ITB RADIO: REVIEW THE INITIAL EAGLES 53-MAN ROSTER FOR 2024 NFL SEASON

we've got uh the eagles cutdowns they should be official now we'll see if there's a uh um surprise in the mix here it doesn't sound like a surprise in the mix is coming but uh we will take a look as uh this has to be finalized at 4:00 today couple interesting names out there it looks like Patrick Robinson is going to make the list uh for the roster for the Eagles and don't forget this is the uh final not the final this is just the 53 it's the initial 53 man roster it's a uh just the initial 53 man roster it is not the final 53 man roster and we will dive into some of that right now with Adam Kaplan from the inside the birds podcast as he joins us here on another edition of football at four on the sports bash Adam how are you sir I'm good yes so it's it's been an interesting day you know I've covered these these the cut down data 53 and you're right Mike it's never ever final it's guy called the flu at 53 you have to initially be at 53 and and and then you you you can't go over that number for the rest of the season now of course you can go under it um there's roster manipulation that's going to happen Mike we've got the practice squads tomorrow usually around 1 Eastern is when you could start filling it out uh but they cut down to 53 IR moves pup moves NFI moves they all have to be made uh we'll see what happens yeah the Eagles have not released it yet I just check look at my text here and my email and and I've talked to some agents today it's there'll be some interesting things that are going to happen Eagles may be bringing some familiar faces back we will see that that we're not that we're with them in the past depending on whether these players become available or not from other team yeah and before we kind of go through the roster real quick and and kind of see what's left over here um other teams are making moves too so that's why we say the initial because you might get down to 53 and then and then see somebody you like on the street and bring that in I don't know how Clos you've been watching if there's any names that have been kind of eye opening out there yet but that's something that the Eagles will get down to 53 as they're scouring what else has kind of Hit the streets Yeah so basically what happens is teams are monitoring believe this or not because I've talked to a couple GMS uh last week they they have if they're not monitoring social media people honor them are so they want to know who's been cut who who uh you know who's been traded the earlier they know that easy it is to plan for this day today and also um you who who is waved that's a big thing because waiver claims there's usually between 20 and 30 players are claimed off waivers on the day after that the roster Cuts one year there was only like 13 or 14 but he averages generally I'm told 20 to 30 uh 30 is a little bit high but it has happened before it uh it just depends on the year but yeah mik yeah that that's exactly what's happening teams are monitoring in this stuff and what'll happen is and it's really bad and agents have to be careful this they'll they'll tell a reporter oh yeah my guy made the 53 only to be waved the next day when the when the team claims players so it's just it's it's a very odd thing you got to be very careful um and the Eagles are keeping James Bradberry on the 53 so that's kind of start there because I don't know if that's a huge surprise but right you can kind of go a little further on that Bradberry is on the initial 53 what could be happening uh you Saed for now yeah so what I'm told with this contract is is that for cap purposes um you know he's got a fully guaranteed option bonus uh for cap purposes they have till uh a Tuesday of week one to to exercise it which they'll do not just for cap purposes just to save money um again now the the other thing is and they could always exercise it then cut them and and here are all the moves Mike here are the moves Mike as we speak Burks cut Campbell cut Gates Greer Hennessy Nickerson aquar John Ross sharping to waved Dana aad Davis price the running back Gabe Hall Jacob Harris injured wave injured um Joe uh Josh job was cut of course we expected that in oh Joseph inato was hurt we didn't know that he was wave injured Kaden Sterns was waved with a non-f football injury he could be back and um as I expected to happen uh Sydney Brown was not activated off of pup Mike uh on IR were Alberto and Annas Smith so nothing Mike just so you understand anyone who covers this team is rarely surprised by anything uh now I will tell you though uh one what when I it's a small surprise for now for now Eli Ricks is on the team for now again I said for now yes Eli Ricks on the team for now uh I have the email as well uh with with the names there so we can kind of pick on Orin Burks did not make the team a lot of people thought that you know he played well throughout this preseason and had the you know experience that he was good enough to make the team we've been talking a lot about the linebackers and where they are it seems that the the Eagles like the Five Guys um they don't have a guy that's maybe that standout one but they seemingly like all five of the guys to the point that a guy like Burks who has some experience did not have a spot the problem with Burks is Mike is he got hurt and he came back you know for about two weeks it just he was in a tough spot I I look at my 53 that I had I had him off the roster I had the the five that made it I did not have Paris Campbell on it uh he he didn't make it um but getting back to inside backer the it's all about developing players and Ben Ben van suumer and has shown and I we reported this at the time that when he played that he had that great game against the Giants when I say great we had another team uh tell us Mike that when they when they because it was a future team that the Eagles were playing after the Giants they were kind of shocked because they didn't think he was even worth having on a team based on the way he played at Michigan State because he's so raw he was so explosive that game then we had of course Greg coell from NFL films who worked for us who who came on and