The Philadelphia Eagles will be cutting down the roster to the NFL-mandated limit of 53 players on Tuesday, August 29. With several key players on the roster bubble, the Eagles may be forced to let go of some talented pieces on both offense and defense. Below, we’ll break down the Eagles’ roster needs after cuts heading into Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season.
2023 Eagles Roster Needs After Training Camp
Even though roster cuts will technically finalize the Eagles’ roster heading into Week 1, there are still some notable holes to fill. Here is a quick list of potential areas of need on the Eagles’ roster.
- Punter
- Punt Returner
- Linebacker
Punter
Most notably, the Eagles don’t appear content with going into the regular season with Arryn Sippos as the team’s starting punter. Rumors have already started to swirl that Philadelphia could make a deal with the in-state rival Pittsburgh Steelers for punter Braden Mann.
Punt Returner
This will be an interesting position to watch heading into Week 1.
Part of the reason that we’ve added Freddie Swain, who was signed just one day before the Eagles’ final preseason game, to our Eagles 53-man roster prediction is his versatility and ability to contribute on special teams.
Not only is Swain a capable slot receiver with experience contributing on a loaded wide receiver corps, but he also has experience as a punt returner. Swain also has familiarity with offensive coordinator Brian Johnson from his time at the University of Florida, which could also help his cause.
If Swain can secure the team’s starting punt returner role, he will have a clear shot at the Eagles’ 53-man roster.
Linebacker Depth
The sudden retirement of linebacker Myles Jack hurt the Eagles’ depth at the position.
Behind Nakobe Dean and Nicholas Morrow, the Eagles still have veterans Christian Elliss and Zach Cunningham but things aren’t as clear on the outside. Defensive Coordinator Sean Desai has already been giving pass-rusher Nolan Smith reps at outside linebacker, which could be an indication that the rookie will play multiple positions on the Eagles’ defense.
This is a situation worth monitoring moving forward, especially in case of an injury.
