Every year, the Philadelphia Eagles prove the same thing. Draft status doesn’t guarantee anything, and its absence doesn’t eliminate opportunity. This organization has built a reputation for finding contributors in unexpected places.
Names like Corey Clement, T.J. Edwards, and Reed Blankenship all began their journeys as undrafted free agents before carving out meaningful roles. It’s part of the culture in Philadelphia. If you can play, you’ll get your shot. This year’s UDFA class is no different. The same rules apply. While several newcomers will compete for roster spots, three names stand out as legitimate candidates to push their way onto the 53-man roster. Write their names down. Place asterisks beside them. This won’t be the last time they are mentioned.
Deontae Lawson, linebacker, Alabama Crimson Tide
This one might not grab headlines, but it matters. Philadelphia currently lacks a clear answer at long snapper, and that opens the door for Underwood in a big way. Sure, there’s a fun connection to Howie Roseman’s Florida ties, but this is about opportunity more than anything else. If Underwood proves reliable and consistent, he won’t just compete. He could win the job outright. Lawson arrives with one thing you can’t teach. He offers production at one of college football’s greatest programs as part of the NCAA’s most competitive conferences. A three-year starter at Alabama, he built a reputation as a tackling machine, consistently finding his way to the football. He led by example as a team captain. His instincts and physicality jump off the tape, and those traits translate well to the next level. The concern is durability. That’s his krypotinite. Injuries have slowed him at times, and that will be the biggest hurdle he needs to clear, but if he can stay on the field, Lawson has the kind of motor and leadership that defensive coordinators trust.
Rocco Underwood, long snapper, Florida Gators
Howie Roseman once joked while drafting Nolan Smith that it broke his heart to draft so many Georgia Bulldogs. Maybe this will help. Here’s a long snapper from Roseman’s alma mater, the Florida Gators. We’re teasing, of course. It will take more than old stomping grounds to convince the Eagles that he belongs, but it is worth mentioning the fact that Philadelphia doesn’t have a single long snapper on its roster.
Dae’Quan Wright, tight end, Ole Miss Rebels
Dae’Quan Wright might be the most intriguing name on this list. Given his production and athletic profile, many expected him to hear his name called during the NFL draft. Instead, he lands in a situation where the path to a roster spot isn’t just realistic. It’s wide open. Behind Dallas Goedert and Eli Stowers, there’s no clear pecking order. That leaves Wright competing with a group that hasn’t fully separated itself, and that’s where he thrives. If Wright brings his playmaking ability and consistency into camp, it won’t take long for him to turn heads. In Philadelphia, the opportunity is always there. One only needs to reach out to take it, and in the spirit of Rocky Balboa, all one has to do is show up and keep swinging.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: 3 undrafted free agents who could make the Eagles’ 53-man roster