Does Tyler Orlosky have any shot of making the Eagles roster?
Can Tyler Orlosky complete the long journey from being an undrafted free agent to become a member of the Philadelphia Eagles?
There’s no other explanation. Someone in the Philadelphia Eagles scouting department has some serious ties to the West Virginia Mountaineers. It’s either that or the team’s brass just sits around and watches this team play on Saturdays. They’ve dipped into the Mountaineers program on several occasions over the last two off-seasons in an attempt to strengthen the roster. Last season it was running back Wendell Smallwood. This past April, they added cornerback Rasul Douglas and wide receiver Shelton Gibson via the draft. Then, they picked up Tyler Orlosky as an undrafted free agent.
Orlosky is six-foot-four and weighs it at around 290 pounds. The Eagles were intent on adding depth to their interior along the offensive line. The 2016 season was one where many believe current starting center Jason Kelce got pushed around a tad too often. For that reason, Orlosky’s addition, even as an undrafted free agent, was one that immediately caught the attention of every Eagles fan.
Orlosky’s draft profile:
The big guy was named second-team All-Big 12 as a junior and first-team all-conference as a senior. NFL.com had this to say in his draft profile:
"Weight-room strong with good thickness through chest and arms. Field demeanor fueled by mean streak. Plays with desired body control and very little wasted motion. Works to maintain balance through contact….Consistent hand placement as run blocker looking to carry defender out of the gap with low, cradling motion. Hands like powerful clamps that latch and allow for longer sustainment of blocks. Has redirect power to push pass rushers off their track to the quarterback"
Some of the negatives include the theory that he may struggle with the speed of the NFL game as he lacks some athleticism. That leads to concerns about how he may finish blocks and if he may struggle with defensive line stunts. He isn’t a finished product by any means, but he has tremendous upside.
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Realistic expectations:
The Eagles haven’t had this much talent along the offensive line in a while. The starters may have already been figured out, barring any injury. The popular choices are Jason Peters, Allen Barbre, Jason Kelce, Brandon Brooks and Lane Johnson. Conventional thinking would lead you to believe Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Matt Tobin, Stefen Wisniewski and Isaac Seumalo are safe. Could Orlosky fall victim to the numbers game?
With so many versatile guys on the roster and the fact that it’s going to be hard to get all of these guys reps, the best case scenario for Mr. Orlosky might be the practice squad unless there’s an unexpected injury. Its unfortunate for him, but it’s also the nature of the NFL. We’ll all have to wait and find out together.