As the Philadelphia Eagles gear up for training camp, cracks are beginning to show in general manager Howie Roseman's 2024 draft strategy—particularly among the six players he selected on Day 3. While Roseman remains one of the NFL’s sharpest minds when it comes to early-round talent acquisition, last year’s late-round haul is in danger of becoming a rare misstep.
Eagles analyst Josh Davis of the Philly Special Show reports that three of those 2024 selections—fifth-round wide receiver Ainias Smith, fifth-round guard Trevor Keegan, and sixth-round wide receiver Johnny Wilson—may be on the chopping block as the 2025 roster begins to take shape. The trio is reportedly struggling to gain traction amid fierce competition from veterans and practice squad standouts.
Smith, who benefited from a 2024 injury stint and Britain Covey’s absence to stay with the team, now faces long odds. With A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jahan Dotson and Avery Williams all but locked into roles, only a few spots remain—and Smith hasn’t shown enough this offseason to cement one.
Wilson’s situation is more surprising. At 6-foot-7, the Florida State product logged over 400 offensive snaps as a rookie and carved out a niche as a reliable run-blocking presence. With new offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo emphasizing a physical ground game, Wilson seemed like a natural fit. But absences from OTAs and a troubling case of the drops have opened the door for others. Practice squad holdover Danny Gray has been a standout this spring, and free agent signing Terrace Marshall Jr. has received public praise from quarterback Jalen Hurts, further muddying Wilson’s outlook.
On the interior line, Keegan's climb has been no easier. With a crowded room that demands positional versatility, Keegan hasn’t yet shown the flexibility or consistency to lock down a second-team role. If he can’t prove valuable at both guard and center, his roster spot is far from secure.
All of this adds up to potential embarrassment for a front office that prides itself on squeezing value from the back half of the draft. If Keegan, Wilson, and Smith are all cut, only two of Philadelphia’s six Day 3 selections from 2024—running back Will Shipley and linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr.—would remain. That hit rate would be well below Roseman’s usual standards and calls into question the effectiveness of his recent strategy to flood the roster with late-round “lottery tickets.”
The Eagles doubled down on this approach in 2025, drafting eight players in Rounds 4-7. But if last year’s results are any indication, Roseman may need to rethink whether quantity over quality truly fits a roster already stacked with elite, entrenched talent.
With training camp looming, the fate of these fringe players will be decided not just by raw talent, but by availability, versatility, and trust—three pillars that can make or break an NFL career. For Smith, Keegan, and Wilson, the margin for error has all but disappeared.