PHILADEPHIA − There is a lot riding on the Eagles’ rookie class in a circuitous way.
Ideally, first-round pick Jordan Davis will work in a rotation at defensive tackle, while second-round pick Cam Jurgens, a center, is only expected to play if Jason Kelce gets hurt. Third-round pick Nakobe Dean, a linebacker, currently has two veterans ahead of him in Kyzir White and T.J. Edwards.
Sixth-round picks Grant Calcaterra, a tight end, and Kyron Johnson, a rush linebacker, are expected to be reserves heading into the season.
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Yet all of this can change during training camp, and even into the season. Injuries are a big part of football, especially for older players. And Davis and Jurgens are being groomed to replace Fletcher Cox and Kelce, respectively, both of whom are in their 30s.
Here, then, is a look at how the Eagles’ draft picks and some of the undrafted free agents are faring so far in training camp, along with their readiness to assume a major role this season:
Jordan Davis, 1st round, defensive tackle
The first thing you notice about Davis is his size. At 6-foot-6, 336 pounds, he almost dwarfs Kelce when he lines up over the Eagles’ veteran center. But Davis is also fast, running a 4.78 in the 40 at the NFL Combine.
That, too, is evident when he pursues a running back.
It’s just a matter of how quickly Davis can learn. For that, he’s turning to none other than Kelce, who has given him pointers and advice to go against NFL centers and guards.
“Oh man, he’s not going to give me the whole game plan how to beat him,” Davis said with a laugh. “But at the walkthroughs, just putting my hands there, or just getting out on the front side. Little things like that.”
Even this year, Davis will be a prominent part of the defensive tackle rotation with Cox and Javon Hargrave. The faster Davis learns, the more he’ll play. But really, Davis is being groomed for 2023. Both Cox and Hargrave are in the final year of their contracts, and it’s more likely that only one of them will return.
Cam Jurgens, 2nd round, center
Jurgens was drafted with Kelce’s approval to eventually replace Kelce at center. But the Eagles also didn’t use a second-round pick on Jurgens to redshirt this year.
That’s why Jurgens has been working at right guard, a position he’s never played before after working exclusively at center at Nebraska. Veteran Isaac Seumalo is the favorite to start, with Jack Driscoll also in competition. But don’t rule out Jurgens just yet.
Either way, Jurgens was the first-team center the first two days of training camp while Kelce was ramping up after having COVID-19.
“Probably the toughest part is seeing the defense and how well people in the NFL disguise coverages … and being able to read it,” Jurgens said. “But I feel like early on in practice, I feel like I belonged right away.”
Nakobe Dean, 3rd round, linebacker
Dean has perhaps the best chance to play the most right away. But he has a lot of work to do to get there.
At Georgia, Dean said he played so much as a freshman because “I faked it till I made it.” That won’t work in the NFL, and Dean knows that. He also knows early on that he’s behind White and Edwards, and possibly even Davion Taylor, who is off to a good start in training camp.
But Dean is learning quickly.
“You gotta become more of a student of the game,” he said. “It’s a lot of people who have been playing this game for a long time. People on Year 10 or Year 12 … so I’m thinking where I was at 10, 11, 12 years ago.”
He was 9 years old when Brandon Graham was drafted in 2010.
Grant Calcaterra, 6th round, tight end
During the first three days in practice, Calcaterra had a good connection with backup quarterback Gardner Minshew. But Calcaterra hurt his hamstring last Saturday and hasn’t practiced since.
Still, he has made an early impression, and it’s more than likely that Calcaterra will have a role this season. If Calcaterra continues to shine once he returns from his injury, he might even be the No. 2 tight end behind Dallas Goedert.
Kyron Johnson, 6th round, linebacker
Johnson, at 6-foot, 235 pounds, is built similarly to pass rusher Haason Reddick, whom the Eagles signed to a three-year deal worth as much as $45 million.
Johnson, of course, has a long way to go before he’s at Reddick’s level.
“I see his biggest asset is his get-off,” Reddick said. “The kid is fast. He’s shot out of a cannon. When you have that type of speed, that type of get-off, it reminds me of me. I know that as he continues to grow and continues to learn how to rush NFL tackles, he’s going to make a lot of plays.”
For now, Johnson will have to do that on special teams, where he’s expected to be a major contributor as a rookie.
Best of undrafted players
∎ Carson Strong, QB: Many draft experts expected Strong, who threw for nearly 10,000 yards in three seasons at Nevada, to be selected in the middle rounds. But a chronic knee issue apparently knocked him out of the draft. The Eagles, enamored with Strong’s arm, gave him a $300,000 guarantee, among the largest sums for an undrafted player.
Strong has mostly struggled in the few reps he has received so far. He and Reid Sinnett will battle for that third QB spot. The loser would likely be headed to the practice squad.
“Basically every part of my game, I can get better at,” Strong said.
∎ Josh Jobe, cornerback: The Eagles have a crowded room at cornerback behind the starters Darius Slay, James Bradberry, nickel Avonte Maddox and backup Zech McPhearson. There are second-year players Tay Gowan, Kary Vincent and Mac McCain, along with fellow undrafted players in Mario Goodrich and Josh Blackwell vying for a spot.
Jobe, the Alabama product, has an early leg up on the other undrafted players after an interception Tuesday. But there’s a long way to go, and the preseason games will be especially important for all of the young cornerbacks hoping for a spot.
∎ Ali Fayad, linebacker: The Western Michigan product has stood out early, but he is also in a crowded room. Yet he drew the praise of Reddick after a practice last week. Fayad would have to beat out a returning player in order to get a spot.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
