Philadelphia Eagles

Pickett's would-be feel-good story never materialized in the Steel City after he was selected with the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft following an impressive college career with the Pittsburgh Panthers. The third-year now gets a chance to decompress as Jalen Hurts' backup for the time being, although it bears noting the latter played a full season for the first time in 2023 after missing two games apiece in each of the prior two campaigns.

Though he's now played three games with the Eagles, Barkley's departure from New York remains a hot topic. He pointed to negotiations during the 2023 offseason, when he felt disrespected by the team allegedly leaking contract numbers that were not entirely accurate as the breaking point in his relationship with the front office. Despite the dramatic depiction on Hard Knocks, Barkley relayed that there were no true negotiations with New York during the 2024 offseason.

The Eagles could conceivably be without both Brown and Smith as they try to avenge last season's 32-9 playoff loss to the Buccaneers, in which Smith had 148 receiving yards. Hurts could try to make more plays with his legs to make up for the absence of the team's top two wide receivers, and the Eagles would likely continue to rely heavily on running back Saquon Barkley and tight end Dallas Goedert, who combined for 326 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's win over the Saints.

Smith exited Philly's Week 3 win early in the fourth quarter on a hit that knocked his helmet off. The helmet-to-helmet hit came after Smith's seventh catch, giving him 79 yards receiving for the game. With A.J. Brown (hamstring) also out, Jalen Hurts might have to rely more on Jahan Dotson, Parris Campbell and Johnny Wilson.

Gardner-Johnson has 11 tackles through this season's first two weeks, but did have six interceptions in 12 games with the Eagles in 2022.

Carter missed a total of five plays on the first defensive series as a result of the discipline. However, he still managed to play 46 of 61 snaps, which was nearly identical to his snap total and rate from Week 1.

With Brown ruled out, Smith will headline Philadelphia's receiving corps rather than serving as the 1B option in the passing game. Brown didn't miss a game during the 2022 or 2023 regular seasons, so Smith will be playing without Brown for the first time since Smith's rookie season in 2021.

Dotson had no catches and just one target in his Eagles debut, but the trade acquisition from Washington should slide into a more prominent role opposite DeVonta Smith with Brown sidelined. The Eagles have underwhelming wide receiver depth behind Dotson, with rookie Johnny Wilson and Britain Covey on the team and Parris Campbell expected to be elevated from the practice squad. Wilson is questionable due to a hamstring injury.

With DeVonta Smith (concussion) also ruled out, Jalen Hurts might have to rely more on Jahan Dotson, Parris Campbell and Johnny Wilson in Week 4 against the Bucs.

Barkley wasted no time validating the Eagles' decision to sign him to a lucrative free-agent contract this offseason, finishing the wild 34-29 win with 24 carries for 109 yards while recording an 18-yard touchdown reception and scoring runs of 11 and two yards. The three trips to the end zone also tie for the most by any player in his team debut during the Super Bowl era, making it a very conspicuous night overall for the veteran back.

Smith has reportedly drawn rave reviews throughout his work in training camp, and Graziano reports that the team has noted that Smith has improved at least one part of his game every offseason. Graziano also points to the fact that Smith was signed to an extension before Brown this offseason, potentially signaling the team's priorities. The Eagles offense has high expectations this season under new coordinator Kellen Moore, and both Smith and Brown should be very productive.

Thursday, Bradberry was placed on injured reserve, since he's expected to be out a minimum of six weeks. Bradberry had struggled extensively at cornerback in 2023 and moved to safety this offseason, where he was expected to play a rotational role at minimum to begin the season.

Bradberry was on the roster bubble in Philadelphia as he transitioned from cornerback to safety. Manager Howie Roseman suggested the team kept him on the roster as a veteran presence in a secondary that features plenty of youth in rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, and second-year player Kelee Ringo. As a result, Bradberry could be a logical trade candidate as the season progresses and the Eagles become more confident in that trio. Barnwell suggests the Steelers as a potential landing spot due to their lack of depth at both slot and outside corner.

Dotson, who'd failed to make a strong enough case for the Commanders' No. 2 receiver job this summer, was moved along with a 2025 fifth-round pick in exchange for the Eagles' 2025 third-round pick and two seventh-round selections in the same draft. The 2022 first-round pick will slot in as a speedy No. 3 receiver behind starters A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, providing Jalen Hurts with another high-upside target.

