One of the more interesting aspects of NFL Draft weekend is the period immediately after the 7th round ends. Once the draft ends, teams can start officially signing players who went undrafted. The list of Eagles’ 2020 undrafted free agents came together surprisingly quickly this year.
Many of these deals are actually negotiated during the draft, usually in the last couple of rounds, when teams start reaching out and expressing interest in a player in the event he goes undrafted. These reports usually start to trickle in immediately after the draft ends.
There are a bunch of rapid-fire Tweets from reporters, agents, and some players themselves. It typically takes a couple of days before the dust settles and the official signings are known. Brandon Lee Gowton of Bleeding Green Nation runs an undrafted free agent signings tracker every year and keeps a running tab. It’s a good link to bookmark most years.
This year, of course, was very different from previous ones. And not just because the Eagles drafted a backup quarterback in the 2nd round. The draft was entirely remote, as was most of the pre-draft interview process (BLG also runs a pre-draft visits tracker that is also a good resource). This year, the Eagles’ official Twitter account posted a list of the 12 players the team officially signed shortly after the draft ended:
And here is the list in text form. The group of a dozen players includes two runnings backs, a tight end, a center, three cornerbacks, a safety, and a linebacker.
- Noah Togiai, TE, Oregon State
- Luke Juriga, C, Western Michigan
- Michael Warren, RB, Cincinnati
- Adrian Killins, RB, UCF
- Michael Jacquet, CB, Louisiana
- Grayland Arnold, CB, Baylor
- Prince Smith, CB, New Hampshire
- Manasseh Bailey, WR, Morgan State
- Julian Good-Jones, OG, Iowa State
- Raequan Williams, DT, Michigan State
- Dante Olson, LB, Montana
- Elijah Riley, S, Army
Update: On Sunday, the team agreed to terms with Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate, who is transitioning to wide receiver.
Some quick notes on the Eagles’ 2020 undrafted free agents
In the coming weeks, we’ll take deeper dives into the above 12 players and the 10 players the Eagles actually drafted. It’s also very possible that the team adds new UDFAs or replaces any of these players with other UDFAs or veterans. For now, here are some quick notes on the above, their fits, and their chances of making the final roster.
- The Eagles did not draft any traditional cornerbacks during the 2020 NFL Draft. It is no secret that they need help at the position, even after acquiring Darius Slay this offseason. The three UDFAs they signed are entering a good situation in terms of their chances of making an NFL roster.
- As for measurables, Michael Jacquet is 6’2″, Grayland Arnold is 5’9″, and Prince Smith is 5’10”. Oh, and Arnold was not thrilled about going undrafted:
- Similarly to the cornerbacks, the UDFA running backs who chose to sign with the Eagles find themselves in a good situation. Outside of Miles Sanders and Boston Scott, they only have Elijah Holifield on the roster. Of the two UDFA RBs here, Warren is the more powerful back and has the better odds of cracking the final roster.
- News of tight end Noah Togiai’s signing came out minutes after the draft ended. He is clearly someone the team was aggressive in targeting and had an agreement with before the draft completed. He reportedly got $100,000 guaranteed from the Eagles.
- An important note from the new CBA that was signed this offseason:
- “Two practice-squad players per week may be elevated to the team’s roster, meaning game-week roster sizes could effectively increase from 53 to 55. And a player elevated from the practice squad to the 55-man roster could be sent back to the practice squad two times without having to clear waivers.”
- According to multiple reports, center Luke Jurig’s UDFA contract with the Eagles included $116,000 total guaranteed, including $100,000 base salary guaranteed, $16,000 signing bonus. That’s notable because it means 1. The Eagles wanted him enough to guarantee that kind of money and 2. He likely had multiple suitors.
- The Eagles drafted three wide receivers in the NFL Draft and acquired wide receiver Marquise Goodwin via trade. Even with the potential departure of wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, the odds are stacked against UDFA WR Manasseh Bailey.
- Iowa State lineman Julian Good-Jones is listed as an offensive guard in the team’s announcement, but he also started at both tackle spots and center in college. That versatility is something the team has valued in recent years.
Pingback: An early look at all 90 players on the Eagles roster