2 Eagles with reason to worry following Jaquiski Tartt acquisition

Jared Mayden is talented but all roads may lead to the Eagles scout team.

Long seen as one of the NFL’s best farm systems, the Alabama Crimson Tide is, more often than not, an area where pro football teams and their respective G.M.s have looked to add young talent to their wheelhouse. Philly arrived at the party late.

For whatever reason, prior to drafting wide receiver DeVonta Smith and interior offensive lineman Landon Dickerson a year ago in Round 1 and Round 2 respectively, it had been nearly 20 years since they had drafted a member of The Tide. That was Freddie Milons, the 162nd selection of the 2002 NFL Draft.

Talk about droughts huh?

Philly must have liked what they saw with Smith and Dickerson as they added fellow Bama alum, safety Jared Mayden, to their practice squad on October 26th of 2021 before adding undrafted rookie Josh Jobe shortly after the selection meeting this offseason.

Mayden appeared in four games for the Eagles in 2021, registering six tackles. He signed a future/reserve contract on January 18th. The problem he has is this.

The Eagles are expecting to carry about four or five safeties on the 53-man roster. Often, in the past, we’ve seen them keep a fifth guy around to provide assistance on special teams (Rudy Ford, Chris Maragos), but even if they did so this year, one would have to believe that Mayden is behind Anthony Harris, Marcus Epps, Andre Chachere, K’Von Wallace, and now Jaquiski Tartt on the depth chart.

Things can change between now and September, but that’s where things seemingly stand right now. Mayden can be effective if needed, but from the outside looking in, it appears that all roads lead to the practice squad for the former Alabama star.