said wow I didn't know much about that van Su but his tape was really good so good for the Eagles to keep him and let him develop yeah there's uh some other names too let's get your thoughts on no Paris Campbell for a while there he looked like he was going to be the third receiver on this team he went from third to out also John Ross another wide receiver uh who got released so couple things on Paris Campbell we reported the time leg go signning that he was benched for practice participation for performances with the Giants that's exactly why they cut him he was actually benched he's actually had a bad practice and and uh D ball told him to get off you know they told the coach to get him off the field and he just was in you you heard Mike his press conference maybe a month ago he was very open about uh he was you know down in the dumps about what happened last season and he had to get his confidence back he just didn't perform Mike no he could practice squad certainly possible you need you could have up to six veterans on there they they need a veteran receiver on the on the practice squad I mean it would definitely help them but that that was not a surprise at all uh the only one is Brett toast now he he's contract terminated because he's actually uh he's actually vested but here's the question I would ask the Eagles this who is their backup center because Matt Hennessy as we expected was also cut uh I I mean I I get it that mcm's on the roster but he they can't be serious he cannot be he's not ready he's not ready if Cam Jens gets hurt he cannot be the starting center no way mcmah got waved um wait was he cut was was McMahon cut he was waved yes uh Dylan McMahon was cut uh sharping and Hennessy were both released as well Nick Gates By the way and Gates got released and Brent to cut yes okay so here's the deal okay here's the deal I by the way I had McMahon not on the team not on on my 53 actually I did this one of the best 53s I've done I'm shocked that I got this many right I only got like two or three wrong but they've got an option here okay Gates is not eligible for waivers he he's a vested veteran mher said this to me uh 20 minutes ago I thought this is a great point just put him on your practice squad now you only have three practice squad elevations but what they can do is let them practice during the week Elevate them on Saturday Mike uh to the from the practice squad you know for the first three weeks if they like the way he looks then you have to sign him off there to get him on your roster and that they could always do that Mike so you don't really need to have anyone else uh on your roster who could play center right now but you're going to need him by week one that that has to happen now now in an emergency Dickerson could do it if he needed to in game because he's done it but I think the big disappointment here Mike is that Matt Hennessy never worked out I I'm a little Sur I'm not surprised he was cut it was obvious about a month ago it wasn't working out I'm just surprised that he just never could catch on then he had a you know minor injury he was limping around a practice for a bit but yeah McMahon didn't make it Mike I I I didn't not have my 53 I thought he's way too small and they he needs to get stronger physically it's uh look they how you know and we as as you know Mike because you and uh Jeff talked about it yesterday this this Miss ner like oh yeah rosan doesn't cut his draft picks no that's that's false he's cut six players uh the highest drafted player he's ever cut when he's had Personnel control was that quarterback back in 2019 yeah Caleb Thorson yeah Caleb uh Thorson right um so and by the way he refused to sign with eagles practice squad if you remember he he he signed with Dallas which pissed the Eagles off but yeah how how he's cut six when he's when he's made the call um but yeah when you look at it they're a little bit light on the offensive line I was going to say you cut you cut Gates Hennessee sharping and Brett to that's four guys who all you know you could have said one of those guys could have been your backup set now none of those guys are here Mike so right now let let's extrapolate Fred Johnson's your backup left Steen could be a backup tackle or he could obviously Play Right Guard which he will uh one guy we had on the roster I think all me me Andrew and Jeff had Darren Canard is a backup right tackle right now he is Gates is off to is off PO is off yeah I I think they have let's see Keegan yeah they have nine guys on their offensive line so I had 10 uh you know Keegan's right now a one position player he's only been a left guard is not taking any reps at Right Guard Center so uh that's it Mike I mean it it's uh nothing again nothing really Earth shattering what about mallum making the team um I had him on my 53 here's why absolutely Ace special teams player uh and here's what one person told me you know you know his brother Zion is on um Tampa it's one of their top three cor uh outside corners yes he's a tall safety at just under 6'3 but he has POS he can play Corner if you need him to and you know he was on their practice squad all of last season Mike and he actually got activated uh I think for a week or two they like the kid he this this is a this is a good find for the Eagles he had a very good training camp he see the the coaches will tell you as they've told me and personel people guys play themselves on the on the roster and off of it you kind of know by the end of training camp Mike who should be on this team it it's yeah are you going to make a mistake sometimes absolutely you you they don't give the aners to the test till these guys actually play but I didn't have EJ Jenkins on it uh he's a developmental player you can't see Mike you can't put him on your roster and think okay he's ready to dress game day he's not ready yet he needs a little bit more work but boy he did a nice job by the way he's also subject to waivers all right uh they only have two tight ends currently on this roster Jack St is on the street Donald PM is also on the streets who played uh with Kell Moore last year so which one makes more sense if they brought in a tight end a guy who was here in Philly