With little fanfare, an undrafted rookie signing quietly ushered in another intriguing rookie to Philadelphia, one who will be in the mix for backup guard duties for the Eagles.
General Manager Howie Roseman beat several suitors to the punch following this year's draft, landing Alabama guard Jaeden Roberts. And while the day two and day three selections of Markel Bell and Micah Morris were lauded by fans and analysts alike, the Bama lineman, along with college teammate and fellow UDFA addition Deontae Lawson, is poised to show he belongs in the mix moving forward, regardless of draft status.
Ryan Fowler of NBC Sports Philadelphia shed light on the buzz surrounding Roberts immediately after the seventh and final round of draft action concluded.
"A handful of teams pushed to sign Alabama OL Jaeden Roberts, source said. In the end, the Eagles land him to come in and compete as a UDFA. Powerful player at 6'5", 327 that could open some eyes starting in rookie minicamp."
Untapped Upside out of Mobile
Roberts arrives with plenty of pro-ready size and strength, known for his ability to overpower defenders in the ground game. His stature leaves him a bit limited mobility-wise, where at times, he can get beaten in the passing phase.
Improvement will be key to his long-term development. It's worth noting that he also has experience at right tackle as well, though the bulk of his work has come on the interior.
With three starters fresh off injury-plagued campaigns, trench depth is even more essential
The health issues of the starting five up front have been well chronicled here, making depth this coming season even more crucial. Fred Johnson is back at that invaluable swing tackle spot, while Bell joins him at backup tackle.
With Drew Kendall entering a pivotal second season, the second-year man out of Boston College joins Willie Lampkin in the mix at both backup guard and center. Top backup guard duties will likely hinge on the pace of Morris's development. Consistency has been an issue at times for the Georgia Bulldog, leaving a window cracked for a talent like Roberts to solidify his standing.
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If Roberts makes strides in pass-pro, he could absolutely stick on the long-term depth chart, making him a name well worth monitoring.
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