As NFL teams scramble to make final cuts to their 53-man roster, the Philadelphia Eagles will be forced to make a few difficult decisions. After years with questionable depth on defense, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman reloaded this offseason.
Now the Eagles could be forced to part with a few promising, young players ahead of Tuesday’s deadline at 4 p.m. ET. Here are three players that could be potential surprise cuts in Philadelphia.
3 Eagles Players Who Could Be Surprise Cuts
Eli Ricks, CB
Ricks was one of the darlings of Philadelphia’s haul during the 2023 NFL Draft. While Ricks technically went undrafted, he played 301 total defensive snaps for the Eagles as a rookie. Due to injuries across Philadelphia’s secondary, Ricks was asked to step up in 2023.
Despite being forced into unexpected circumstances, Ricks impressed to start his rookie season. He played 14 snaps against the Miami Dolphins in a primetime matchup and allowed zero receptions on three targets, including an impressive pass breakup against Tyreek Hill.
This is excellent inside coverage by Eli Ricks. Looks like they’re playing Cheat Ring 10, so it plays like Pounder. Ricks leverages Hill perfectly and makes this window a tough one to put a ball into. pic.twitter.com/kVsNpkquPe
— Honest NFL (@TheHonestNFL)
Ricks’s role and production were inconsistent as the season spiraled out of control in Philadelphia. While he showed a ton of promise during his rookie season, Ricks could be the odd man out during final cuts. As the Eagles welcomed plenty of talent at cornerback this offseason with Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and Isaiah Rodgers.
Despite being just 22 years old and showing promise in 2023, Ricks may not have done enough to cement a final roster spot. He allowed four completions on five targets for a passer rating of 118.8 during the preseason in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus.
Tristin McCollum, S
After playing just one game for the Eagles in 2023, McCollum made a strong case to win a final roster spot in Philadelphia during the preseason. Yet due to the presence and financial commitments to Avonte Maddox and James Bradberry at safety, McCollum could miss the final cut.
It would likely be a mistake for the Eagles, as McCollum has arguably been the team’s best safety throughout preseason action. McCollum has set the tone in Philadelphia’s secondary and deserves a shot to play a potentially key role behind the team’s injury-prone safety group.
McCollum showcased his versatility and efficiency through three preseason games for the Eagles in 2024. He had 17 tackles and just one missed tackle in 138 total defensive snaps. He also allowed a passer rating of 85.0 in 81 pass coverage snaps.
Tristin’s twin brother, Zyon McCollum, has developed into a starting cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Clearly, it’s worth holding onto a McCollum twin and seeing what they can develop into. Especially instead of an older, declining veteran like Bradberry.
Ben VanSumeren, LB
Similar to Ricks, VanSumeren earned a spot on Philadelphia’s roster as an undrafted rookie. Van Sumeren grew into a core special teams player for the Eagles in 2023, logging 179 total snaps on special teams between Week 9 and Week 18 of the regular season.
Although the Eagles made three notable additions at linebacker, many expect Ben VanSumeren to earn the fifth and final spot at the position in 2024. Yet the return of veteran Oren Burks from injury could mean VanSumeren’s roster spot is suddenly in jeopardy.
While VanSumeren clearly earned a final roster spot with his play during the preseason, Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio could opt for Burks’s experience. It will be interesting to see if Philadelphia opts for that experience behind relatively inexperienced backups Nakobe Dean and Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
VanSumeren was considered a raw linebacker in the 2023 NFL Draft, which is likely why he went undrafted. Despite possessing great size and rare athleticism, “BVS” was relatively new to the position. Yet Philadelphia’s investment in VanSumeren could pay off if they do the right thing and keep him on the final roster in 2024.
