Undrafted Eagles rookies with solid chances of earning roster spots

[time2rock]

Undrafted Eagles rookies with solid chances of earning roster spots

This might be the best group of undrafted rookie free agents the Eagles have ever signed.

When the most recent NFL Draft wrapped, across the board, Philadelphia Eagles fans were enjoying something they hadn’t felt in a while. They still haven’t come down from this mixture of hope and an adrenaline rush.

Something about landing Nakobe Dean in the third round when many would have taken him in the first sent shockwaves through this fan base and organization. Then, the hits kept coming with the undrafted free-agent rookie class.

If you need evidence of how much the Birds believe in Carson Strong, look no further than the amount of guaranteed money they gave him to sign on. A $320,000 bonus for a guy that didn’t hear his name called in seven rounds is a lot, but this guy might be worth it.

Injury questions aside, two things were obvious when Philly rolled the dice on another Carson. One, there was no way he was wearing the number 12 jersey. Second, this is someone that really could have gone in the mid-rounds. He’s that good.

Sorry Reid Sinnett! It isn’t looking good! There’s no way the Birds are cutting this guy, and there’s no way they’re stashing him on the practice squad so another team can swoop in (pun intended) and steal him. Keep an eye on him and the three guys that follow on this list.

So, no one else feels like Britain Covey and Devon Allen are battling each other for a roster spot?

The next time you’re hanging out with your buddies and you’re discussing Eagles football, pay close attention to how much time you spend discussing the wide receiver position. If you aren’t careful, that conversation could go on for an hour or more.

After all, 12 guys are competing for what figures to be six roster spots, and we know at least three of those 12 guys are making the roster: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Quez Watkins.

Speed alone does not a wide receiver make in the National Football League, but it’s certainly fun to talk about, and every time we take a trip to YouTube to check out some highlights of Britain Covey taking one to the house or we see Devon Allen light up the track in any meeting that he’s competing in, it’s hard not to think of that speed translating to the gridiron. Still, you can make arguments that support and refute claims that one of them can make the roster.

What if the Birds decided to carry two tight ends? What if they did something unconventional and carved out one roster spot that they’d use specifically to house a return ace. Again, it’s doubtful, but they most certainly need one.

In theory, that might be the only way Covey or Allen make the roster. They’re both currently staring up on the depth chart at Zach Pascal, Deon Cain, Jalen Reagor, Greg Ward, Josh Hammond, and John Hightower on the depth chart.

Kennedy Brooks brings an added dimension currently missing from the Eagles’ running game.

It’s been a long time since LeGarrette Blount ran around and, often, over the competition and into the hearts of Eagles fans forever. He wasn’t here long, 16 regular-season games and a three-game march to the Vince Lombardi Trophy during the postseason that followed, but his exit left a void that has yet to be filled long-term.

Everyone’s clamored for that workhorse that can chew up yards late if Philly is up on the scoreboard, that guy that can pound the ball between the tackles and provide value in the red zone and on third down. At times, they’ve had that. Jordan Howard comes to mind, but Howard has proven that he isn’t going to be able to give Philly a full 17 games because of his running style.

Kennedy Brooks enters 2022’s version of Eagles training camp with fresh legs and a skill set that distinguishes him from Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, and Kenneth Gainwell. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, in his draft profile of the former Oklahoma Sooners standout, gave him a grade of 6.11 and described him as a "good backup with the potential to develop into a starter”.

Finding Brooks in the pool of undrafted rookies has to qualify as a steal for the Eagles offense. We said that when Philly drafted Gainwell in Round 5 last year. We were right, and we’re more confident that Brooks will be able to do the same thing in his rookie campaign this season. He may find himself ahead of Jason Huntley as the fourth running back on Philadelphia’s depth chart in no time.

Josh Jobe could make a serious run at an Eagles roster spot… maybe.

During a season-long battle with turf toe in his final run at the collegiate level with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Josh Jobe proved he was a solid corner opposite Jalyn Armour-Davis who won the other starting outside cornerback job as the replacement for Patrick Surtain.

