They say pressure makes diamonds and bursts pipes. We’ve seen football parallels as lovers of our Philadelphia Eagles. Nick Foles was a diamond. Carson Wentz, most certainly, was a pipe. We still can’t believe sometimes that Carson never won a playoff game. That’s another story for another day though. Let’s instead focus on the guys who are still on the roster.

Philly’s current 90-man preseason unit blends established veterans and young stars in the making. With that said, there are a few ‘lumps of coal’ expected to feel the pressure this season.

Some will feel more than others. Some have jobs and money riding on what transpires in 2024. Much of the roster is playing on an expiring or one-year deal.

What can we say? This is the nature of the NFL. This is the life they have chosen. Pay attention to the guys on this list. They enter another campaign assured they’ll be playing on the hot seat.

Nakobe Dean, linebacker

We wouldn’t call this ‘freefall’, but it’s close. This can’t be how Nakobe Dean saw his NFL life unfolding after winning the Butkus Award and a College Football Playoff National Championship. He was also named a Unanimous All-American.

Dean was expected by many to be a first-round draft choice in 2022. As a result, he was invited to Las Vegas. We know how that turned out. He slid, and Philly scribbled his name on a draft card in Round 3.

He spent his first season on special teams as there wasn’t an immediate need on defense for his services. Year two was supposed to be his time, but he spent two stints on Philly’s injured reserve.

The additions of Oren Burks, Zack Baun, and Devin White in free agency could push him further down the depth chart. Jeremiah Trotter Jr’s addition in the NFL Draft complicate his standing even further. Year three came quickly, and we’d like to see Dean turn the corner.

Nick Sirianni, head coach

At this point, comments made about Nick Sirianni’s job security feel like we’re running a topic of conversation into the ground… or kicking a man when he is down… or both. There are only so many times that we can mention the CEO head coach thing… or the collapse last season… or the theories that too many of Nick’s players don’t respect him.

He has already exceeded the expectations of many. He has led the Eagles to postseason appearances in each if his first three years at the helm and a Super Bowl appearance, but for a team with an obvious championship window open, another one and done outing in the playoffs won’t do.

This would be a great time for a deep run in the postseason.

Josh Sweat, defensive end

As much as we love Josh Sweat, last season may have taught us something. He might be better being one of the guys than being asked to be ‘the guy’.

The 2024 season is a one-year audition for Sweaty to make himself some money. He was allowed to test the market this past offseason, but we learned he’d return after agreeing to a restructured deal.

He notched 6.5 sacks last season, his most important being one of the final nails in the coffin for a Week 9 win over the hated Dallas Cowboys. There was just one problem. He didn’t register a single sack after that.

There are now questions. Will the coming campaign lead to his continued stay in Philly or a fresh start with a new team in another city?

Kenneth Gainwell, running back

We’re tempted to begin a ‘keeping Boston Scott would have been better than another year with Kenny Gainwell campaign’, but there’s no point in that. Scott is gone, and he isn’t coming back, and Kenny G is probably better than we give him credit for being.

This coaching staff likes the former Memphis star a lot, but Philly has added Saquon Barkley. He’s, as you know, one of the best in the business at his position. The Birds also added Will Shipley in the most recent NFL Draft, and he was a stud for the ACC’s Clemson Tigers for the past couple of NCAA seasons.

Gainwell will be a part of Philly’s offensive attack this season, but this is also a contract season. He isn’t promised anything past the Eagles’ last game of the current NFL campaign.

Worth mentioning: We all realize James Bradberry is still on the roster, right?

James Bradberry is on the hot seat. He survived the post-June 1st thing. There are, however, no guarantees that he’ll be on the Eagles’ roster come Week 1 of the regular season.

The discussions about the 2022 Second-Team All-Pro have gone on all offseason. He won’t have to wait for the pressure to mount. Pressure has been following him since we began seeing regression.

Worth asking: Is Eli Ricks in danger of being cut?

Eli Ricks could fall victim to the numbers game. Let’s just say the Eagles keep six cornerbacks on their 53-man roster. We’d assume Darius Slay, Quinyon Mitchell. Cooper DeJean, Kelee Ringo, Isaiah Rodgers, and James Bradberry are the top six guys on the depth chart (if James isn’t released or traded).

There is also Avonte Maddox to consider. He’s a talented slot corner who can also play safety. Josh Jobe is one of Philly’s better players on special teams. Right now, it’s hard to argue Ricks onto the roster.
He had better have a monstrous training camp and preseason. For him, pressure comes early.