The NFL Draft is behind us and the Eagles have a plethora of shiny new players, but which UDFA’s should they target?
Quarterbacks
– Jamie Newman, Wake Forest
– Feleipe Franks, Arkansas
Brady White, Memphis
Zac Thomas, Appalachian State
In terms of caliber of player, there isn’t much separating each player here. Newman probably offers the most polished prospect of the group, but the redemption story of Feleipe Franks and his impressive campaign with Arkansas might be too zesty to pass up on.
Brady White quarterbacked for Eagles draftee Kenneth Gainwell so that could well be a logical selection, while Zac Thomas has been linked to the Eagles for a little while. A little more erratic in his play, he fits the mold of a tall QB who can make things happen outside of the pocket if needed but lacks the zip on his short passes to force them into tight windows.
Wide receiver
Tamorrion Terry, FSU
Austin Watkins Jr., UAB
Trevon Grimes, Florida
Tamorrion Terry going undrafted is a huge shock and the Eagles should be taking a close look here to see if his health is what caused the drop in stock after an injury forced him to cut his 2020 campaign short after opting against entering the NFL Draft. At 6’3, 207 lbs, he’s scary athletic and would fit the mold of a typical X-receiver to battle with Travis Fulgham.
Austin Watkins can play both Z and X spots. He has great speed, and his route running is fantastic for a prospect down this far in the draft. Over 21 games in both the 2019 and 2020 season, Watkins caught 90 receptions for 1,558 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Trevon Grimes could be another big snag here. He fits the mold of being super-athletic for his size. He does lack the polish to his route-running but is as physical as they come and could offer some special teams upside at a minimum, while offering up a ceiling of becoming a rotational possession receiver.
Tight End
Pro Wells, TCU
Wells is a two-year starter for TCU and will have familiarity with Jalen Reagor as a result. He averaged 15 yards per catch, with an average of 5.5 coming after the catch. He’s a red zone weapon at 6’4, 250 lbs, and could be a developmental option behind Ertz and Goedert.
Offensive line
Drake Jackson, Kentucky
Adrian Ealy, Oklahoma
Jackson was always an intriguing prospect as a potential Jason Kelce replacement, but now Dickerson’s in the fold, he can develop without pressure.
Ealy allowed only three sacks on 421 pass plays last year according to PFF and has the prototypical size for a tackle. He also has experience with Jalen Hurts and executing a similar kind of blocking scheme.
Linebacker
Dylan Moses, Alabama
Once a projected third-round pick, Dylan Moses went undrafted. A torn meniscus may well have plummeted his stock, but now there’s no reason to bring him in since the team already made significant investments at the position.
Cornerback
DJ Daniel, Georgia
I love Daniel’s game and didn’t think he’d slip through the cracks at all. He’s a nickel corner, but if Maddox is on the way out, the Eagles could line up a physical and scrappy DB behind McPhearson who has special teams upside.
Safety
Trill Williams, Syracuse
Ar’darius Washington, TCU
A pair of big names end up hitting the UDFA market. Williams has already signed with the Saints meaning the Eagles should waste no time in chasing down TCU’s Ar’darius Washington who had 5 picks in 2019.
Photo by Logan Stanford/Icon Sportswire