Before a late-season injury that required surgery, Jobe was Bama’s most talented corner. Philly landed him as one of a trio of intriguing young cornerbacks. Josh Blackwell (Duke Blue Devils) and Mario Goodrich are the other two. Don’t be shocked if it’s Goodrich that proves he’s the most prepared to prove he’s ready for the bright lights of the NFL.

Blackwell’s stat line wasn’t overly impressive. He broke up 20 passes during his four-year, 32-game college football career. He never intercepted a pass, but he’d provide tremendous value on special teams.

Goodrich was the teammate of a first-round draft choice in 2022, Andrew Booth Jr., but there were times during the season when Goodrich looked every bit the future NFL star that Booth was.

The Eagles’ situation at cornerback looks a lot like what’s happening at wide receiver. There are a ton of bodies (13). Three will, most certainly, make the roster (Darius Slay, James Bradberry, and Avonte Maddox), and that means ten guys are battling for what’s probably three jobs on the 53-man roster.

We can argue that Goodrich, Blackwell, and Jobe have to pass the likes of Tay Gowan, Craig James, Mac McCain III, Zech McPhearson, Jimmy Moreland, Josiah Scott, and Kary Vincent Jr. on the depth chart to have legitimate shots at roster spots, but we can also argue that we aren’t sure that the UDFA rookies aren’t already as good as those guys are. It should be an intriguing battle at camp.

Noah Elliss looks like someone threw an Eagles jersey on a tree.

Nothing says ‘nose tackle in a 3-4 defensive scheme’ like six-foot-four and 346 pounds. Defensive linemen are going to be sick of trying to move Noah Elliss off of the line of scrimmage by the time the fourth quarter arrives, but they may not have to.

Once we reach September and we’re discussing who should be left off of the Eagles’ 53-man roster, Elliss figures to fall victim to the numbers game.

Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, Jordan Davis, and Milton Williams will all make the roster, and even though Cox and Hargrave aren’t signed past the coming season, the Birds have some young guys hanging out on the roster who are worthy of a conversation: Marvin Wilson, Renell Wren, and the first of Philly’s trio of sixth-round draft choices in 2021, Marlon Tuipulotu.

Perhaps the Eagles will rely on a mix of multiple fronts during the 2022 season seeing as how Cox and Williams’ presence makes more sense in the traditional 4-3 defensive alignment. We’ll have to wait and see what happens, but before we get there, it should be fun to see how some of the young guys develop. Keep an eye on Noah Elliss even though he has a tough hill to climb to make Philadelphia’s 53-man roster.

https://insidetheiggles.com/2022/06/25/undrafted-eagles-rookies-roster-spots/

[EaglesAddict]

No mention of Reed Blankenship?  Article discredited! 

If we are to assume no injuries, the clearest paths for any UDFA to make the 53 are Strong, Blankenship and Brooks.  Covey will stand a chance IF we keep 6 WRs AND we either trade Reagor or decide to keep Covey over Greg Ward.  We definitely need a spark in the return game.

[KDUB1510]

I think Strong, Brooks & Elliss all make it. I like Blankenship and could see him making it over Chachere. Would like to see Covey make it but i dont think he will unless Reagor is traded. Unless Jimmy Moreland is awful, i dont see Jobe or Goodrich making the team. I expect the CB's to be Slay, Bradberry, Maddox, Mcphearson & Gowan/Moreland. Preseason should be fun 

[UK_EaglesFan89]

I'm not sure any of the young WRs are going to make it... Unless I guess they find a trade partner for Reagor and they decide to move away from Ward who is a steady veteran presence.

[Rob331]

I agree there is alot of room for UFA's. there are several more than are mentioned.  

• WR - Covey has to battle Devon Allen. Either could make the squad.
• G - if Seumalo is traded or cut Kayode Awisoka has a shot at the roster. Grandter he was an UFA last year but he's still an UFA. 
• T - long shot. If Andre Dillard is traded then UFA Jarrid Williams could stick. 
• CB - Goodrich might be the favorite, but Alabama's Josh Jobe could shine also. 

 

[UK_EaglesFan89]

I think the UDFA guys with the best chance are the corners. Although we added Bradberry we are still thin in terms of depth (I know that's true of most teams). We also don't have any long term options right now so one of the young guys is going to have a great opportunity.