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Eagles' 12 most intriguing players in 2025: Is No. 11 already losing his position battle?

PHILADELPHIA − If the Eagles were convinced Sydney Brown could take over at safety after they traded away C.J. Gardner-Johnson, would they have drafted Drew Mukuba in the second round? Then again, would the Eagles have traded Gardner-Johnson if they didn't think Brown could take over? After all, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman made it a point to say that Brown was an early-round draft pick (third round, 2023), and that it was time for him to get an opportunity. Advertisement And then the Eagles drafted Mukuba on April 25. Technically, Mukuba was taken with the last pick of the second round, No. 64 overall, while Brown was taken with the first pick of the third round, No. 65 overall. So the draft position is basically the same. But if Brown was looking for a ringing endorsement that he is the front-runner for the starting safety job next to Reed Blankenship, he didn't exactly get one from defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. And yet, the Eagles need him to fill the void left by Gardner-Johnson, who had 6 interceptions last season. That's why Brown is No. 11 in our list of 12 most intriguing Eagles heading into the start of training camp on July 22. We're counting them down each weekday from No. 12 to No. 1. The series began July 7 and will culminate with the start of camp. Advertisement "It's a competition that is going to take a training camp and a few preseason games to sort out," Fangio said. "And Tristin (McCollum) is in that, too. Sure, but Brown has two full seasons of experience, while McCollum was undrafted and spent time on the Eagles' practice squad until last season. Mukuba, meanwhile, is not only a rookie, but considered undersized for a safety at 5-foot-10, 186 pounds. Yet Fangio quickly discounted Brown's experience, especially because Brown suffered a torn ACL in the season finale of the 2023 season. He wasn't cleared to return until Week 6 of last season. Then he was used primarily on special teams, while McCollum served as the third safety. Sydney Brown #21 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts after forcing a fumble in the first quarter of a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lincoln Financial Field on Nov. 3, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. "Well, his experience came in '23, not '24," Fangio said about Brown. "Last year at this time, he wasn't doing anything, and didn't do anything really until the middle of October. So he lost all this time last year − training camp, early part of the season, and really never got many reps with us defensively. Advertisement "Yes, he was sitting in meetings, but that only goes so far. You've got to get out there and experience it, and build on it, and he lost that last year. So he's going through that process now, and he's doing fine." And the Eagles do have options. Mukuba played nickel at Clemson before transferring to Texas, where the Longhorns used him at safety. In addition, Fangio had said that Cooper DeJean could play safety when the Eagles are in base defense, then move to nickel. But the Eagles were in base defense for only 12% of the time last season, so somebody would still have to play the bulk of the snaps. Advertisement Celebrate the Eagles' Super Bowl win with our new book The Eagles will certainly give Mukuba the chance to play nickel in training camp. If Brown proves himself, perhaps DeJean would play outside at cornerback, another position he played in college at Iowa. "For me, I'm an unselfish guy," Mukuba said about playing nickel. "I'm versatile, so whatever is needed at the time. Whether it's nickelback or safety, I'm just looking forward to it. Whatever the coaches feel is the best fit for the team, I'm willing to do that at a high level." Where does that leave Brown? We'll find out in training camp. Advertisement Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@ Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Read his coverage of the Eagles' championship season in 'Flying High,' a new hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Sydney Brown: Philadelphia Eagles safety in a position battle for 2025