This is the quiet period on the NFL calendar. The Philadelphia Eagles do not report to training camp until July 28. If you send a message to an Eagles staffer, you’re likely disrupting a vacation. Yet, a call for mailbag questions on a summer Friday afternoon brought over 40 inquiries. The interest in the Eagles doesn’t fade. Let’s get to a few of those questions…(Note: Questions were lightly edited for grammar and clarity.)What’s going to be the fiercest position competition during Eagles training camp? — Ed H.If I answered this question two months ago, I would have said safety. Now? I’ll go with backup quarterback. When the Eagles traded for Andy Dalton, I figured the move was made to provide a veteran voice in the room and perhaps insurance if the Eagles received a compelling trade package for Tanner McKee. I did not anticipate an earnest competition for the backup quarterback job. Well, this spring showed it’s a competition. The two split work, and when asked directly if McKee is still his No. 2 quarterback, Nick Sirianni suggested no determination has been made. This is a departure from last season, when McKee was the clear No. 2 entering the summer while Kyle McCord and Dorian Thompson-Robinson competed for the No. 3 spot. I’m careful not to overstate spring depth chart developments. I found this one to be a legitimate indication of a competition.Dalton, 38, has played 15 seasons and has 169 career starts. He’s been exposed to every type of defensive scheme imaginable, which provides clear behind-the-scenes value. If anyone knows how that’s valuable, it’s Sean Mannion — a career backup quarterback who hung around in the NFL, in part, by being a resource to the starting quarterback. But the organization has been bullish on McKee in recent seasons, valuing him when there’s been previous trade interest. When McKee went 20-for-25 for 252 yards and two touchdowns in the preseason opener last season, the Eagles did not play him in games the rest of the summer. They had seen enough — and it was thought to be a potential showcase for the 2026 offseason. I thought there was a chance he could be dealt this spring considering the view that he has starter upside. He’s still on the roster. If he’s not the No. 2 quarterback, they should try to get some type of value for him. That set up a fierce competition this summer. Still, if they asked my opinion, I’d make McKee the No. 2. I think they have a better chance of winning games during a Hurts injury with McKee.Still think we will need a safety before the start of the season. Any safety-rich teams to be on the lookout for a trade, and if so, what safeties do you think may be made available? Thanks and great job as always. — Jack B.I agree the Eagles will continue to monitor the market for safeties. Marcus Epps and Michael Carter II will compete for a job this summer, with Epps the favorite based on the spring. And he’s a component, experienced starter. He fit last year. If he’s the 11th best starter on the defense, that’s a good defense. But yes, the Eagles could look for a more dynamic player. When analyzing depth charts and understanding the trajectory of teams, three safeties who would make sense are Cleveland’s Grant Delpit, Atlanta’s Jessie Bates and Arizona’s Budda Baker. I’m not suggesting they’re available, but they fit the profile of safeties who could potentially be pried away. Delpit is entering the final year of a three-year, $36-million contract extension and the Browns drafted Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the second round. Delpit turns 28 in September, has been a consistent starter on a good defense and would bring versatility and range.I’d also add that more attention should be paid to the No. 1 safety spot than the No. 2 safety spot. The Eagles need Drew Mukuba to make a big jump. I think there’s more of a question about Mukuba being the best safety on a depth chart than Epps or Carter being a second safety on a depth chart.Is there a possibility the Eagles focus on signing Moro Ojomo and moving Jalen Carter? If that happened, what do you think would be the trade value? — Joe M.I’m answering this as someone who believes Ojomo is a high-level player who could command more than $20 million on the open market. The Eagles should prioritize Carter over Ojomo because Carter has the talent to be the best defensive tackle in the NFL. He’s an All-Pro-level player. The question becomes what the price will be, how a contract is structured and whether there are potential off-ramps for the Eagles. That’s a complicated question, and the fact that there has not yet been a contract extension suggests this is not a cut-and-paste contract. The Eagles are usually first to the market on extensions. They still have Carter on the books for two more season, so it’s not as if it needsto happen. But the Eagles often benefit from a first-mover advantage.To answer your question, it’s not implausible that a contract for Carter becomes so expensive and the Eagles look at upcoming deals for players such as Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean and getting a bounty of draft picks for Carter becomes an option to consider. If an Ojomo extension would be 60-70 percent of a Carter extension and Carter could command multiple high draft picks, I think you at least have the conversation. But in a vacuum, I wouldn’t choose Ojomo over Carter, and I ultimately expect the Eagles to make it work. Carter is a dominant player when he’s healthy, and the Eagles don’t usually let those players leave the building. I’d rather have a proven blue-chipper than a bounty of draft picks. It’s hard to find players such as Carter. But I’m not impervious to price and ensuring you can also keep much of the other young defensive talent on the roster.To entertain your question: A trade package would need to be somewhere between Micah Parsons and Quinnen Williams. I’d say two first-round picks, although this is all conjecture. I still think the Eagles keep him at this point.Doesn’t it seem that Howie Roseman is still skimping or rolling the dice for the whole season by not getting a proven stud swing O-lineman? If the O-line struggles again, the Birds are a potential dumpster fire! – Anonymous I would ask you: What’s a “proven stud swing O lineman”? I don’t