The Eagles have added 23 draft picks this offseason.
Draft picks they didn’t draft.
One of Howie Roseman’s go-to moves this offseason has been to stock up on former draft picks – a lot of them pretty high draft picks – most of whom didn’t work out with their original team or found themselves out of work.
Including six 1st-round picks and 15 in the first three rounds.
Now, a few of them were big-ticket free agents. Saquon Barkley got a huge contract, Devin White has been a Pro Bowler, C.J. Gardner-Johnson was just here two years ago. Everybody knows those guys. But most of these are players trying to revive their careers, who were once considered good enough to be drafted on Day 1 or Day 2 but didn’t have the career they hoped for.
Roseman and Nick Sirianni have emphasized that they want increased competition at training camp and what better way to generate that than by bringing in a ton of guys who were once considered top prospects and are trying to revive their careers?
Most of these are no-risk, high-reward signings.
They didn’t cost anything, there’s little or no guaranteed money and there’s no cap liability if they don’t work out. But the Eagles got a bunch of guys at every position who at some point were pretty highly regarded.
All these acquisitions have something in their history – whether it’s past production, physical traits or a stellar college career – that says maybe they can help. The Eagles knew there wouldn’t be a particularly deep class of undrafted rookies this year, so they stocked up on players who aren’t drafted or rookies.
We’ll see what happens. Most of these guys are roster longshots. Several will never play in the league again. But once again, this is Roseman being creative when it comes to roster management.
Let’s take a look:
1st round
QB Kenny Pickett [Acquired from the Steelers March 16]: The Steelers gave up on the 20th player in the draft after just two seasons and a 14-10 record in 24 career starts. As of now, he’s Jalen Hurts’ backup.
LB Devin White [Signed to one-year contract, March 18]: White signed with the Eagles as a free agent after five up-and-down years in Tampa. White made the Pro Bowl in 2021 but overall had a disappointing run in Tampa as the fifth overall pick in 2019.
RB Saquon Barkley [Signed to three-year contract, March 13]: The Eagles’ biggest move of the offseason, Barkley was the second pick in 2018. He’s the eighth first or second overall pick the Eagles have signed as a free agent since 1970 (Irving Fryar, Michael Vick, Ronnie Brown, Chris Long, Ndamukong Suh, Sam Bradford, Marcus Mariota).
WR DeVante Parker [Signed to one-year contract, March 14]: The Dolphins made Parker the 14th pick in the 2015 draft but despite a 1,200-yard season in 2019 he averaged only 629 yards in nine NFL seasons, the last two with the Patriots. As of now, he’s the likely WR3 going into camp.
OL Mekhi Becton [Signed to one-year contract, April 29]: After the Jets didn’t try to re-sign the 11th pick in the 2020 draft when he hit free agency, the Eagles snapped him up on a one-year deal to back up both tackle spots.
WR John Ross [Tryout player in rookie camp, April 28]: Ross was the ninth player taken in the 2017 draft but had only 62 catches for 957 yards and 11 TDs in parts of five seasons before retiring. The Eagles brought him in last week as a tryout player but so far haven’t signed him.
2nd round
WR Parris Campbell [Signed to one-year contract, March 21]: Campbell was the 59th player taken in 2019 but he managed only 1,087 yards in four seasons with the Colts and Giants. His 9.3 career average is 5th-lowest in NFL history among wide receivers with at least 100 receptions.
3rd round
OL Le’Raven Clark [Signed to futures contract, Jan. 22]: Clark was the 82ndplayer taken in the 2016 draft and the 15th offensive lineman, three picks after Isaac Seumalo. He spent five years with…
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