Well this came out of nowhere! Just as Reuben Randle’s introductory Press Conference was about to get underway, the Eagles announced that they have signed Fullback Ryan Mueller.
#Eagles sign FB Ryan Mueller, a former linebacker for the Chargers.
Welcome to Philly, @R_Mueller44! pic.twitter.com/6OXb2GvpZ9
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) April 1, 2016
The former Chargers Linebacker has signed a two-year deal with the Eagles and will interestingly play in a Fullback role, a position that many expected Pederson to be utilising in 2016 after his success with the Chiefs.
After excelling in his Junior season for Kansas State and becoming “Big 12 Defensive Lineman Of The Year”, Mueller’s form seemed to drop. Whilst still achieving 6.5 sacks, it was nowhere near the 11.5 he mustered up in the year before.
Mueller broke out as a star in his junior season, notching 11.5 sacks on the way to earning the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year honor, a first team All-Big 12 nod, and second team All-American recognition from Sports Illustrated. Prospects were high, but his senior season wasn’t as phenomenal. He repeated as first team All-Big 12, but defenses were onto him in 2015. Mueller repeatedly faced double-teams throughout the season, and as a result didn’t put up the numbers he had as a junior, although he did still manage 6.5 sacks.
It’s a mini reunion for the 24 year old however who will reunite with former Kansas State players Darren Sproles and Randall Evans.
The 6″2, 245 pounder went undrafted before signing with the Chargers last year. Despite being cut after copious amounts of time on the Practice squad, the relentless motor of Mueller meant his NFL journey was not to be over just yet and he transitioned to fullback. A 4.85 40-yard dash isn’t incredible..but his ability to burst through the trenches as he did as a Linebacker will be valuable here.
Whoever made the Wikipedia entry for the Eagles newest addition has left an interesting remark however, claiming “As the newest member of the Philadelphia Eagles, he has already deemed himself more valuable than Marcus Smith”.
Welcome to Philly!
