Let's start here — the Eagles have the best trio of starting wide receivers in the NFL. They also have an offensive tackle group that plenty of other teams wish they had on their roster.
So when it comes to the Eagles' issues, there is no reason to ring an alarm.
When looking at areas the team could potentially use some help on the depth chart, however, receiver and offensive tackle might very well be at the top of the list.
Although the Eagles' starting group of Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson and Nelson Agholor are elite, the team's current backups don't offer much in terms of proven talent. Rookie J.J. Arcega-Whiteside impressed in OTA and minicamp workouts, but he has not taken a snap in the NFL yet. Mack Hollins missed all of last season and played sparingly his rookie year. The same can be said for Shelton Gibson and Braxton Miller.
That isn't to say that the group of backups doesn't have potential. They do. What they aren't, however, are sure things — and for a roster that is built to win now with a quarterback that needs a big season, that could be an issue.
If Jeffery, Jackson or Agholor were to go down with an injury that would bench them for a long stretch -- something that is possible considering the issues Jackson has had staying on the field and the injuries Jeffery has suffered -- the Eagles don't have a receiver that they can definitely count on off the bench. They could go to more 12 personnel, or have Zach Ertz play the slot more, but ideally you want a receiver that can come off the bench and save you from changing your offense due to injury. Adding a receiver that has NFL experience, has played in big games -- which the Eagles will be playing in -- and has proven at the NFL level he is at least competent could end up being a very beneficial decision. Perhaps that veteran would only go in after Arcega-Whiteside or Hollins were given a chance. Ideally the veteran is never needed. Bringing one in now, however, to get all of training camp with the team so he could step in if needed in an emergency would be a wise move.
At offensive tackle, the logic is the same — the potential is there, but so are the question marks.
The offensive tackle depth took a blow when Halapoulivaati Vaitai was moved to right guard to replace the injured Brandon Brooks. Although Vaitai could be moved back to tackle in a pinch, the Eagles have shown in the past they don't like to shuffle around their line, preferring to change one spot as opposed to two. That means if Brooks isn't ready for Week 1 (or weeks after), and Jason Peters or Lane Johnson were to go down, it is far from a sure bet the team would move Vaitai over.
If Vaitai does stay at right guard, the Eagles top choices off of the bench are first-round pick Andre Dillard and second-year player Jordan Mailata. Both are ultra-athletic and filled with potential, but neither have played in an NFL game, or have proven they can play in the pros. Dillard would likely be the top option, but there is an argument to be made that putting him in before he is ready, just because of injury, isn't the best course of action with the left-tackle of the future. Considering the injury history of quarterback Carson Wentz, not having a veteran backup at left tackle feels like a major risk, and a decision that is asking for trouble.
With a 90-man roster, the Eagles are capable of bringing in low-level veteran players right now to learn the offense and compete for a roster spot without cutting anyone that will be making the roster. For a win-now team that has made it clear how much they value talented players over younger ones, adding veterans at key spots as opposed to undrafted free-agent rookies makes sense — with receiver and offensive tackle at the top of that list.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