last year or a guy who played in Moore's offense last year Parham here's why not only that he's also 6 fo8 I was with the Chargers um I'm got to say three weeks ago and I I've been to their training camp since param was signers uh signed uh some years ago 2020 he looks like a basketball yep what he he looks like a basketball player I mean he he is a legit 68 yep and yeah that would make more now I am told with Jack stall who was who was cut this morning that he would be open you know you should know this we reported at the time that two teams offered him a deal the Giants and the Eagles he opted for the Giants because at the time it just it was really just Daniel Bellinger and he he knew that Darren Waller was going to retire and what happened was Mike he didn't know that they were going to sign Chris man Herz who's one of the best blocking tight ends in the National Football League that's the only reason he's in the league in a block and also that he didn't know they were going to draft Theo Johnson so uh that he was out of a job and uh we're not yeah Mike that that make makes the most sense poram Jr is a blocking tight end he could catch a little bit but he's he's an inline tight end they need one in a big way that's why if you remember uh you know over the years they would always seem to have some guy Noah tongi you might remember him jack stall uh who and by the way Jack stall was a roommate believe or most people don't know this of Jurgens in Nebraska yeah there you go uh five receivers for now what do you make of that that's what I think let me let me see if I did I have that yes yes I had that um we knew andata wouldn't make it anyway he was wave injured so he'll go to ir and if and they could either keep him on there or uh they could reach injury settlement so Johnny Wilson now now here's the thing now he's got a concussion he's got to get cleared Jacob Harris are inured to czecho reported boy he had a couple of pretty significant injuries so you know you feel concerned about that this is where Paris camel just go to the practice squad makes the most sense because he knows the scheme or anyone else Mike who's played for Kell Moore over the years how about Noah Brown Mike Noah Brown who I believe was cut by the Texans today yeah he was uh cut by the Texans as well so that's the next thing now the Eagles 53 is complete it is not finalized because now they'll start kicking the tires around the streets uh and there was a trade today by the way Ernest Jones got traded to the Titans so uh that whole story was weird he requested a trade then he said he didn't request a trade well guess what you got traded uh so that happened today so things are continuing to happen uh and of course we'll be keeping our eye on that here on football at four but I guess there some notable guys who did make the Eli Ricks made the team that was another guy yeah that one surprised me all right I I'll admit he was not on my 53 I I'm I got to figure this one out and I know he was a great story last year but man as soon as this new staff came in they demoted him I mean it it's for the first time and I don't know how many time years Mike the Eagles actually have depth at corner I don't really understand it it's unlikely he'll dress most weeks now what we have not seen Mike CU they their first injury report is due Tuesday not a week from today because you have to have it out uh three days before the game so it's they play Friday night so they have to have entry report Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday and the reporters they as you know they don't get to watch practice they get to watch the the the individual drills the warm- up for 20 minutes so we won't know for sure until we see if there's anybody hurt I just I think it's I I don't quite understand it we need to look into why they have so many outside corners now part of it Mike is they're trying to figure out where Cooper de dee is going to line up that that they don't know that yet we we think it's more of a nickel but we'll learn more as we go along well yeah they only and they kept three running backs two tight ends and five wide receivers so they went light at a couple skill spots and add it as you mentioned in the secondary they only got the four safeties one of which Bradberry uh is learning the spot there they do have Maddox and I guess swings can play both so they kept a little extra certain spots and went light only the three running backs only the two tight ends five wide receivers so fluid I would say is what we have with this roster yeah we always call it the fluid 53 it never stays the same it initially have to be a 53 but you could start cutting guys tomorrow uh and we'll see if they claim anyone off waivers that's why I think with Eli Ricks the guy now now I'll give you this before we get out of here we're also doing a show for patreon which is really going to be cool in about a half an hour but what the guys you got to watch out for whether they'll be on the roster the next two or three days will be would be Eli Ricks this is depending on waiver claims uh and I and guys positions to be added by the way Mike going forward would be wide receiver I would say Wide Receiver right now would be a position to keep an eye on uh because they whether it's a waiver claim or a veteran but again Paris Campell could go to the practice squad they're going to have to do something at receiver for for that now uh defensive line it it it it went according to Ho it went exactly the way we thought it would Gabe Hall never showed up in training it just never happen boy they they have a pretty strong practice squad guarantee for him you would expect him to go back there uh but and also defensive tackle for the practice squad is something we expect him to take a look at but uh you know again RX is a guy to keep an eye on if they have some claims tomorrow all right good stuff Adam Kaplan here as the Eagles get down to 53 but uh not a final 53 that remains fluid until the start of the Season which is September the 6 you can listen to the game right here on 973 ESPN Adam Kaplan everybody thanks bud thank you there's Adam and of course football at four here on the sports bash on 9 73 ESPN