There is about a week left before Philadelphia Eagles fans from the start of training camp, giving fans an opportunity to evaluate the roster before the players hit the field.
Overall, this is one of the most talented groups in the NFL and could be one of the best the team has had. The problem is that too many key spots are affected by the offseason changes that could make or break this season.
Looking at the young players on this team, there's potential to build something special, but are there any players who simply need to move on? Here's a look at six young players and when the Eagles should develop them or dump them.
Which 3 Eagles should be developed & which should be dumped?
Develop: Tyler Steen, OG
Last season wasn't a perfect first year, but he was healthy all season and still put up respectable numbers. Steen was ranked 17th in Pro Football Focus' overall grade among 81 NFL guards in 2025, finishing with a 71.6 overall. While some Eagles fans are ready to pull the plug and try to bring back Mekhi Becton, this franchise has always been good at finding offensive linemen, so let's give him a chance to grow.
Dump: Will Shipley, RB
Shipley lost his backup running back job last year to Tank Bigsby, and Britain Covey had to be pulled from the practice squad to help on punt return. Even on kickoff return, Shipley had a bad fumble on the opening kickoff of their first meeting win over the Washington Commanders. There is not much hope for him in the future at this rate, so moving on seems like the best move.
Develop: Andrew Mukuba, S
The beginning of the season was no doubt rough for the rookie in 2025, as he struggled mightily in coverage, but got better as the year went on. Mukuba showed play-making skills, but his injury late in the season derailed his momentum. Give him another season under Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, and he can be a solid starter in this unit for a long time.
Dump: Smael Mondon Jr., LB
It may be too soon to move on from Mondon, but the linebacker position is starting to get deep on the roster. Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell are starting, and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. will finally get his time to shine after being a special teams ace. There just isn't much room for Mondon to keep growing, so it feels like he's just a special teams player at best.
Develop: Hollin Pierce, OT
While Pierce hasn't shown enough to have Eagles fans believe in him, his 6-foot-8 and 341-pound frame should be enough to try to give him a chance to develop. He has so much potential with his size to be a solid backup in the NFL, but as an undrafted free agent last season, Pierce needed time to develop. This could be the year he wins a backup job and earns his spot on an active NFL roster.
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Dump: Nolan Smith Jr., EDGE
Yes, it's a risk to move on from a first-round pick, but Smith has not developed like the rest of the great first-round picks the franchise has had since 2021. His best season was 6.5 sacks in 2024, while other first-round picks like Jalen Carter, DeVonta Smith, and Quinyon Mitchell are playing elite football. Jalyx Hunt looks better than Nolan Smith, so put more time into developing him and move on from Smith.
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