The 2024 Philadelphia Eagles season was, by almost every measure, a massive rebound from the collapse of the previous year. But if you just look at the names on paper, you're missing the real story. Rosters aren't static. They breathe. They break.
Honestly, the 2024 Eagles depth chart you saw in September looked nothing like the one that ended up hoisting a trophy. Between the mid-season trades, the sudden emergence of a rookie secondary, and the "Saquon Effect" that changed how Kellen Moore called plays, this team was a moving target.
Let's get into the weeds of how this roster actually functioned.
The Offense: More Than Just the "Tush Push"
Everyone talks about Jalen Hurts and the Brotherly Shove, but the 2024 Eagles depth chart featured a fundamental shift in philosophy. Bringing in Saquon Barkley wasn't just a "nice to have" move; it redefined the backfield.
📖 Related: Starting Lineup for the Giants Today: Who’s Actually Playing for San Francisco and New York?
For years, the Eagles relied on a rotation. In 2024, it was the Saquon show. He didn't just play; he dominated, racking up over 2,000 rushing yards. Behind him, Kenneth Gainwell settled into a very specific third-down role, while rookie Will Shipley provided that "spark plug" energy during garbage time or when Saquon needed a breather.
The Receiver Room Drama
At the top, it was the usual suspects: A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. They are arguably the best duo in the league. Period. But the WR3 spot was a revolving door for the first half of the season.
- A.J. Brown: The physical monster. Even with a mid-season hamstring tweak, he remained the focal point.
- DeVonta Smith: The "Slim Reaper" who basically caught everything thrown within five yards of him.
- Jahan Dotson: Remember when Howie Roseman traded for him right before the season? It took him a while to find his footing, but by December, he was the clear WR3 over guys like Johnny Wilson or Parris Campbell.
The Line Without Jason Kelce
This was the big question mark. How do you replace a legend? Cam Jurgens slid into the Center spot, and while he’s not Kelce, he was incredibly steady. The real surprise on the 2024 Eagles depth chart was Mekhi Becton.
Becton was supposed to be a reclamation project. Instead, he beat out Tyler Steen for the Right Guard spot and stayed there. It was a massive win for Jeff Stoutland. When Jordan Mailata went down with a hamstring injury mid-season, Fred Johnson stepped in. Was it perfect? No. But the "Stoutland University" effect kept the pocket clean enough for Hurts to operate.
The Defense: Fangio’s Masterclass
Vic Fangio came in and basically said, "Forget everything you did last year." The 2024 defensive depth chart was built on youth and versatility.
The biggest storyline? The cornerbacks.
Darius Slay is the vet, the "Big Play" guy who still has the wheels. But the real shift happened with Quinyon Mitchell. It’s rare for a rookie to come in and look like an All-Pro from Week 1. He didn't just start; he erased receivers.
Then you have Cooper DeJean. He missed most of training camp with a hamstring injury, which had fans panicked. Once he got healthy, he took over the nickel (slot) corner role from Avonte Maddox and never looked back. He also doubled as a lethal punt returner.
The Linebacker Renaissance
Eagles fans have been complaining about linebackers since the Bush administration. In 2024, Howie Roseman actually found a gem in Zack Baun.
Baun was a special teamer/edge rusher in New Orleans. Fangio moved him to off-ball linebacker, and he became a tackling machine. He and Nakobe Dean finally gave Philly a duo that could cover and hit. It’s the kind of nuance you don't see on a simple 1-2-3 depth chart list—it’s about how they were used.
2024 Eagles Depth Chart: The "Why" Behind the Moves
You can’t talk about this roster without mentioning the mid-season adjustments. Howie Roseman is always hunting.
When the pass rush felt a little thin—Bryce Huff had a really slow start, let's be real—the team leaned more on Nolan Smith and Josh Sweat. Brandon Graham, in his farewell tour, was still providing elite pressure in limited snaps. It was a "by committee" approach that actually worked.
🔗 Read more: Where Can I Watch The Ultimate Fighter: The 2026 Reality Check
The safety position was another area of constant flux. C.J. Gardner-Johnson returned to provide the "trash talk" and ball-hawking skills the team missed, while Reed Blankenship remained the most underrated player on the defense. Sydney Brown’s return from an ACL injury in the second half of the season added a "missile" element to the sub-packages.
Notable Absences and Injuries
Injuries are the gremlins of any NFL season.
- Dallas Goedert: He missed a chunk of time (again), which forced Grant Calcaterra into a bigger role. Calcaterra actually looked like a legit TE1 for a few weeks.
- Jordan Mailata: Missing your franchise Left Tackle is usually a death sentence. The Eagles survived it because of their depth.
- James Bradberry: After a rough 2023, he spent the entire 2024 season on IR. His absence actually cleared the way for the youth movement in the secondary.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're looking at the 2024 Eagles depth chart to understand where this team is going, here are the three things that actually matter:
- The Youth Movement is Real: The transition from aging vets to guys like Mitchell, DeJean, and Jurgens happened faster and more successfully than anyone predicted.
- System Over Stars (Mostly): While Saquon and A.J. are superstars, the defense succeeded because they finally had a coherent system under Fangio.
- The Howie Factor: Never assume the roster you see in the preseason is the final version. The Jahan Dotson trade and the Zack Baun signing proved that low-risk moves can have high-reward outcomes.
The 2024 season wasn't just about winning games; it was about restructuring the DNA of the team while remaining a contender. By the time the playoffs rolled around, this wasn't just a "loaded" roster—it was a balanced one.