The Philadelphia Eagles may have landed a UDFA gem.
The Philadelphia Eagles knocked it out of the park on offense in the NFL Draft, adding weapons like wide receiver Makai Lemon and tight end Eli Stowers to bolster a passing attack that was in serious need of a boost.
Remember: the Eagles will almost certainly be moving A.J. Brown at some point this offseason (why else would they trade for Dontayvion Wicks and then draft Lemon?), so they needed to get some more help for DeVonta Smith in the receiving corps.
But what about the defense?
Philadelphia didn't add a defensive player until Round 7, when it selected Texas Tech safety Cole Wisniewski at No. 244. It then used picks 251 and 252 on international defensive tackle Uar Bernard and New Mexico linebacker Keyshawn James-Newby.
But perhaps the most interesting defensive addition for the Eagles came after the draft, when they landed Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson as a UDFA.
In fact, Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox has named Lawson the most likely UDFA to make the roster.
Deontae Lawson. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images."At 6'2" and 228 pounds, Lawson is a bit undersized, but his athleticism and coverage ability could earn him an early rotational role on defense and special teams," Knox wrote. "This past season, he recorded 89 combined tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and four passes defended."
Lawson started his collegiate career at Alabama in 2021 and spent his entire NCAA tenure with the Crimson Tide, developing a pivotal role with the squad as soon as his second season when he logged 51 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and four passes defended.
The 23-year-old never really lit up the stat sheet in Tuscaloosa, but he was a well-rounded player capable of defending against the run and the pass.
Lawson also tested fairly well at the Scouting Combine, finishing ninth among all linebackers in NFL.com's total score.
Remember: the Eagles found themselves needing some help defensively last year, so it would not be surprising if Lawson did, in fact, find his way on to the roster and carve out a role in Philly.
And let's be honest: if anyone can unearth a gem that no one else saw, it's Eagles general manager Howie Roseman.
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