The Philadelphia Eagles are gearing up for what they are hoping is another deep playoff run in the 2023 season. After falling just short in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs last season, they will be motivated to get over the hump this season.
Heading into the year, the Eagles once again have one of the most talented and deep rosters in the NFL. They are loaded with stars on both sides of the ball and should find plenty of success when it comes to winning games.
But, as with every deep and talented roster in the league, some very difficult roster decisions will have to be made. While they would assuredly like to keep everyone, that isn’t feasible in the business that is the NFL. So, there will be some tough calls when it comes to roster cutdowns in the coming weeks.
Who could be on the chopping block? Here are three Eagles players who could be trade or cut candidates with training camp getting underway in a few weeks.
3. RB Trey Sermon
The Eagles suffered a major loss in the offseason at the running back position with Miles Sanders signing a deal with the Carolina Panthers. That opened up a major role in the team’s backfield, which will be filled by a few different players. It would be surprising if one of those players was Trey Sermon.
The 2021 third-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers was released by them after his rookie season, which doesn’t bode well for his stay in Philadelphia either. They signed Rashaad Penny in free agency and acquired D’Andre Swift from the Detroit Lions during the 2023 NFL Draft.
In addition to those two additions, the Eagles also re-signed Boston Scott this offseason and still have Kenneth Gainwell as a holdover from last season. Without much of a role even on special teams, it is hard to envision Sermon being held onto as a fifth running back given his lack of versatility.
2. CB Greedy Williams
The Eagles have arguably the best cornerback duo in the NFL after re-signing James Bradberry in free agency and working out a new contract with Darius Slay. Many thought Slay would be moved on from this offseason but now that he has been brought back into the fold, the team’s secondary remains a strength.
With those two on the perimeter, the slot corner job will fall upon the shoulders of Avonte Maddox. Those three are locked in heading into the 2023 campaign, which could leave a number of players fighting for two or three roster spots.
Greedy Williams is one of the corners that are looking to earn a spot on the 53-man roster. As the veteran of the bunch would seem to have an inside track to a roster spot. But, he signed a one-year deal with only $600,000 guaranteed, so if he is beaten out by one of the younger players in training camp, there should be no hesitation to move on.
1. WR Quez Watkins
In the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Eagles looked to have gotten a steal with Southern Miss wide receiver, Quez Watkins. He made a major impact in Year 2, catching 43 passes for 647 yards and one touchdown, looking like a true breakout candidate in the second half of his rookie deal.
Alas, he saw his role diminish greatly in 2022 following the addition of A.J. Brown. He was a distant third on the wide receiver pecking chart behind him and Devonta Smith and could be even further down the depth chart with Olamide Zaccheus signing this year in free agency.
Potentially the No. 4 wide receiver, presumably behind tight end Dallas Goedert and running backs Swift and Gainwell in the pecking order for targets, Watkins is a prime candidate to be moved this offseason. A team needing an infusion of speed on their offense should look to him as an option in a trade as releasing him in the final season of his rookie contract is a worst-case scenario for Philadelphia.
