The Philadelphia Eagles begin training camp for the 2020 NFL season on July 28 at the NovaCare Complex and Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia. The defending NFC East champions finished the 2019 regular season with a 9-7 overall record but lost to the Seattle Seahawks in the wild-card round of the playoffs. The Eagles return 18 starters from that team, as well as coach Doug Pederson and coordinators Jim Schwartz (defense) and Dave Fipp (special teams). Philadelphia opted not to directly replace offensive coordinator Mike Groh but is hoping the promotion of up-and-comer Press Taylor to pass-game coordinator, along with the additions of Rich Scangarello, Andrew Breiner and Marty Mornhinweg to the staff, will help infuse a proven offense with fresh concepts.
Here's a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Carson Wentz, Nate Sudfeld, Jalen Hurts
Sudfeld will probably open as the No. 2 quarterback given his familiarity with Pederson's system and the lack of on-field training for rookies this offseason because of the coronavirus pandemic, but the Eagles have expressed interest in using Hurts in a Taysom Hill-like role, so the Eagles could have three QBs active on game days. Wentz's backups are short on experience, with 25 career snaps in the NFL between them.
RUNNING BACK (4): Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, Corey Clement, Mike Warren
This unit feels like an unfinished product. While the Eagles like their running back group, which also includes a couple of promising prospects in Elijah Holyfield and Adrian Killins Jr., they have been exploring the veteran market this offseason and have shown interest in Devonta Freeman and LeSean McCoy. The bet here is they will add some insurance between now and the start of the regular season.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): DeSean Jackson, Marquise Goodwin, Jalen Reagor, JJ Arcega-Whiteside, Greg Ward Jr., Quez Watkins
Alshon Jeffery is still recovering from a Lisfranc injury and starts the season on the physically unable to perform list for this exercise. Watkins and fellow rookie draft pick John Hightower will be competing for roster spots.
TIGHT END (3): Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert, Noah Togiai
There isn't a better 1-2 punch at tight end in the NFL than Ertz and Goedert. Josh Perkins, Alex Ellis and Togiai, an undrafted free agent out of Oregon State, are the candidates to back them up.
OFFENSIVE LINE (10): Lane Johnson, Jason Kelce, Isaac Seumalo, Andre Dillard, Jason Peters, Matt Pryor, Prince Tega Wanogho, Nate Herbig, Jordan Mailata, Jack Driscoll
Peters was re-signed to play right guard for the injured Brandon Brooks (Achilles) and provide insurance at tackle. Dillard, a 2019 first-round pick, is currently in charge of Wentz's blind side. The Eagles don't have the level of proven depth along the front that they are accustomed to, but they do have a top-notch talent developer in O-line coach Jeff Stoutland.
DEFENSIVE LINE (9): Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, Derek Barnett, Malik Jackson, Genard Avery, Shareef Miller, Josh Sweat, Hassan Ridgeway
Philly is all set at defensive tackle with a mean trio in Cox, Hargrave and Jackson. Defensive end is a little shaky once you get past starters Graham and Barnett. The Eagles believe the time is now for young players such as Miller and Sweat to step up and solidify Schwartz's defensive line rotation.
LINEBACKER (5): T.J. Edwards, Jatavis Brown, Nate Gerry, Duke Riley, Davion Taylor
The Eagles have the lowest amount of 2020 salary-cap dollars ($4.5 million) committed to the linebacker position in the NFL, according to Spotrac, so it's no surprise that this group lacks household names. There's opportunity for draft picks Taylor and Shaun Bradley, but they will have little time to get acclimated to the big leagues.
CORNERBACK (6): Darius Slay, Avonte Maddox, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Cre'Von LeBlanc, Sidney Jones, Rasul Douglas
The cornerback position was overhauled this offseason and appears markedly improved after struggling in 2019, particularly against the deep ball. The Eagles view Robey-Coleman as a top-five slot corner. He is in position to start at nickel, with Slay and Maddox manning the outside posts.
SAFETY (4): Rodney McLeod, Jalen Mills, Will Parks, K'Von Wallace
Life without leader Malcolm Jenkins begins. Mills has the challenge of transitioning from corner to safety in a truncated offseason to fill the void left by Jenkins. The Eagles reinvested in the position by signing Parks and drafting Wallace in the fourth round, but it is hard to envision how this group doesn't take a step back.
SPECIALIST (3): Jake Elliott, Cameron Johnston, Rick Lovato
A solid group that should stay intact for at least another season. Elliott has a field goal percentage of 84.1 since taking over in 2017, which ranks 19th over that span, but he has proved to be a clutch performer with an 11-for-11 mark in the postseason.