Time for some #JerseyNumberAnalytics!
At long last, the Philadelphia Eagles have finally confirmed jersey numbers for their offseason player additions via their official roster page.
The team is not yet listing numbers for their draft picks and (currently unconfirmed) UDFA signings … but we’ll get clarity on that front soon with the Eagles hosting their rookie minicamp that begins on Friday, May 3.
Here’s an overview with our signature #JerseyNumberAnalytics to follow.
VETERAN ADDITIONS
EDGE Bryce Huff – 0
QB Kenny Pickett – 7
S C.J. Gardner-Johnson – 8
WR DeVante Parker – 13
QB Will Grier – 16
RB Saquon Barkley – 26
CB Tyler Hall – 31
CB Isaiah Rodgers – 34
RB Tyrion Davis-Price – 35
LB Oren Burks – 42
LB Devin White – 45
EDGE Terrell Lewis – 46
WR Jacob Harris – 46
WR Shaquan Davis – 47
OLB Julian Okwara – 52
LB Zack Baun – 53
OL Darian Kinnard – 72
OL Matt Hennessy – 77
DT PJ Mustipher – 78
WR Parris Campbell – 80
TE C.J. Uzomah – 87
WR Austin Watkins Jr. – 89
RETURNING PLAYER CHANGE
CB Eli Ricks – 23 (used to be 39)
LS Rick Lovato – 49 (used to be 45)
DT Moro Ojomo – 97 (used to be 72)
ANALYSIS
As the unquestioned authority on this subject matter, here are my incredibly important takes.
- It’s too bad the Eagles didn’t keep Haason Reddick (for a number of reasons), in part because the synergy of two pass rushers (him in 7 and Huff in 0) wearing single digits would’ve been cool. But, hey, maybe Nolan Smith steps up and then the Eagles have 0 and 3 wreaking havoc from the edge?!
- Pickett previously wore No. 8 in college and with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was No. 2 in high school. So, No. 7 is a fresh start for him, which is probably needed. Pickett’s the first Eagles quarterback to wear No. 7 since fellow New Jersey native Joe Flacco had it. Pickett was originally rumored to be wearing No. 16. That would have been worse.
- CJGJ said he’s going with No. 8 in his second Philly stint as an homage to Kobe Bryant. I’ll repeat what I previously said about this: “I don’t love the Eagles’ jersey number font in general but especially when it comes to how the 8 looks. But I do respect the Kobe tribute and the idea of wanting to pair a new mentality with a new number. The single digit aesthetic worked for CJGJ last year when he had No. 2. Could be worse but could be better.”
- No. 13 will have a different look with the 6’3”, 215 pound Parker wearing it instead of the 5’8”, 193 pound Olamide Zaccheaus. Parker previously wore No. 9 in college, No. 11 with the Miami Dolphins, and No. 1 with the New England Patriots, so No. 13 is new for him. I think it’s an acceptable look, it could have gone worse for him.
- No. 16 is a camp body QB number for Will Grier.
- Saquon gets to keep his signature No. 26. Makes sense.
- Feel like No. 31 is an appropriately sneaky good get for an under-the-radar addition in Tyler Hall. He could win a job as the backup nickel CB.
- Isaiah Rodgers will retain the No. 34 he played with in Indy. It’s just OK.
- Tyrion Davis-Price is taking over Boston Scott’s old No. 35. Not a bad move for his stock.
- Oren Burks in No. 42 is rough. He previously wore it with the Green Bay Packers but it limits him to a special teams role. Can’t be a starter with that number.
- Devin White managed to get his old No. 45 by seemingly working out a deal with Rick Lovato, who moved to No. 49. Credit to Lovato for being unselfish but that’s not something he needed to do as a Super Bowl-winning long snapper!
- Lewis, Harris, and Davis have camp body-type numbers that could change if they find a way to make the team.
- Okwara’s aesthetic is miscast with an off-ball linebacker number at the edge position. Not great for his chances. Big downgrade after wearing No. 99 with the Detroit Lions.
- Baun wearing No. 53 could be fitting for a versatile player who might split time off the ball and rushing from the edge.
- No. 72 is quietly a good get for Kinnard, who is very much fighting just to be on the roster. Someone to keep an eye on with Tra Thomas and Halapoulivaati Vaitai previously wearing that number.
- Hennessy wearing No. 77 is a bit confusing for an interior offensive lineman. More of a tackle number. New Eagles offensive tackle Mekhi Becton, who hasn’t been assigned a number, previously wore No. 77 on the Jets. Stock down for Hennessy.
- Mustipher got Sua Opeta’s old number.
- The last player to give the Eagles good contributions in No. 80 was … Kevin Curtis. Been a bit. Not a great sign for Campbell. 8 and 0 are the two worst possible numbers in the Eagles’ jersey font.
- Uzomah is the second player to get No. 87 since Brent Celek retired. It was finally given out for the first time since 2017 last year when undrafted rookie free agent Jadon Haselwood randomly had it. Uzomah in No. 87 is a good sign for his chances of being TE2 behind Dallas Goedert.
- Ricks changing from No. 39 to No. 23 is a nice upgrade for him. But there’s a lot of competition at cornerback, so, he’s not necessarily guaranteed to make the roster.
- Major glow up for Ojomo going from No. 72 to No. 97. He’s a lock to break out for the Eagles in his second season. Much more serious defensive tackle number.
- Some speculation on the rookies: The Eagles should get Zech McPhearson to change so Quinyon Mitchell can have No. 27. Cooper DeJean wore No. 3 at Iowa, which is currently occupied by Nolan Smith … but DeJean could add a zero to take the unclaimed No. 30. Feels like more of a safety number than a corner number.