Eagles depth chart following the 2024 NFL Draft: Special teams edition

10/05/2024

Now that free agency and the NFL Draft are behind us, it’s a good time to take a look at how the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles depth chart is coming together. We first examined the offensive depth chart and then the defensive depth chart. We’ll continue today with the special teams unit. Next, we’ll post our first 53-man roster projection ahead of the upcoming season.

KICKER

1 – Jake Elliott

Elliot was awesome last year. With Justin Tucker showing some signs of slipping, there’s potential for Elliott to surge forward and be known as the NFL’s best kicker. Regardless of that title, the 29-year-old is incredibly clutch and great to have around.

PUNTER

1 – Braden Mann

Unlike last year at this time, the Eagles are settled at punter. Mann had a good season. He’s not elite but he’s above average, which is more than fine.

HOLDER

1 – Braden Mann

No issues here.

LONG SNAPPER

1 – Rick Lovato

Lovato is in a new number (No. 49) with Devin White seemingly buying his old one (No. 45). I wonder just how much Lovato made from that transaction, assuming that’s went down. Lovato is set to be a free agent after this season so he’ll want to avoid any struggles to remain in Philly.

KICK RETURNER

The NFL’s new rules are going to revive the kickoff. The Eagles seem to be taking the change seriously, considering their investments at that position. Could they get wild and throw, say, Saquon Barkley out there? We’ll have to see it before we believe it. For now, we’re just going to account for players who have kick return experience.

1 – Britain Covey

2 – Isaiah Rodgers

3 – Parris Campbell

4 – Will Shipley

5 – Cooper DeJean

Note: The order here is really just a blind guess given the new dynamics of the return. It’s not clear how the Eagles view their options, but we’ll get a better sense of that when we’re allowed to watch offseason practices.

Covey’s success as a punt returner — he’s arguably the best PR in the NFL — could warrant him a look on kick returns. Part of his success can be attributed to how seriously he takes his role and the scouting work he puts into it. Rodgers has a career 27.0 average and one touchdown scored on 61 returns, which is good. Campbell had a 30.4 kick return average at Ohio State and he has a 24.4 average in the NFL. In theory, his 4.31 speed makes him a threat to take it to the house. Shipley logged 26.6 yards per kick return on 34 attempts in college. DeJean only returned one kick (for 20 yards) in college and that was as a freshman … but he’s been pretty electric with the ball in his hands, so, the Eagles might want to see what this looks like.

PUNT RETURNER

1 – Britain Covey

2 – Cooper DeJean

3 – Ainias Smith

The Eagles bringing in so many returners seemingly doesn’t portend well for Covey … but, again, he’s been so good at his role (14.4 average last year). DeJean is a good punt returner; his 31 attempts resulted in a 13.1 average and one touchdown. Depending on how his defensive role works out, he may be too valuable to always expose on punt returns, however. Smith’s 82 (!) punt returns resulted in a 10.2 average and two touchdowns. He’s crafty with how he moves in the open field.