Top Eagles stories heading into 2024 mandatory minicamp originally appeared in NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Eagles have completed the voluntary portion of their offseason program and will begin their mandatory three-day minicamp on Tuesday.
This minicamp, which runs through Thursday, will be the first mandatory minicamp in Nick Sirianni’s four years as Eagles coach.
After a collapse to end the 2023 season and two new coordinators, it’s probably a good idea to have one this year.
A recent report has surfaced that the NFLPA will put forward a proposal to change the NFL’s off-season and essentially eliminate spring practices to add a ramp-up period before training camp. So these mini-camps may not be around much longer.
But there is at least this one. Here are some stories from the week:
It’s mandatory now
This three-day minicamp is the only mandatory part of the entire offseason. All six OTAs and all other practices and meetings prior to today were voluntary. So the veterans who weren’t OTAs — guys like Lane Johnson, DeVonta Smith and James Bradberry — are required to be in minicamp unless they are released by the team.
The Eagles enter this minicamp without major contract concerns hanging over their heads, so there are no potential hurdles to watch out for on that front. But if a player decides to skip any of these training sessions, according to the CBA, he could be fined by the team:
1st day lost: $15,515
2nd day lost: $31,030
3rd day lost: $46,540
The maximum amount a player can be fined for missing all three days of a mandatory minicamp is $93,085.
What happens to James Bradberry?
The Combine’s Howie Roseman said Bradberry was in the Eagles’ plans, but that’s a little hard to believe. The 30-year-old cornerback had a terrible season in 2023 and then the Eagles drafted two cornerbacks in the top 40 picks in April. While Bradberry still has two years left on his contract, it’s probably time to move on.
While Bradberry has not been in full attendance this spring, he has not been to the two OTA practices open to reporters over the past two weeks. So we’ll see if he’s in this mandatory camp.
With Bradberry, it’s important to look at the calendar. Since it’s past June 1st, there is an easier path to trade or release him from a salary cap perspective. Basically, cap rates can now be spread out this year and next. If a move happens, Bradberry would count $4.3 million against the Eagles’ 2024 cap hit and about $10.8 million next season.
A look at the depth chart
We’ll be keeping an eye this week on the first, second and third teams on both sides of the ball.
On offense, it seems like the right guard job is Tyler Steen’s to lose, but it was notable in OTAs that Matt Hennessy was the second-team right guard. The Eagles also signed veteran guard Max Scharping on Monday, so we’ll see where they place him on Day 1. Johnson will be back at right tackle, so we’ll see if Mekhi Becton stays on the right side of the line with the second team. He was the best RT during OTAs, but played primarily on the left side of the line during his NFL career. And with Smith back at WR, we know he and AJ Brown will be the top receivers. We’ll see if one of them works as a third receiver or if the Eagles mix and match.
On defense, Isaiah Rodgers had been working with the starting team, but perhaps that will change in the mandatory camp. Some of this depends on the Bradberry situation, but the Eagles have Kelee Ringo and just drafted Quinyon Mitchell. While it still seems likely that first-round pick Mitchell will make the first team, that hasn’t happened yet. Second round pick Cooper DeJean has been working in the slot and off at CB in recent weeks, so we’ll see if that continues. At linebacker, Devin White and Zack Baun were the top two linebackers in the first OTA open to reporters, but Nakobe Dean (almost fully healthy) changed last week. Hopefully the Eagles’ plan at the position will crystallize a little more this week.
Does a WR3 emerge?
The Eagles have Brown and Smith as their top two receivers, but the WR3 position is still up in the air, especially after DeVante Parker decided to retire this spring.
The main candidates to fill this spot are Parris Campbell, Joseph Ngata and newcomers Ainias Smith and Johnny Wilson. Campbell is likely to be the guy in this spot during minicamp, but given his career and injury history, it may not be wise for the Eagles to put all of their eggs in that basket. This appears to be a spot the Eagles could still try to improve this summer, especially if no one actually fills that spot.
It may seem strange to call receiver a position of need for the Eagles given the talent at the top with Brown and Smith, but that third receiver will play a lot in 2024. Even if the Eagles want to be a 12 personnel-heavy team, they will still live mainly in 11 personnel with three wideouts on the field. Last season, they never had one guy — Quez Watkins, Julio Jones or Olamide Zaccheas — step up and step into that role. We’ll have to see if they find that player in 2024.
Will the offense catch up?
During the last OTA practice that reporters were able to watch, the defense had a good day. There were several interceptions and Jalen Hurts, Kenny Pickett and the entire offense just didn’t work. Of course, there is no reason to panic in May. But Sirianni loves competition and I hope to see her heat up a little over these three days.
These aren’t full-on practices, but we’ll see some 7-on-7 and even 11-on-11 over the next three days. Reporters can watch all three practices in full, so there will be plenty of observations to follow.
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