Jenkins has been on the outside looking in on the backup tight end competition behind Dallas Goedert and C.J. Uzomah. However, Jenkins saw extended playing time Thursday with Grant Calcaterra and Albert Okwuegbunam sidelined with shoulder and abdomen injuries, respectively. Jenkins took advantage of the opportunity, playing 38 snaps on offense and hauling in all five of his targets for 47 yards. His five catches tied wideout Joseph Ngata for most receptions on the team, and Jenkins could catch onto the Eagles' 53-man roster with a strong finish to training camp if his knee injury doesn't hold him back.

Steen sustained an ankle injury early in training camp, which opened the door for Becton to serve as the right guard on the Eagles' first-team offense. Steen returned from the injury and started in Thursday's preseason bout against the Patriots while Becton sat, but the former left the contest after aggravating the same ankle injury. Steen appeared in 11 regular-season games for the Eagles last year -- starting in one -- and it appears the 2023 third-rounder will begin this season as a backup.

After starting in 16 regular-season games for the Jets in 2023, Becton signed a one-year deal with the Eagles in April. He was competing against Steen in training camp for the starting right guard job, but the latter has been sidelined with an ankle injury. Kubena notes that Becton played for only one drive in Philadelphia's first preseason contest against Baltimore and did not play against New England on Thursday, indicating that the 2020 first-round pick is likely to begin the season as the starting right guard.

McKee engineered a seven-play, 70-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter of Thursday's preseason contest against New England, and he capped that off with a two-point conversion to give Philadelphia the 14-13 win. He completed 15 of 19 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown, and he comparatively outperformed Pickett, who finished 11-for-13 with 67 yards. Head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters after Thursday's contest that "Kenny's our No. 2. [Mckee's] our No. 3," but a strong finish to training camp could give McKee the push he needs to capture the backup quarterback spot behind Hurts.

Smith accumulated just 13 yards on three punt returns Friday, and he lost a fumble during one of those returns, which took a fortuitous bounce out of bounds. He was far less efficient in his returns than fellow wide receiver Britain Covey, which lowers Smith's chance of making the final 53-man roster unless he bounces back over the final two preseason games. Smith is also competing with Covey, Jacob Harris and John Ross for a depth spot on the Eagles' depth chart.

After a disappointing tenure in Pittsburgh to begin his career, Pickett was looking for a fresh start in Philadelphia while serving as the backup to Jalen Hurts. However, McKee has reportedly looked excellent during camp and could wrestle the role away from Pickett. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore downplayed the recent trend, saying both quarterbacks are playing well and that the staff is only attempting to give McKee different offensive weapons and defensive matchups to work with.

Mitchell was selected 22nd overall by the Eagles in the 2024 NFL Draft, and McManus reports that he has done well in his transition from college to the pros. Philadelphia is increasing that level of difficulty, as they are transitioning Mitchell to the inside even though he played as an outside corner for his entire collegiate career. Maddox struggled significantly in coverage last season, so even if he begins the season in the role, Mitchell should take over at some point.

Campbell picked up where he left off in minicamp, working as the team's third wide receiver behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Rookies Ainias Smith and Johnny Wilson are Campbell's top competitors for the third spot on the depth chart, but Campbell's veteran experience has him in good position to see the field consistently in three-receiver sets. Campbell is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 104-yard season with the Giants in 2023, but he had 623 receiving yards for the Colts in 2022.

Shipley had an accomplished college career with the Tigers that saw him compile 3,349 total scrimmage yards and 33 touchdowns in 36 games. Shipley also boasts 4.45 speed and is solidly built at 5-foot-11, 206 pounds, and Edholm notes the rookie's versatility could lead to a "sneaky" role that would see Shipley potentially eat into incumbent Kenneth Gainwell's snaps.

The Giants' offseason priorities have been shown on Hard Knocks, and general manager Joe Schoen and the rest of the front office opted to prioritize building up the offensive line over retaining Barkley. Specifically, the show depicted Schoen in contact with Barkley's agent leading up to and during the opening hours of free agency, but the team ultimately opted not to match the Eagles' offer. There had been extensive negotiations between the parties in previous offseasons for the Giants.

