In the fourth of our 10-part offseason series examining the future of the Philadelphia Eagles, Geoff Mosher and Reuben Frank give their opinions on who will be and who won't be on the roster come the start of training camp.
We go alphabetically, and previous player groupings can be found to the right.
LS Jon Dorenbos
Geoff: Quick, name the last time the Eagles botched a snap on a field goal or punt? Yeah, I couldn’t either. Dorenbos will be 35 in July. He can probably do this for at least another five years.
Verdict: Stays
Roob: He’s played in 133 straight games in an Eagles uniform, the sixth-longest streak in franchise history. Barring injury, that streak won’t end any time soon. If Dorenbos plays all 16 games in 2015, he’ll have the third-longest consecutive-game streak in Eagles history, behind only Harold Carmichael (162) and Randy Logan (159).
Verdict: Stays
TE Zach Ertz
Geoff: The question isn’t, “Will he be back?” It is, “Will Chip Kelly get him on the field more?” The answer should be yes. After Jeremy Maclin, Ertz is the team’s next-best overall pass catcher. His 94 catches are third-most in team history for a tight end after two seasons and seventh-most overall.
Verdict: Stays
Roob: I never heard Kelly adequately explain why a weapon like Ertz played fewer than half the Eagles’ offensive snaps (49.91 percent). He was off the field for 589 plays. That makes zero sense.
Verdict: Stays
CB Bradley Fletcher
Geoff: You just can’t bring Fletcher back at this point, even as a backup. He’s a free agent and the Eagles need to rebuild the cornerback position with young, dynamic talent. He lost his confidence and probably needs a fresh environment to get it back. Probably better suited for a Cover 2 scheme.
Verdict: Goes
NFL
Roob: Do you even have to ask?
Verdict: Goes
QB Nick Foles
Geoff: Eli Manning went 8-10 in his first 18 starts and lost his first two playoff games. Giants fans were ready to give up on him. Now he’s a two-time Super Bowl MVP. No reason to think Foles, who is 14-4 in his first 18 starts under Kelly, can’t keep improving if given the chance and have similar success. Continuity at QB is key.
Verdict: Stays
Roob: Amazing that so many have written off a guy who has the fifth-highest passer rating by a player after three seasons in NFL history. Foles may have some training camp competition, either from a veteran or a rookie draft pick, but he’s still the Eagles’ most likely opening-day starting QB.
Verdict: Stays
OL Andrew Gardner
Geoff: He played better at guard than at tackle and hasn’t turned 29 yet, so I suppose he’d be a good backup to keep around. But I’d still like to see the Eagles get younger and more athletic with their offensive line depth. Find someone who can be a backup next year but challenge to start in two or three seasons.
Verdict: Goes
Roob: Gardner, like so many backups, started out playing at a fairly consistent level but struggled the more he had to play. But he seems a capable backup who can play inside or out. You just don’t want him starting eight games, like he had to last year.
Verdict: Stays
ILB Najee Goode
Geoff: His season-ending pectoral injury in the opener was one of the less-talked-about-but-more-crippling injuries suffered by the team this year. They really missed the depth Goode could have provided. Assuming he’s healthy and the same player, no reason to ditch him, but the Eagles should still look to upgrade inside linebacker this offseason.
Verdict: Stays
Roob: Goode’s season-ending injury didn’t seem like a big deal at the time, but the Eagles sure could have used him the second half of the season, when they were stricken by a rash of linebacker injuries. When healthy, a solid backup 'backer and very good special teamer. A quietly valuable guy.
Verdict: Stays