The eye of the offseason NFL storm is coming. Until then, it’s the calm before it arrives for the Philadelphia Eagles.
They have made three moves thus far as the calendar continues to countdown to the start of the new league year on March 13 and the three days that precede it known as the legal tampering period. That’s when the thunder comes, lightning strikes, and a downpour of money will follow.
Those three moves could become big splashes or maybe they will only turn out to be tiny puddles, consequential.
Here’s a look at each of the players they signed to reserve/future deals:
Julian Okwara, linebacker - Signed on Valentine’s Day, this may end up being the sweetest deal of the three. Everyone knows the Eagles need linebackers. Even general manager Howie Roseman. Okwara has a resume in the league and is just 26.
A third-round pick of the Detroit Lions in 2020, he played in 38 games with nine starts. He got 36 defensive snaps against the Eagles in a 2021 game and made three tackles, including one for a loss during the Eagles 44-6 win. He was inactive against Philly in the 2022 season opener.
Last year, Okwara made seven tackles with two sacks in just nine games, but he was released before the Lions’ NFC Divisional Round game, signed to the practice the next day, but did not receive a futures contract offer from Detroit.
You wonder why he didn't stick there, but maybe the Notre Dame product will find a good situation with a new team and on Vic Fangio’s defense.
Tyrion Davis-Price, RB - Stop me if you heard this before: San Francisco 49ers running back, drafted in the third round, signs with Eagles. This time, it's Davis-Price.
Two years ago, it was Trey Sermon, who the Eagles kept for a year then, after training camp last year, cut him and he was eventually claimed by the Indianapolis Colts.
Like Sermon, Davis-Price was a third-round with the difference being Sermon came from Ohio State, Davis-Price from LSU, and in the 2022 draft. Davis-Price’s pro experience is limited to just seven games and 40 carries for 120 yards.
While it’s true the Eagles need linebackers, they also need running backs, with the only one under contract on the roster being Kenny Gainwell.
If he shows he can play, Davis-Price may find a role in coach Kellen Moore’s offense.
Darian Kinnard, OT – The fifth-round draft pick in 2022 out of the University of Kentucky, has two Super Bowl rings won with the Kansas City Chiefs. His contribution was one game played in 2022. Last year, he spent all season on the practice squad. At Kentucky, he was a first-team All-American who made 39 straight starts at one point.
The Eagles need depth at tackle behind starters Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata, especially with Jack Driscoll possibly on the move in free agency.
Philly also has Fred Johnson and Brett Toth, but one more under-the-radar piece - who spent two years with one of the best-run organizations in football - for line coach Jeff Stoutland to mold is never a bad thing.
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