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Early look at 5 under the radar locks to make the Eagles 53-man roster
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- Early look at 5 under the radar locks to make the Eagles 53-man roster
The Philadelphia Eagles are still weeks away from finalizing their 53-man roster, but offseason workouts and early depth chart clues have already created a clearer picture of several players who may be safer than they appear.
Training camp and the preseason will ultimately determine the final spots, and Philadelphia still has several competitive position groups to sort through. Still, every roster has players who may not generate major headlines but who fill specific needs, offer experience, provide special-teams value, or give the coaching staff trusted depth at positions where uncertainty can become costly. For the Eagles , Andy Dalton, Tank Bigsby, Hollywood Brown, Johnny Mundt, Chance Campbell, and Marcus Epps all fit that early category.
1. Andy Dalton
Dalton's place on the roster feels stronger than the typical veteran backup quarterback entering camp. Philadelphia traded a seventh-round pick to Carolina to acquire the former Bengals, Cowboys, Bears, Saints, and Panthers starter, and that investment matters when projecting the quarterback room. Dalton is not being brought in as a developmental arm. He gives the Eagles a veteran who has seen every coverage, handled difficult game situations, and started meaningful NFL games across multiple offensive systems.
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The Eagles still have to determine the order behind Jalen Hurts, but Dalton has a real chance to win the No. 2 quarterback job. His value is tied to his experience, preparation, and ability to stabilize the offense when needed. Backup quarterback spots are often judged by trust as much as upside, and Dalton's résumé gives Philadelphia a reliable option behind Hurts. Unless the Eagles decide to take a younger, cheaper route, Dalton looks positioned to make the 53-man roster.
2. Tank Bigsby
Bigsby was a key trade acquisition and gives the Eagles another physical runner behind Saquon Barkley. He participated in 16 contests with one start last season, rushing for 356 yards on 63 carries and two touchdowns while averaging 5.7 yards per attempt. That production gives him a legitimate case to be more than a back-end roster piece, especially in an offense that appears energized by a new zone rushing scheme designed to revive the ground game.
Bigsby's path is helped by his running style. He is a hard-charging back who can bring contact balance, downhill power, and early-down value to a position group that needs reliable depth behind Barkley. Philadelphia's offense will still revolve around Hurts and Barkley, but Bigsby gives the Eagles a runner who can absorb carries, keep the offense on schedule, and protect the team from overextending its lead back. That makes him feel closer to a roster lock than a bubble player entering camp.
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3. Hollywood Brown
Brown looks like one of the clearer offensive locks on this list because of the specific element he brings to the Eagles' passing game. Philadelphia reshaped its wide receiver room, and Brown's speed gives Hurts a vertical option who can stress defensive backs, create space underneath, and force safeties to defend the entire field. He had 49 catches for 587 yards and five touchdowns last season, production that gives the Eagles a proven veteran who can contribute immediately.
Brown's role should center on taking the top off opposing defenses. Even when he is not targeted, his presence can influence coverage and open room for DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, Barkley, and the rest of the offense. Philadelphia needed more explosive options after the offseason overhaul at wide receiver, and Brown fits that need. If he stays healthy through camp, his roster spot should be safe.
4. Johnny Mundt
Mundt is not the flashiest tight end on the roster, but his path to the 53-man roster is clear because of the role he fills. He is expected to handle the third tight end, run-blocking role, and he is currently ahead of rookie Eli Stowers on the depth chart. That matters for an Eagles offense trying to rebuild its rushing identity and maximize Barkley in a system that should put a premium on tight ends who can handle dirty work at the point of attack.
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Stowers may have more long-term upside, but Mundt offers experience and a defined role. Teams often keep veteran tight ends because they can help in the run game, contribute on special teams, and be trusted with assignment football. Mundt does not need to be a featured receiver to make the roster. He needs to block, align correctly, execute his role, and provide the offense with a dependable third tight-end option. At this stage, that makes him a strong candidate to stick.
5. Chance Campbell
Campbell has quietly built one of the more compelling roster cases on the defense. A native of Ellicott City, Maryland, he began his college career at Maryland before transferring to Ole Miss for his final collegiate season. In 2021, he led the Rebels with 109 total tackles, finished second on the team with 12.5 tackles for loss, and recovered three fumbles to lead the SEC. That production helped him become a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft.
The 6-foot-2, 232-pound linebacker played in four games during the 2023 season, recording three tackles on defense, but his development since then has largely occurred behind the scenes. Campbell built himself up on the Eagles' practice squad and took first-team reps this spring, a notable development for a position group still sorting through roles. Philadelphia has questions at linebacker, and Campbell's ability to contribute on defense and special teams gives him a legitimate path to the roster. First-team spring reps do not guarantee anything, but they do show that the Eagles are taking him seriously.
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6. Marcus Epps
Epps is not a dominant game-changer at this stage of his career, and he is not the kind of safety who will generate major offseason buzz. Still, he is a solid contributor who has earned the trust of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, and that trust carries weight when teams begin sorting through the final spots in the secondary. Philadelphia needs communication, reliability, and back-end experience, and Epps can provide all three.
Age and roster numbers will be factors, but Epps' case is built on dependability. The Eagles have young talent in the secondary, yet every defense needs veterans who can align the group, avoid mental mistakes, and handle game-day responsibilities without requiring constant help. Epps may not be the long-term answer at safety, but he has enough experience and trust inside the building to look like more than a bubble player entering camp.
Final analysis
The Eagles' roster will change once practices become more physical, preseason games begin, and injuries reshape competitions. Still, these players have clear paths to the 53-man roster because each fills a specific need. Dalton gives Philadelphia veteran quarterback insurance, Bigsby provides power and depth in the backfield, Brown adds speed to the passing game, Mundt brings run-blocking value at tight end, Campbell offers linebacker and special teams upside, and Epps gives Fangio a trusted veteran in the secondary. Those traits may not make every player a headline name, but they could make each difficult to leave off the final roster.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Five Eagles flying under radar in early 53-man roster projection
