Analyzing the Eagles' reported 2022 undrafted free agent class

During the 2022 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles made five draft picks. After it was over, they reportedly added an additional 11 undrafted free agents. As a disclaimer, while reports of UDFA signings are usually correct, there are occasions in which a player is initially reported to have signed with one team, but instead they end up with another. 

The chart below shows a snapshot of the Eagles' reported signings, and their rankings/grades via Dane Brugler of The Athletic and Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. We'll update this if/when more reported signings trickle in.

Because the 2020 college football season wasn't played in full, many prospects chose to stay in school for another year in 2021, when they otherwise might have declared for the draft. As such, the 2021 NFL Draft was a little more watered down than usual, both in terms of players who got drafted on Day 3, and ones that will became undrafted signees. In other words, the undrafted free agent class that year wasn't very intriguing.

This year, because so many players stayed in school an extra year, the undrafted free agency phase of the 2022 draft is thought to be loaded with draftable players, and the Eagles (reportedly) found some noteworthy additions. (H/t to Brandon Gowton of BGN for tracking down all these signing reports.)

Josh Jobe, CB, Alabama (6'0, 182)

Jobe is a rather well-known corner from a major program who was being projected as a possible Day 2 pick after a strong junior season in 2020 when he had 55 tackles, 11 pass breakups, and 2 forced fumbles. However, a down season in 2021, partly due to injuries, hurt his draft stock. A look: 

Jobe has good length, with 32 5/8" arms, and he is a physical tackler.

It's interesting that Zierlein guessed that Jobe could move to safety.

Jobe looks the part as a well-built, long-armed perimeter cornerback, but a disappointing senior season ended up leaving scouts with more questions than answers. Jobe's tight hips and below-average pattern-matching attributes limit his chances for success in press man. Below-average instincts might keep him from becoming a playmaker in zone. He's likely to be pegged as a Cover 2 cornerback, but a move to safety might give Jobe his best chance for future success.

That would make sense, seeing as the Eagles signed two other undrafted corners.

Update: My understanding is that Jobe will play CB for the Eagles.

Carson Strong, QB, Nevada (6'3, 226)

In Strong's three years as Nevada's starting quarterback, he posted the following numbers:

As you can see, he completed over 70 percent of his passes both in 2020 and 2021.

Strong has good height, a compact delivery, decent arm strength, good accuracy in the short-to-intermediate areas of the field, and he can decisively get the ball out quickly. A highlight reel:

On the downside, he's not a factor as a runner, and he has potential long-term knee issues, as described by nevadesportsnet.com:

Carson Strong missed his senior season of high school in 2017 after knee surgery when an MRI revealed an osteochondritis dissecans lesion and resulted in eight biodegradable nails being inserted to mend a crack in his lateral femoral condyle bone.

I understood a few of those words. More recently, there was concern over whether Strong would be ready for the start of the 2021 season:

In January, Strong had surgery on the same knee to clean up cartilage after he felt some uneasiness in the knee during his breakout 2020 season. Prior to the start of fall camp this month, Strong has an arthroscopy to clear out scar tissue in the knee. Strong was a full participant in Nevada's first fall camp practice Aug. 6, although his knee was bleeding heavily after the session. Strong has since had to have the knee drained a couple of times and has been limited to watching practice from a golf cart in recent sessions.

😬.

Strong's injury history is no doubt the reason he did not get drafted. He'll have a chance to compete for the No. 3 quarterback job with Reid Sinnett.

E.J. Perry, QB, Brown (6'2, 211)

Perry is an athletic quarterback who ran a 4.65 40, with other impressive athletic measurables.

At Brown in 2021, he threw for 23 TDs vs. 14 INTs, and rushed for 402 yards and 7 TDs. A lack of quality arm strength will limit Perry's ceiling in the NFL, but he's a guy who can perhaps execute Nick Sirianni's RPO concepts.

UPDATE: Perry is headed to Jacksonville instead:

A new addition to the Frank Gore Hall of Fame! But seriously, there's no surprise here. Strong and Perry were considered the two best undrafted free agent quarterbacks, so it was odd that they had both signed with the Eagles.

Mario Goodrich, CB, Clemson (6'0, 176)

Like Jobe above, Goodrich comes from a major college football program. He did not get much playing time early in his Clemson career, sitting behind a number of corners who are now in the NFL. As a senior in 2021, Goodrich had 42 tackles, 2 INTs (including a pick 6), 9 pass breakups, and a forced fumble.

Goodrich is thought of as a tough tackler who could be a decent enough fit in a zone scheme. He likely didn't get drafted because he ran a 4.52 at 176 pounds. 

