Eagles' Howie Roseman strikes again with UDFA compared to Jordan Mailata

The NFL is living in Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman's world as he continues to find talent in odd places.

Roseman has put together a masterclass in selecting top talent in the NFL Draft without having the top pick. He demonstrated that by selecting Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell, who was projected to be picked in the middle of the first round.

An underrated part of the draft process is finding players who can contribute after the draft ends. The Eagles signed nine undrafted free agents, with one of them catching the attention of everyone in the media as a player to watch for.

Eagles undrafted free agent Hollin Pierce might be Howie Roseman's latest gem

Pro Football Focus writer Ben Cooper picked one undrafted free agent from all 32 NFL teams as one to keep an eye on. Cooper saw Rutgers offensive tackle Hollin Pierce as his choice for the Eagles. Pierce received a complimentary comparison to one of his new teammates.

"There may not be any more room on the Eagles’ roster for offensive linemen. Howie Roseman and company traded for Kenyon Green, signed Kendall Lamm and Matt Pryor, and drafted Myles Hinton and Drew Kendall — all to back up the team’s entrenched starters."

"Still, Pierce is a prospect to watch at Eagles training camp. He surrendered only two sacks across more than 800 pass-blocking snaps from 2023 to 2024 at 6-foot-8 and 341 pounds. Those measurements compare favorably to left tackle Jordan Mailata, whom the Eagles and coach Jeff Stoutland developed from a seventh-round draft pick into a second-team All-Pro."

Pierce made the All-Big Ten team in 2023 and 2024 as he made 50 career starts at left and right tackle. His versatility at tackle is key as he started at right tackle in 2021 and 2022. He finished at left tackle in 2023 and 2024.

Pierce's challenge is that Philadelphia's offensive line is extremely deep after Roseman selected two linemen in the draft. Pierce must compete with Hinton and Laekin Vakalahi for the backup left tackle spot. If the Eagles wanted to play him at right tackle, Pierce would still have to go up against Lamm and Darian Kinnard for the backup job behind Lane Johnson.

Philadelphia has a good problem to have, though, as they boast plenty of young talent on the offensive line to develop. It won't be easy for Pierce to carve out a role, but even getting a spot on the practice squad would be a massive win for him.

It didn't happen overnight for Mailata, either, and he became an All-Pro, so anything is possible for Pierce.