Former Eagles draft picks recently cut by other NFL teams
Well, we call it an 'inexact science' and a 'crap shoot' for a reason. Every year, we spend months preparing for the NFL Draft. We do so like we are invited to the Philadelphia Eagles draft war room and like we're charged with assisting vice president/general manager Howie Roseman with selecting players. To prepare, we cook up mock drafts and player rankings. Things rarely work out as we expect, but that doesn't stop us from throwing our two cents in the next time.
Over time, we have criticized Howie for some of his choices (Jalen Reagor). There were also times that we praised him for others (Carson Wentz). What can we say? Sometimes, things don't work out as we believe they should.
Sometimes, the selections that aren't popular are the best decision for everyone (Donovan McNabb, Jalen Hurts). Sometimes, you find franchise legends in places that we normally wouldn't have looked (Brian Westbrook). Howie seems to have found his mojo. Every player taken during Philly's past two drafts has gone on to make the Eagles' initial 53-man roster.
Dennis Kelly is a former fifth-round selection that Philly landed in 2012. He was traded to the Tennessee Titans for Dorial Green-Beckham in 2016. That turned out to be a mistake. As fate would have it, he was reacquired by the Eagles in July. He didn't make the team or earn a place on Philly's practice squad, but he has nothing to hang his head about.
Kelly has had a great career, one that may be over but one he definitely can be proud of. A few other Eagles' careers are on life support.
Here is a list of former Eagles draftees who were recently released by other teams and a look at their current employment status.
There's a human element to this game we love. We can at times be coldhearted, dismissing disappointing players by stating 'they suck', but who are we kidding? These are young men who have dedicated their lives to playing a game, and if they have ever walked through the doors at the Novacare Complex, we can't help but keep one eye on them in an attempt to see what they are up to.
The five men on this list definitely qualify. Here's a look at former Eagles that were recently released and an update on their current status. Don't expect any reunions with Philadelphia though. We're under the impression that the ship has sailed.
1. Jalen Reagor - Current status: On Patriots practice squad
Fate has a sense of humor sometimes. After being selected by the Eagles one spot before the the Minnesota Vikings took Justin Jefferson, two guys whose stories will forever be tied (in Philadelphia) wound up being temmates in MInneapolis... Then, the Vikes moved on less than a year later.
Jalen Reagor has landed in Foxborough. He was added to the New England Patriots' practice squad. He can be signed from there and added to any team's 53-man roster.
2. Sidney Jones - Current status: On Bengals practice squad
Derek Barnett is the only player remaining from an eight-man draft class the Eagles added in 2017. The second man they added was a cornerback, Sidney Jones.
Since leaving the City of Brotherly Love, Jones has been a member of four other NFL rosters, most recently the one belinging to the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincy released Jones on August 29th during final roster cuts but was re-signed to the practice squad a day later.
Like Reagor, he can be signed off the scout team but would have to be added to the signing team's 53-man roster.
3. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside - Current status: Free agent
Don't give up on J.J. Arcega-Whiteside yet. Some believed that Howie Roseman would never find a trade partner to ship him off. Those people were wrong. Many thought, when the Seattle Seahawks moved on, that his luck had run out. They were also wrong.
JJAW just spent three months with the Atlanta Falcons before being released on August 29th, but if his NFL career is ever going to take off. He has to understand that he is running out of opportunities.
4. Eric Rowe - Current status: Signed to Panthers practice squad
Eric Rowe might be the only person on this list who has a shot at returning to the Eagles at some point, but the chances of that happening are probably less than one percent.
Unlike the other guys on this list, he has had a relatively respectable career. It has taken three other stops to make that happen. He spent time on the Patriots' and Miami Dolphins' rosters from 2016 to 2022 and stacked 381 tackles, two sacks, five interceptions, six forced fumbles, and 41 pass breakups in the process. He is currently on the Carolina Panthers practice squad.
5. Matt Barkley - Current status: On Bills practice squad
Who would have thought that, after the Eagles traded Matt Barkley to the Arizona Cardinals in 2015, that he'd still be in the league eight years later? He has done fairly well for himself.
There are times when it feels like Matt is attempting to suit up at least once for all 32 NFL franchises. He has seen eight locker rooms since his exit, and he has seen two of those locker rooms twice. Currently, he is on the Buffalo Bills' practice squad. He was released and reacquired as a member of their scout team.
Worth mentioning: DeSean Jackson
DeSean Jackson wasn't recently released. He was informed of his release in January, but he has yet to turn in his retirement announcement. Might we see him somewhere in 2023? The legend of the greatest deep threat in NFL history continues.