mean to be glib, but if the lineman is a proven stud, he’s presumably not a swing tackle. Short of taking an offensive lineman in the first round — something I thought the Eagles would do — I’m not sure how much more they could have done at swing tackle. Fred Johnson has been solid in that role. He’s not a full-time starter, but he’s been valuable for the Eagles when needed. (I thought he was better in 2024 than 2025, but so was the entire offensive line.) They acquired him last summer for a reason. And then the Eagles selected Markel Bell early in the third round. Bell played both sides this spring and will compete to be a swing tackle. I don’t think Roseman is skimping on this spot. There’s more ambiguity on backup interior spots, if we want to have that discussion. Michael Jordan’s signing at the end of minicamp could potentially factor into the depth chart. I actually think Roseman did more to protect himself at offensive tackle this offseason than last offseason.But the premise of your question is valid. The Eagles need Lane Johnson healthy. If they need to get by without Johnson for an extended stretch this season, it would present a challenge. Johnson is that important.Is the NFL GM interview process a sham?Robert MaysHow long a leash do you think a) the new offensive system gets, and b) Jalen gets? – Andy H.To the second part of the question, I don’t think there’s any clock on Jalen Hurts during the season. If there’s a worst-case scenario in which Hurts struggles in this offense and the Eagles are unenthused about giving Hurts a new contract, then it’s a conversation after the season. But I don’t see the Eagles benching Hurts this season. So to answer that part succinctly: Hurts gets the whole season.As far as the new offensive system, I think it’s reasonable to expect growing pains early in the year and an adjustment process. It’s important that the Eagles remain relatively patient. I say “relatively” because they need to win games, so it’s not as if they can wait until December for the system to click. In 2024, the Eagles made adjustments to the offense after a Week 5 bye. In 2021, it came around Week 7. I don’t see the Eagles abandoning the system – there’s a reason they went in this direction — but I think the Eagles must know their offensive identity around Week 6. They have a stretch of three NFC East games in Weeks 7-9 entering the bye week, and the Eagles shouldn’t be going into the bye week with questions about whether this offense will work.As I write that, I don’t want to sound “hot takey” — what are the alternatives? This is the Eagles’ offense this season. But they ultimately need to tailor the offense to what works, which is what they did in 2024. The offense they used in New Orleans was different than the offense they used in Brazil. They need to win with the players on the roster. I believe they can.Hi Zach! People want to know if the Eagles can successfully replace AJ’s average of 1,250 receiving yards with these players all chipping in: Dontayvion Wicks – 350, Hollywood Brown – 350, Makai Lemon – 600, Total Aggregate Yards = 1,300. Is this a realistic expectation in your view? – Larry K.This is a variation of a question I’ve heard often this offseason. It’s a fun exercise, but I think we must back up even more before answering it. It’s not the aggregate that must replace A.J. Brown, because DeVonta Smith is effectively the replacement. Smith will see an uptick in targets, receptions and production. He had 59.3 yards per game last season. Brown averaged 81.2 yards per game with the Eagles. If Smith can average 75 yards per game over 17 games (let’s account for one game missing), that’s 1,275 yards. If he can average 80 yards over 17 games, that’s 1,360 yards.I think a better way of asking the question is: How do you account for 3,600 yards? That would be a middle-of-the-pack passing offense.Let’s give Smith 1,200 yards for the sake of conversation, although, I think that total will be greater. Where are the other 2,400 yards coming?Let’s go 700 for Dallas Goedert, 650 for Makai Lemon, 500 for Dontayvion Wicks, 350 for Saquon Barkley. I’d say those are all realistic expectations. That would put the Eagles at 2,200, with 200-plus yards to go around elsewhere. How does that sound? Also, I’m less bullish on Hollywood Brown’s role than you seem to be. I’m more bullish on Wicks’ role.Last season WR Darius Cooper seemed to be emerging as a trusted player, blocking and even converting some pretty important third downs. With his size he seemed to be one that would benefit from the A.J. Brown trade, but it has been awfully quiet. How does he fit in 2026? – E.F.Cooper is a nice story and has endeared himself as the “dirty work” receiver, but I would be careful about suggesting he’ll benefit from the A.J. Brown trade. Cooper is trying to make the roster. The Eagles like him and he was pushing Jahan Dotson for the No. 3 role by the end of last season, although he’s not ensured targets — much less a roster spot — entering training camp. The locks are Smith, Lemon and Wicks. Those are also the top three. Then, Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore, Johnny Wilson and Cooper are next on the pecking order. Remember: Cooper’s emergence last summer also came after Wilson’s injury. With Wilson back, that’s an even bigger receiver who has experience in that “dirty work” role.Do you think it’s bad juju for Makai Lemon to be wearing Nick Foles’ #9? – Ben D.Not at all! The Eagles are in a jersey number crunch, and I didn’t feel strongly about the need to retire No. 9. He’s a franchise icon and immortalized by a statue outside of the stadium, but there are so many jerseys that have been off limits (officially or unofficially) that it becomes difficult to find numbers for players.The Eagles retired Nos. 5, 15, 20, 40, 44, 60, 70, 92 and 99. They haven’t yet put Nos. 12, 25, 62, 71 or 91 in circulation. There aren’t that many free numbers for a 90-man roster.I think players should be recognized and honored, but I’m not up in arms with the idea of making numbers available. In fact, it could even be viewed as an honor — like a Penn State linebacker wearing No. 11 or LSU giving No. 18. I’d argue it’s good juju for Lemon that he’s the first player to wear No. 9 since a Super Bowl MVP.