know their actions suggests that they like what
17:45
they have, there or at least they want to get
17:47
a longer. Look AND i do think that his ability
17:49
to play right tackle and, guard even in a, pinch
17:53
gives him some increased value that should go a long
17:55
way in helping him make this.
17:58
Speaker 2: Roster but this is a deep.
17:59
Speaker 1: Unit you can clearly make a case for some of
18:01
these other, guys Because Trevor keagan was not an easy
18:03
cut for me because he can play all interior.
18:06
Speaker 2: Positions he repped at center at The Senior.
18:08
Speaker 1: Bowl but, AGAIN i think someone Like canard who can
18:12
give you tackle and guard, versatility and you might feel
18:16
a little bit better about putting him in in a
18:18
game if you had To Trevor keagan appeared in one
18:20
game last.
18:20
Speaker 2: Season it's gonna be, interesting it's gonna be very.
18:23
Speaker 1: Interesting but before, camp before anything, happens before the depth charts,
18:27
go you, know players go up and. Down this is
18:29
the way THAT i have at forecast and on the offensive.
18:31
Side that makes twenty five players on that side of the. Ball, Tomorrow,
18:36
TUESDAY i will be bringing you my defensive forecast heading
18:41
into training. Camp this has been to Check o. DAILY
18:43
i Am andrew De. Checko catch you on the next.
18:46
Speaker 2: One