Professional football franchises, including the Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos, are preparing to discard dozens of players in the coming weeks, reducing their 90-man rosters to 53 ahead of the 2026 season. The Eagles face a roster cutdown to 53 players on August 30, following four weeks of practices and three preseason games. The Broncos will also finalize their 53-man roster after 14 training camp practices and three preseason contests. These decisions underscore the precarious nature of labor within the multi-billion dollar sports industry.
The Business of Bodies
The Denver Broncos, coming off a 14-3 season that saw them reach the AFC Championship, are projected by one analysis to go 11-6 this season. This forecast, which includes three prime-time games and two standalone holiday matchups, treats the team's human assets as components in a profit-generating machine. Every player's performance is scrutinized for its potential contribution to the owners' bottom line.
For the Philadelphia Eagles, coaches are working from two practice sessions and an early-summer depth chart to make their final selections. Analysts Zach Berman and Brooks Kubena have offered their first 53-man roster projections, detailing which players are deemed valuable enough to retain. At quarterback, Kubena projects Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, and Andy Dalton, while Berman projects Hurts, McKee, and Cole Payton. The discussion around trading McKee, with Kubena stating the Eagles "can’t afford to trade McKee unless they acquire another reliable veteran," highlights how players are viewed as fungible assets. Berman, conversely, sees a "realistic pathway for Payton to make the roster" if McKee or Dalton are traded, emphasizing the constant competition among workers for scarce positions.
Owners' Projections, Workers' Precarity
Running back projections further illustrate this commodification. Kubena lists Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley, and Dameon Pierce, while Berman projects Barkley, Bigsby, and Shipley. Bigsby's "touchdown run in practice showed he can complement Barkley," according to Kubena, reducing a player's worth to a specific utility. Berman suggests Shipley will serve as the "No. 3 back and a special teams contributor," assigning a specialized role to a unit of labor.
At wide receiver, Kubena projects DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore, Makai Lemon, and Johnny Wilson. Berman's list includes Smith, Wicks, Lemon, Brown, and Wilson. General Manager Howie Roseman reportedly views the unit as a "basketball squad," a telling phrase that frames athletes as interchangeable parts of a strategic lineup. Berman notes the Eagles "may go deeper at tight end and on the offensive line instead," demonstrating the strategic allocation of labor resources to maximize team performance and, by extension, revenue.
The Disposable Workforce
The defensive line projections include Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Byron Young, and Ty Robinson from both analysts. Kubena adds Gabe Hall, and Berman adds Uar Bernard. Bernard, described by Kubena as "still very raw," is expected to be waived despite the team's "investment in his development." This reveals the ruthless calculus of capital: even "invested" labor is discarded if it doesn't meet immediate profit-driven performance metrics.
At edge rusher, Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, Arnold Ebiketie, and A.J. Epenesa are projected. Greenard's "pectoral strain is not expected to be long term," and his "Week 1 start remains a goal," highlighting the immense pressure on injured workers to return to the field. The potential return of Brandon Graham for a "17th season" is framed as a "wild card," acknowledging the extended utility of a long-serving asset.
Specialists also face this constant evaluation. Jake Elliott, Braden Mann, and Rocco Underwood are projected. Elliott, at 31, saw his 74.1 field goal percentage last season mark the second lowest of his career, a performance metric that could jeopardize his position. Berman states Underwood's "spot is not entrenched" and that the Eagles "could seek an external upgrade," underscoring the perpetual threat of replacement for all workers in this system.