Becton was selected 11th over by the Jets in 2020 to be their new franchise left tackle, but injuries led to a disappointing four-year tenure in New York. The Eagles signed him to a one-year deal in April to work as a swing tackle behind starters Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson, but Becton has shown a willingness to give guard a try as well. Philadelphia has an organizational preference for bigger guards, but at 6-foot-7 and 363 pounds, Becton would be massive even by the Eagles' standards.

With Cam Jurgens shifting to center to replace the retired Jason Kelce, the Eagles need a new right guard. Steen was selected in the third round of the 2023 Draft out of Alabama with exactly that job in mind, and while he spent most of his rookie season as a backup, the team has moved his locker over among the other starting offensive linemen, indicating their confidence in him. If Steen does get beaten out in camp for the job, his biggest competition could come from Mekhi Becton, who was expected to transition into a swing tackle role this season but has been open to the idea of working at guard as well.

After being drafted second overall by the Giants in 2018, Barkley elected to sign a three-year, $37.75 million contract with the Eagles in the offseason. The 27-year-old running back was the focal point for the Giants' offense during his tenure, but Brooks believes that Barkley can still put up big numbers with the Eagles, as opposing defenses are forced to funnel resources into covering wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith while keeping tabs on the mobile Jalen Hurts. Barkley accumulated 1,242 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns across 14 regular-season games with the Giants in 2023.

The former Tampa Bay linebacker signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia in March with a base value of $4 million and up to $3.5 million in incentives, and White would have a much better chance of earning them if he can hang onto a starter's workload. The 26-year-old lost his starting job with the Buccaneers late last season due to issues in coverage, and as a result he failed to record triple-digit tackles for the first time since his rookie campaign in 2019. White attributed his declining level of play last season to worries about his contract situation, so a rebound is possible if he's more comfortable this time around playing for a new deal.

Carter had a serviceable rookie campaign in 2023 after being taken with the ninth overall pick, posting 33 tackles, including 6.0 sacks, while also forcing two fumbles and recovering one he returned for a touchdown. Brooks now sees the Georgia product taking the next step now that Vic Fangio is in charge of the Eagles defense, noting the coordinator's successful history with interior linemen and Carter's significant upside.

The Eagles were able to nab the talented cornerback from Toledo with the 22nd overall pick in April's draft after a somewhat unexpected drop due to a run on quarterbacks and offensive linemen earlier in the first round. Philadelphia was intent on addressing its secondary, so Mitchell, who boasts 4.3 speed, should see immediate playing time after recording six interceptions and breaking up an impressive 45 total passes over 46 college games.

Goedert added that he's "really excited for how [Moore] uses the tight ends and how they can be a big part of the offense." Goedert has been the definition of consistency for the Eagles, recording 55 catches or more in four of the last five seasons. Despite missing three games in 2023 due to a fractured forearm, he finished with 59 catches for 592 yards and three touchdowns in the regular season. Bergman notes that then-Chargers tight end Gerald Everett tied for second on the team with 51 receptions in 2023 with Moore as the offensive coordinator, while Donald Parham had a career year with 27 catches for 285 yards and four touchdowns.

The former Giant and Colt took almost all his reps with the first-team offense during minicamp. Campbell also has prior experience in coach Nick Sirianni's scheme, as Sirianni was the offensive coordinator in Indianapolis for the first two years of the wideout's career. Campbell's main competition for the role is likely to be 2024 fifth-round pick Ainias Smith.

The explosive wideout is particularly looking forward to the increase in pre-snap movement and motion the system will require of receivers. Smith noted he was excited about being able "to do things that we weren't allowed to do" a season ago, as he looks to being validating the three-year, $75 million extension with $51 million guaranteed that he inked earlier this offseason.

McManus notes it's evident Hurts and his pass catchers are still firmly in the midst of adjusting to the intricacies of new coordinator Kellen Moore's system, with timing very inconsistent during OTAs and minicamp. However, one change that is already evident is the sharp increase in motion plays after Philadelphia ranked last in the NFL in pre-snap motion in 2023. Head coach Nick Sirianni is delegating the majority of offensive responsibility to Moore after conceding that his own system had grown stale by the end of last season.

