The Philadelphia Eagles’ Method for Determining Their 53-Man Roster
To what extent do the Philadelphia Eagles feel certain about their 2023 offense? Not even a punter is among them.
Alright, expect that to change, but the Eagles’ 53-man roster was officially whittled down this week, with incumbent punter Arryn Siposs included in the final cuts required by the NFL. Siposs was added to the 16-man practice squad, but Philadelphia is also trying out three additional punters who may be used as kickers in the event that the offense is unsuccessful.
However, several of the units are smaller than they were in previous seasons even within that category. Only four wide receivers (A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Quez Watkins, and Olamide Zaccheaus) and four running backs (Rashad Penny, Boston Scott, Kenneth Gainwell, and D’Andre Swift) were retained by Philadelphia executive vice president and general manager Howie Roseman.
Albert Okwuegbunam, an enormous fourth tight end who wowed Philadelphia brass with a 100-yard receiving performance during the preseason with the Denver Broncos, was instead acquired by the Eagles by trade. In exchange for Okwuegbuman, the Eagles forfeited a 2025 seventh round selection and a 2025 sixth round pick.
“Yeah, first thing you talk about Albert, you talk about the physical ability,” Roseman told assembled media on Tuesday. “He is 6’5″. He is almost 260 pounds. He runs a 4.4. He’s got a huge wing span. He has really good lower body flexibility for a big guy.
“We had a chance to watch him together, and obviously Coach has had tremendous success with that position and some guys who look like this. So, bring him in here. He is 25 years old. We have some people in the building who were with Denver when they drafted him and give him an opportunity.
That isn’t meant as a jab at our tight ends. We believe that Dallas Goedert, a tight end, is among the league’s greatest players at his position. We also have two young tight ends who we brought in here that we really like: Grant Calcaterra and Jack Stoll.
