Eagles sign an offensive lineman who doesn't look like anyone you've ever seen

By Reuben Frank • Published August 27, 2025

The Eagles on Wednesday were awarded interior offensive lineman Willie Lampkin on waivers a day after he was released with an injury designation by the Rams.

Lampkin, who played at Coastal Carolina and North Carolina, has unusual size at 5-foot-11, 290 pounds. 

The only guard 5-11 or shorter who’s played in the NFL in the last 50 years is Terry Long, who was 5-11, 270, and spent 1984 through 1991 with the Steelers, starting 89 games.

The shortest offensive linemen to play for the Eagles in the last 50 years were two 6-0 centers - Nick Cole, who started 29 games from 2006 through 2010 and David Molk, who started four games at center in 2014 when Jason Kelce was out with a sports hernia.

To make room for Lampkin, the Eagles released safety Tristin McCollum, who made the initial 53-man roster on Tuesday.  McCollum played in 17 games for the Eagles over the last two years with two starts.  The Eagles on Tuesday also re-signed long snapper Charlie Hughlett and released released interior lineman Trevor Keegan, so the roster is at 53.

Because the Eagles won the Super Bowl, they are last in waiver claim priority, which means 31 other teams passed on Lampkin.

Lampkin spent two years at Coastal before transferring to UNC, where he had three years of eligibility. He was named 1st-team all-ACC as a senior and also received the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, given annually to the top blocker in the conference.

He went undrafted before signing with the Rams after the draft and spent the summer playing center. Pro Football Focus gave him an 81.9 grade for his 49 snaps in two preseason games. Out of 75 centers who played at least 20 snaps this preseason, his 81.9 grade was 4th-highest.

Rams head coach Sean McVay spoke highly of the 23-year-old Lampkin before the franchise released him

"Obviously, he has great leverage, can get underneath people and be able to finish,” he said. "That was what you loved about him at North Carolina. but just a competitor. He's tough, he's physical. He understands how to be able to play to his strengths and I think he's done a really good job.”

Other backup interior linemen on the roster behind starters Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens and Tyler Steen are rookie 5th-round pick Drew Kendall, veteran Brett Toth and Matt Pryor, who can play either guard or tackle.

https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/willie-lampkin-offensive-lineman-waivers-injury-rams/681157/