Noah Elliss, DT, Idaho (6'4, 346)

At 6'4, 346, Elliss projects as a lane-clogging run stuffer (duh). From Zierlein: 

Imposing space-eater with flashes of physical dominance against a level of competition that hasn't fully tested him. Elliss was a heralded prospect out of high school and began his career at Mississippi State before transferring to Idaho, where his dad (former Detroit Lion Luther Elliss) coached him up on the defensive line. He has the physical tools and power to make a living as a two-gapping, odd-front nose guard but will need to improve his technique and footwork to become a true tree stump in the middle against the run. Ellis has Day 3 potential with starting upside, but weight management will be very important for him.

This is an interesting signing, after the Eagles already added Jordan Davis in the first round.

Josh Sills, OG, Oklahoma State (6'6, 322)

Sills has been a starter since 2017, initially with West Virginia before transferring to Oklahoma State. While he mostly played guard in college (both at LG and RG), it's easy to see why the Eagles had interest, from Brugler:

Sills is one of the few players in this draft class with college starting experience at all five offensive line spots, but he must play with better control to counterbalance his aggression.

The Eagles love them some OL versatility. Sills is thought of as a physical, body-moving run blocker who need work in pass pro. 

Bill Dunkle, OG, San Diego State (6'5, 328)

We'll let Zierlein do the heavy lifting here: 

Aggressive guard with broad, powerful frame but limited upside. Dunkle lacks the desired range as a run blocker and in his pass sets. He has decent knock-back pop in the early stages of the block but struggles to close the distance and consistently stay connected as a man blocker. Pass protection might be a bigger concern due to imbalance when asked to mirror counters and control the air space from gap to gap. Athletic opponents will cause him to struggle, but his size, strength and toughness give him a shot to find future starting reps even though his grade and tape is more in line with a backup role.

Kennedy Brooks, RB, Oklahoma (5'11, 209)

In his three years at Oklahoma, Brooks had an excellent yards per carry average.

Brooks doesn't have great speed or any obviously elite traits, but he has good vision, runs with patience, and when there are yards he should get, he gets them.

Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah (5'8, 169)

Covey is a small slot receiver who originally enrolled at Utah in 2015(!). He played in 2015, did missionary work for two years, and then returned to the field in 2018. In 47 career games, Covey had 184 catches for 2011 yards and 11 TDs. However, his real appeal is as a returner. He had 5 career punt/kick return TDs, including 3 in 2021.

Obviously, the Eagles' return game has not been good.

Josh Blackwell, CB, Duke (5'11, 183) 

Blackwell had 0 career INTs at Duke, but a 4.34 40 at Duke's pro day was certain to get him a look in someone's camp. From Zierlein:

Press-man cornerback with excellent speed and short-area quickness, but a lack of desired ball skills and instincts. At this point, Blackwell is a better athlete than cover corner and he lacks desired size for the perimeter. He will need to level up the technique and get tougher against the run before he is ready to play slot corner in the NFL. Speed and explosiveness will be intriguing, but his tape just isn't there yet.

Reed Blankenship, S, Middle Tennessee State (6'1, 203)

Blankenship is a player that we profiled in each of the last two seasons, so he's a guy from a small school who has been on our radar for a while. He played five seasons at MTSU. His first three were highlighted by his takeaway numbers (8 INTs), while his last two were noteworthy for his high number of tackles (186 of them in 22 games).

In 2021, Blankenship compiled 110 tackles (10 for loss), a sack, an INT, 8 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 recoveries, one of which he returned for a score.

He's an active safety who can cover a lot of ground. A look:

The Eagles have some obvious needs at safety, and Blankenship felt to me like a late-round type of player who can contribute immediately on special teams and grow into a role in the regular defense. And yet, he's probably the lowest rated player among the Eagles' undrafted free agent class. Sleeper.

Ali Fayad, EDGE, Western Michigan (6'2, 248)

Fayad is undersized and he isn't athletically gifted (4.88 40 at WMU's pro day), but he had a very productive final season, collecting 12 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. Over his collegiate career, he had 28.5 sacks and 8 forced fumbles.

Jarrid Williams, OT, Miami (6'6, 323)

Tommy watched him and seems to think he's a player worth developing.

Williams began his career at Houston and then transferred to Miami. He started at RT for both schools. Williams is an agile, athletic blocker. He ran 5.16 in the 40 and had a vertical of 31 inches. That shows up on tape, not just workouts. The Eagles aren’t set at RT behind Lane Johnson. Williams has a chance to earn a roster spot if he plays well. He could also be a good developmental prospect, spending 2022 on the practice squad and then competing for a spot in 2023. Williams must learn to use his hands more consistently. His pad level can also be an issue at times. He has good tools to work with, but definitely needs work.

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