The Philadelphia Eagles kick off OTAs on Tuesday with hope and optimism that the team will begin their quest to repeat as Super Bowl champions.
This offseason, the Eagles signed 12 players in free agency and added two players through trades. In addition, 10 players were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft with six of those selections on defense.
Of the new additions to the Eagles, five could face more pressure to make a first impression than any other players on the roster.
Newest Eagles who must make good first impressions
Avery Williams, Running Back
Williams has had a fascinating career in the NFL so far, as he was once a defensive back and turned into a running back. He's only had one season of running back stats with the Atlanta Falcons in 2022, with 109 rushing yards and one touchdown. Williams also has 31 tackles, three quarterback hits, two fumble recoveries, one pass deflection, and one forced fumble in 49 games.
Williams must make the roster on special teams as he has returned 54 kickoffs and 58 punts. He was one of the Falcons' foremost return specialists during his four seasons in Atlanta.
The backup running back job behind Saquon Barkley will be between A.J. Dillon and Will Shipley. Whoever loses that job will have to battle with Williams for the third and final spot. If Williams doesn't show off his versatility in the backfield and special teams, he could receive a pink slip.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Quarterback
After being traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Eagles in the Kenny Pickett trade, Dorian Thompson-Robinson has some competition ahead of him. Thompson-Robinson's tenure with the Browns is pretty forgettable after just one touchdown to 10 interceptions in his career.
Pickett's trade was due to the emergence of Tanner McKee, who appears to be the favorite to win the backup job behind Jalen Hurts. The Eagles selected Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Thompson-Robinson will battle with McCord for the third-string quarterback job. With Philadelphia investing a draft pick in McCord, it seems that Thompson-Robinson has more to prove at OTAs than McCord.
Kylen Granson, Tight End
The tight end position has been intriguing to monitor during the offseason due to the "will they or won't they" decision to trade Dallas Goedert, potentially. Philadelphia signed Kylen Granson and Harrison Bryant at tight end to join Goedert and Grant Calcaterra.
Granson has more on the line after four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, but never been the number one guy. He caught 86 passes for 958 yards and one touchdown in 62 career games.
After having his worst season since his rookie year in 2021, Granson has to fend off Bryant for the third tight end depth chart spot. There's still a chance that Goedert gets traded and it could solidify Granson's spot on the roster, but until then, he's on the bubble.
Smael Mondon Jr., Linebacker
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman loves his Georgia defensive players, as he once again turned to the NFL Draft to find another one. Former Bulldogs linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. was selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Despite a left leg injury last year that cost him four games, Mondon still racked up 57 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and three pass breakups in 10 games. His concern is that he has missed games in the last three seasons with injuries.
Fighting through his durability concerns and facing roster battles with Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Eagles' first-round pick Jihaad Campbell, the team has to decide how many linebackers to hold on the roster. Nakobe Dean's recovery from his injury could play a role, but Mondon already has an uphill battle for playing time and a spot on the 53-man roster.
Lewis Cine, Safety
If one player on the Eagles roster is trying to remove a label from his name, it's safety Lewis Cine. After being a first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in the 2022 NFL Draft, Cine has not been on the field often with just two tackles in 11 games with the Vikings and Buffalo Bills.
Cine's position battles won't help either, as the Eagles are looking at Reed Blankenship as one of the starting safeties and Sydney Brown and second-round pick Andrew Mukuba going for the other starter spot. That leaves Cine to go up against Tristin McCollum for the backup job.
There isn't a player on this roster who needs to make a better first impression than the 25-year-old Cine does.
