Eagles Training Camp Check-In: Potential Breakouts and Storylines

“Probably one of the best feelings I experienced, that moment,” said A.J. Brown. “I truly felt like a true champion.”

Back in February, Brown posted online about how the feeling of winning a Super Bowl didn’t meet his expectations.

“I’ve never been a champion at the highest level before but I thought my hard work would be justified by winning it all,” said Brown on a February 12 Instagram post. “It wasn’t… BACK 2 Work!”

The ring presentation was a punctuation point on a star-stacked roster, equally rich in leadership and promise.

But the focus on 2025 cannot be delayed any longer.

According to Over the Cap, Philadelphia has the cheapest defense in the NFL entering the fall—just two starters on that side of the ball are beyond a rookie contract. The offense will take orders from a new, albeit familiar, offensive coordinator in Kevin Patullo. And the schedule ahead includes 11 games against 2024 playoff teams.

The Eagles have a lot of work ahead of them in the next few weeks.

Veteran Breakout Candidates

The story of the ‘24 Birds cannot be told without the hidden gems they found that offseason. The Eagles hit one jackpot after another in the free agent market, from a DPOY finalist in Zack Baun to a tackle-turned-guard in Mekhi Becton. The free agent market was much drier a year later, but Philadelphia still landed some low-risk additions who could hit new ceilings with the change of scenery.

Azeez Ojulari was a game-wrecker off the edge at Georgia, lifting him to a second-round selection by the Giants in 2021. But after three consecutive injury-abbreviated seasons, Ojulari settled for a $3 million offer as a promising depth option in Philadelphia. Still reeling from the major turnover at the position, the Eagles found a nice bargain with another Bulldog. 

An explosive finisher, Ojulari makes the most of his pass-rush wins, though his success often comes intermittently. His footwork and repertoire can come up shallow at times, and the production adjacent to Brian Burns and Dexter Lawrence didn’t crescendo as many expected. 

The arm length and late-play determination, though, are intangibles that can generate results. Pair those attributes with noticeable fluidity in (limited) pass coverage snaps, and Vic Fangio has someone to count on in long-distance downs. He is no maestro as a run-stuffer, but he is no pushover either. It would not be a shock to see Ojulari flourish at the other end of the Turnpike and cash in next summer elsewhere. For now, he will come into camp trying to redirect his trajectory.

Only weeks after standing across the sidelines from the Super Bowl celebration, standup edge Josh Uche climbed aboard in Philly on a one-year deal worth just over $1 million. Although he never found his footing last season after a midseason trade to Kansas City, the Eagles hope to unlock a shelved tenacity from Uche. An 11-sack season with the Patriots in 2022 set a bar never to be reached again. Despite an unclear role in Philadelphia, promise drives his projection.

Uche’s career isn’t dissimilar from that of former Eagle Bryce Huff. A once-overlooked, tenacious pass rusher yet to achieve sustained success following a breakout. Uche, like Huff, will be utilized primarily in passing downs, though his 2024 run grade sits 10 points above Huff’s, according to PFF.

Uche is a bit undersized for the position, but his sharp footwork and motor can keep him in every play. He comes off the sidelines ready. His big 2022 season saw the highest snap share of his entire career, still a measly 38 percent.

Together, Ojulari and Uche assemble a formidable second line to reinforce the youth movement along Philly’s defensive front.

Young Contributors

While the veterans will see the field at times, it is clear that the Eagles are prioritizing the ascendance of their young players.

Nolan Smith emerged down the stretch of last season. He recorded eight sacks from Week 11 through the NFC Championship, opening another angle of attack in an already stout defense.

Jalyx Hunt was expected to be a crash-test dummy for much of his rookie season. The remnants of his athleticism and game sense from when he played safety in college remain in his approach as an edge. Less than 10 months after referring to Howie Roseman as “Big Pimpin’” on his draft day, Hunt sacked Patrick Mahomes on the sports’ biggest stage.

Expect plenty of new production defensively. Players and staff have raved about another project-turned-starter in Moro Ojomo. After five years at Texas, the Eagles nabbed Ojomo 10 spots from the end of the 2023 Draft. He hasn’t looked back since, and is now making strong impressions early in camp. Ojomo is two years younger than most of his draft class due to early schooling as a child in Nigeria, and will turn just just 24 years old in August. 

Jihaad Campbell and Andrew Mukuba highlight the newest generation of contributors. Campbell, freshly recovered from a torn labrum, has flashed speed and skill in his first stretch of professional practices. He could start games right away, depending on the health of Nakobe Dean. Mukuba suffered a shoulder injury of his own shortly after arriving for camp, but will earn the right to compete with Sydney Brown for a starting spot.

The Eagles will trot out the youngest defensive line in the NFL this fall. No starter will be older than 25 until January. No reserve was older than 27 until Ogbo Okoronkwo signed with Philadelphia on July 22. Coming off a championship season, the Eagles’ defense is an anomaly, nearly all selected by Roseman in the draft. Promotion from within, thought to be a lost art, is being resurrected.

Offense Running it Back

Not much has changed for the offense that poured in 89 points (excluding Cooper DeJean’s pick six) in the final two outings of the season. With limited expiring contracts, the Eagles are happy to spin the block with an all-star cast of players while in pursuit of a title defense. As always, some supporting roles will be reappointed.

Mekhi Becton’s (very large) void will be filled by 2023 third-rounder Tyler Steen. After an ankle injury derailed his campaign for the starting job last summer, Steen is running away with starting right guard duties. Nobody else has taken a first-team rep. Offensive Line Coach Jeff Stoutland’s comments play as words of affirmation.

There is some excitement with the depth as well. AJ Dillon and Will Shipley have each earned rave reviews behind Saquon Barkley, with praise for their pass-catching abilities standing out. Philadelphia will need to replace Kenneth Gainwell’s interludes, utilized to allow Barkley to break up his heavy demands. Shipley would seem to be the heir apparent stylistically, but Dillon remains an unknown after losing 2024 to a neck injury.

The most pleasant surprise of training camp has come from a receiver with three career receptions. Former Jaguar Elijah Cooks has turned heads consistently through the first week-plus of drills. Many grazed over the news when Cooks was signed to Philly’s practice squad in January, then resigned in February. After missing spring practices due to injury, Cooks is becoming a trusted target for Tanner McKee and the second team.

Towering at 6-foot-4, there exists a route for Cooks to earn a spot on the final 53. The Eagles prefer a taller receiver on the roster. Two seasons ago, it was Julio Jones (boy, was that a fever dream?). Johnny Wilson is still around from last season, but as Cooks continues to press the issue, Wilson is now firmly on the bubble. This is a positional battle that will run deep into the preseason, with Ainias Smith also in the running. Former second-rounder Terrace Marshall suffered an injury Tuesday, and if serious, another spot will be open for the taking.

The Work Before the Work

As the Eagles create openings for their incubated prospects, training camp offers the first true simulation of NFL-level responsibility. Starters get a drive or two in the preseason. In July, it is snap after snap of best on best. The NovaCare Complex may not have the same effect as 70,000 raucous fans, but it is the gateway to and from. 

For up-and-comers, the grueling, often mundane summers are the simple difference between financial freedom and a plaguing uncertainty. While Philadelphia reloads its skeleton for success, it needs meat on the bone. 

July is necessary to reach February.