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Who makes the Eagles roster: Defensive back

DEFENSIVE BACK

LIKELY TO KEEP: 9-10

WHO STAYS

CB: Leodis McKelvin, Nolan Carroll, Ron Brooks, Eric Rowe, Jalen Mills, C.J. Smith

S: Malcolm Jenkins, Rodney McLeod, Chris Maragos, Jaylen Watkins

The Eagles' top three cornerbacks are determined: Leodis McKelvin and Nolan Carroll in the starting lineup, with Ron Brooks in the slot.

McKelvin, 30, had perhaps the best season of his eight-year career when Jim Schwartz was his defensive coordinator in 2014. He knows the scheme, but must prove he's still a starting cornerback. Nonetheless, his starting experience is an asset. The same is true with Carroll, who played well last season before a foot injury on Thanksgiving. Carroll has picked up where he left off this summer and earned his way back into the starting lineup, where he's playing for another contract. Look for both to be the top outside cornerbacks.

Brooks comes from Buffalo, where he also has experience in Schwartz's scheme. Brooks has been mostly a special teams player in his career, but Schwartz likes him and his ability to play on the inside and outside is an asset. The Eagles could also use Malcolm Jenkins and play an extra safety on the field, so there are different combinations the team could use. But for now, Brooks appears to be the slot.

Eric Rowe replaced Carroll last season and looked as if he would be a starting cornerback entering the spring, but he never could claim the starting role. Doug Pederson said Rowe had some "hiccups" while adjusting to the new scheme. There remain talent there and prototypical size – 6-foot-1, 205 pounds – and he could work his way back into the rotation if there are injuries or with improved play. But for now, Rowe appears to be a depth player and special teams contributor.

In my projection, I went with six cornerbacks and have the Eagles keeping rookies Jalen Mills and C.J. Smith. Both have impressed at different times this summer. Mills was ahead of Rowe before an injury slowed him in Week 2 of the preseason, but there's a lot of potential to be tapped. Smith, who played with Carson Wentz at North Dakota State, has quietly impressed teammates and coaches. I'm not convinced the Eagles will keep six cornerbacks, but if they do, Smith has played his way onto the roster.

One way for the Eagles to potentially keep six cornerbacks is to keep only four safeties. Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod are entrenched as starters, and could be one of the top combinations in the NFL. They have similar skill sets and could both play in the box and deep while covering slot receivers and tight ends. If they stay healthy, their presence will be a strength of the defense.

The Eagles are thin behind them, but Jaylen Watkins has been the best of the backup safeties this summer. He's a converted cornerback, and his second life with the Eagles appears likely to be more fruitful than the first. If he can improve his tackling, his coverage ability and intelligence would be assets at safety. Chris Maragos is mostly a special teams player who can play defense in a pinch, but his value on special teams makes him too hard to leave off the 53.

WHO GOES

JaCorey Shepherd, Ed Reynolds, Blake Countess

JaCorey Shepherd was supposed to be the slot cornerback last season, but he tore an ACL in the 2015 training camp and has been injured through much of the summer. That has made it difficult to get a true evaluation of him, and Mills and Smith have played well this summer while Shepherd has been sidelined.

Ed Reynolds has not made the 53-man roster at the end of the past two preseasons, and I'm not sure this summer will be different. He has talent and good ball skills, but unless the Eagles don't keep Maragos for special teams or if they keep five safeties, it would be hard to get on the 53. Special teams could be the determining factor.

Blake Countess, the sixth-round pick, could get roster consideration for his special teams ability. But he played only six defensive snaps last week and unless he excels this week or the Eagles go deeper at safety, he might be more of a practice squad candidate than a roster player.