It wasn’t what we expected, but it was an interesting three days. The Philadelphia Eagles‘ final two selections on Saturday were very intriguing. They add linebacker Kyron Johnson and tight end Grant Calcaterra with the 181st and 198th-overall selections respectively.
Calcaterra began his NCAA career with the Oklahoma Sooners in 2017, where he became a teammate of Philly’s QB1, Jalen Hurts, in 2019. Unfortunate issues with concussions led him to early retirement in 2019, and he spent the 2020 season preparing to become a firefighter.
Somewhere along that line, he determined that he wasn’t quite finished playing the game he loves. He transferred to SMU for the 2021 season. He showed he still had it to the tune of 38 receptions for 465 yards and four touchdowns. One 4.62-second 40-yard dash and 20 reps on the bench press later, here we are.
Calcaterra is a Philadelphia Eagle. If the health concerns are behind him, Philly may have found a ‘Robin’ for Dallas Goedert’s version of ‘Batman’.
Expect Grant Calcaterra to make this Eagles team and contribute immediately.
It’s known among draft pundits and scouting circles that, had Calcaterra enjoyed a career that was free of the head injuries, he may have graded out as a second-rounder. Philly’s ability to land him in Round 6 has to be thrown in the category of being a ‘steal’, just like Nakobe Dean’s selection was on night two of 2022’s NFL Draft and Kenneth Gainwell’s selection was viewed during the fifth round of 2021.
Expect this young man to make this team. Expect him to contribute immediately. The Birds have a gamer here.
It’s hard to imagine the Philadelphia Eagles walking away from the 2022 NFL Draft feeling like everything went according to plan. They didn’t select a single cornerback or a safety. One of the prospects that they were constantly linked to during most of the months of March and April as a possible first-round addition fell to them in Round 3., and just in case you haven’t heard, A.J. Brown is on the team now as well.
We’ve been given a lot to talk about between now and the next NFL regular season. Throw Calcaterra’s addition in that category. More stories will come. It’s going to be a great spring and summer chock full of Eagles-related discussions. One of which is the following.
Sparks are going to fly on this Eagles offense all season. Grant Calcaterra figures to be a part of the fireworks show.