Bradberry was an All-Pro cornerback in 2022 but struggled in 2023, perhaps due to a decline in speed. The veteran defensive back will turn 31 years old in August, and there's a precedent for aging corners finding a second life at safety. Philadelphia drafted cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the first two rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft, so Bradberry could have an easier time carving out playing time if he successfully transitions to safety rather than staying at cornerback.

Hurts has experienced a lot of inconsistency from a scheme and coaching perspective during his pro career, as he's had the same offensive coordinator entering consecutive seasons only once. This year won't be an exception, and he'll also be adjusting to the absence of center Jason Kelce. Hurts will have plenty of time to get in touch with the new offense, but his progress during mandatory minicamp will be worth monitoring.

Barkley has used the offseason to build chemistry with his new teammates both on and off the field. Quarterback Jalen Hurts noted after OTAs on Wednesday that Barkley has brought energy and competitiveness to drills and weightlifting sessions, while wide receiver A.J. Brown added that the running back is "a guy you want to follow." In his final season with the Giants, Barkley rushed for 962 yards and six touchdowns on 247 carries while adding 41 catches for 280 yards and four scores.

Carter played in just 51 percent of the Eagles' defensive snaps last season, but he managed to finish second to Will Anderson for the 2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Carter totaled 33 tackles, including 6.0 sacks, nine quarterback hits, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery for a touchdown across 16 games in his first year as a pro. With Fletcher Cox retiring in the offseason, Carter will see extended playing time on the Eagles' defensive line in 2024 alongside Jordan Davis and Milton Williams.

McManus notes that the 6-foot-6, 235 pound Wilson impressed throughout the pre-draft process with balance and body control rare for a player of his size. With a similarly big-bodied wideout in DeVante Parker now off the roster after his Monday retirement, the FSU product could have a clearer path to a roster spot behind top wideouts A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

The Eagles' offense is being redesigned by new coordinator Kellen Moore, and McManus notes Smith checks the boxes for a starting slot receiver after generating 816 scrimmage yards and averaging 15 yards per grab for the Aggies last season. The rookie has also been lauded for his willingness to secure the ball in traffic and his run-after-catch ability, and he also recorded two punt-return touchdowns in college.

Ross last played in an NFL regular-season game in Week 14 of 2021 season with the Giants, and he'd announced his retirement back in 2023. However, the one-time ninth overall pick of the Bengals in 2017 apparently had a change of heart, and opportunity could knock in Philadelphia after veteran offseason addition DeVante Parker announced his own retirement earlier in the week, opening a spot on the depth chart behind the starting duo of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

DeJean, who was a standout at Iowa and garnered both first-team All-American and Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year honors in 2023, had widely been projected as a first-round pick. However, with cornerback a position of need for Philadelphia and DeJean still on the board as the second round began Friday night, the Eagles opted to trade both of their second-round picks and a fifth-rounder to the division-rival Commanders, receiving the 40th and 78th overall selections and using the first of those to secure DeJean's services.

Uzomah never came close to living up to expectations with the Jets over the last two seasons after New York snapped him up following the veteran tight end's 49-catch, 493-yard, five-touchdown tally during the Bengals' 2021 campaign. Uzomah only produced a 29-290-3 receiving line over 17 games with Gang Green, and in Philadelphia, he may have a slightly bigger pass-catching role while serving as Dallas Goedert's primary backup.

Hurts has been backed up by Gardner Minshew and Marcus Mariota over the last three seasons, and the latter, who was the No. 2 signal-caller in 2023, has moved on to the Commanders. Pickett's arrival gives Hurts a backup that's younger than him for the first time, and one with first-round pedigree at that. Naturally, there is no threat to Hurts's starting job, but Pickett does offer a similar level of security behind the star signal-caller to that which existed in the last three campaigns.

Pickett's would-be feel-good story never materialized in the Steel City after he was selected with the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft following an impressive college career with the Pittsburgh Panthers. The third-year now gets a chance to decompress as Jalen Hurts' backup for the time being, although it bears noting the latter played a full season for the first time in 2023 after missing two games apiece in each of the prior two campaigns.