It’s been a busy day for the Eagles, who not only bolstered their linebacker corps with the signing of Zach Brown, but have now brought a familiar face back into the fold. Former Rams Safety, Blake Countess, has been claimed by the team that drafted him.
The Rams had reportedly asked the former sixth-round pick to take a paycut, with the two sides unable to come to an agreement, ultimately leading to his cutting. None of his $2M salary was guaranteed, so the team simply cut him and let him ride the waiver wire.
Howie Roseman came to the rescue however and brought Countess back home. After all, he was drafted in the 6th round by the Eagles in 2015. After clattering Zach Ertz that offseason and sending every Eagles fan into a state of panic, Countess was unable to outshine Jaylen Watkins, who stole the show during preseason.
Since being snatched up by the Rams after the Eagles let him go amidst roster cuts, he’s carved out a nice career. He’s played in 37 games and even intercepted two passes as a backup safety. He led the team in special teams tackles in back-to-back years and has 44 defensive stops to his name. Last season, he also started to return kickoffs, averaging 24.6 yards per return.
At the very least, Countess, at 25-years old, has the chance to come in and compete with Tre Sullivan to become the team’s fourth Safety. While his tackling is still sporadic, his homing-missile tendencies could greatly benefit Dave Fipp’s special teams unit, giving him a huge boost going into camp.
Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
