The Eagles have added some notable competition to their roster during the first offseason under new head coach Nick Sirianni.
The team signed safeties Anthony Harris and Andrew Adams, quarterback Joe Flacco and linebacker Eric Wilson in free agency. The Eagles also added nine prospects — including wide receiver DeVonta Smith and offensive lineman Landon Dickerson — in the NFL Draft. Friday, the team claimed former second-round running back Kerryon Johnson off waivers from the Detroit Lions.
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With an influx of new talent, the incumbent players on the Eagles’ roster will need to compete to keep their jobs. Several recent Eagles draft picks will be under pressure this offseason.
Here are six recent Eagles draft picks entering a make-or-break summer:
LB Davion Taylor
Draft pedigree: 2020 third-round pick
Taylor has been forgotten a bit this offseason. The designated project pick of last year’s class, Taylor played mostly on special teams last year. This offseason, the Eagles have added Wilson and sixth-round pick JaCoby Stevens, who could push Taylor off the roster. Taylor will now need to learn a new defense for the second consecutive summer, making his move up the depth chart even more difficult.
WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside
Draft pedigree: 2019 second-round pick
The Eagles’ 2019 draft class might be the worst in the NFL over the past three years. While Andre Dillard should get a fair shot at the starting left tackle job, and Miles Sanders still appears destined to be the team’s featured back, Arcega-Whiteside is a man without a clearly defined role. Following the selection of another first-round wide receiver — Smith — Arcega-Whiteside’s status on the depth chart continues to seemingly plummet. He will compete for the backup X receiver job in camp.
G/T Matt Pryor
Draft pedigree: 2018 sixth-round pick
Pryor was billed as the Halapoulivaati Vaitai’s replacement last year due to his versatility. However, the TCU alum struggled mightily in training camp and wasn’t much better when thrown into the lineup during the regular season. With Jack Driscoll flashing last season as a rookie, and Dickerson joining the roster, Pryor might be competing to keep his job in training camp. He will need to fend off the likes of Nate Herbig, Luke Juriga and Sua Opeta this offseason.
WR John Hightower
Draft pedigree: 2020 fifth-round pick
Hightower flashed early on during his rookie season but was eventually a healthy scratch toward the end of the campaign. Hightower didn’t play special teams last year, and really only stood out on go-routes on offense. He struggled with ball-tracking issues throughout his first year, so he will need to improve that element of his game as he competes for a job.
WR Quez Watkins
Draft pedigree: 2020 sixth-round pick
Watkins is in a similar boat to Hightower. While Watkins could be an intriguing slot weapon for the Eagles, he has only a limited amount of work on his resume following his rookie year. He will need to beat out Hightower, Greg Ward, undrafted rookie Trevon Grimes and others to earn playing time.
LB Shaun Bradley
Draft pedigree: 2020 sixth-round pick
Like Taylor, Bradley needs to prove himself to the new staff. While he played well on special teams as a rookie, Bradley will need to make an impact on defense to stick around. Bradley offers the versatility to play all three linebacker spots, which could be his saving grace in a contested roster battle.
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