With the Eagles first preseason game in the books, I thought I would take my first stab at predicting who will make the 53 man roster this season and who could potentially be left off. This is by no means the final roster, it's just my current guess as to who will make the team. Below the roster list I have given some of my justifications of why certain players won't make the team. Feel free to agree or disagree, plus let me know if I left anyone off:
Offense:
QB(3): Donovan McNabb, Kevin Kolb, A.J. Feeley
RB(3): Brian Westbrook, Correll Buckhalter, Lorenzo Booker
FB(1): Jed Collins
WR(6): Kevin Curtis, Reggie Brown, Jason Avant, Hank Baskett, Greg Lewis, DeSean Jackson
TE(3): L.J. Smith, Brent Celek, Kris Wilson
LT(2): Tra Thomas, King Dunlap
LG(2): Todd Herremans, Scott Young
C(2): Jamaal Jackson, Nick Cole
RG(2): Shawn Andrews, Max Jean-Gilles
RT(2): Jon Runyan, Winston Justice
Defense:
DE(5): Juqua Parker, Trent Cole, Darren Howard, Chris Clemons, Bryan Smith
DT(4): Mike Patterson, Broderick Bunkley, Trevor Laws, Dan Klecko
LB(6): Chris Gocong, Stewart Bradley, Omar Gaither, Akeem Jordan, Rocky Boiman, Joe Mays
CB(5): Asante Samuel, Sheldon Brown, Lito Sheppard, Joselio Hanson, Nick Graham
FS(2): Brian Dawkins, Quintin Demps
SS(2): Quintin Mikell, Sean Considine
Special Teams:
K(1): David Akers
P(1): Sav Rocca
LS(1): Jon Dorenbos
Likely to start the season on injured list: Victor Abiamiri
Abiamiri's dislocated wrist might force the Eagles to put him on the IR.
Most likely to get cut/traded: Darren Howard, Lito Sheppard
Howard's salary and ineffectiveness makes him a prime candidate to get cut. I left Lito on for now, but we all know about Lito's situation.
Players on the bubble:
RB: Tony Hunt, Ryan Moats
With the acquisition of Lorenzo Booker, it makes these two guys expendable. I only list three running backs on the roster and I would bet the Eagles want to keep four, but both Moats and Hunt have shown little or nothing to prove they should make the team. Moats probably has a better shot than Hunt.
FB: Jason Davis
Only one fullback will make the team and Jed Collins is currently working with the first team.
WR: Michael Gasperson
Simply not enough room for a 7th wide receiver. I doubt the Eagles will even keep six, they might part with Greg Lewis, although he played well in the first game.
TE: Matt Schobel
I'm simply guessing that off-season acquisition Kris Wilson will make the team ahead of Schobel, although there is no guarantee.
OL: Mike McGlynn, Mike Gibson
Simply a numbers game with these two rookies. With the way King Dunlap has been playing, he seems assured of a spot, leaving the two Mike's out. McGlynn was a 4th round pick so the Eagles might try to figure out a way to stash him on the practice squad.
DL: Jerome McDougle, Montae Reagor
I just can't see the Eagles keeping any more defensive linemen. McDougle's days have been numbered for a while, although he did play well against Pittsburgh.
CB: Kyle Arrington
Nick Graham and Arrington appear to be battling for the 5th corner back spot. I gave it to Graham for now.
S: J.R. Reed
Numbers game again. Reed is no longer useful in the return game so he will lose his back-up spot to Demps.
That's the team as I see it. Did I leave anyone off? Who needs to be cut? Discuss in the comments section.
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