Eagles UDFA that the rest of the league forgot about heads into OTAs with a label that other rookies can only dream of
The Eagles have hit at the inside linebacker position in recent years, and they may have found a gem that everyone else in the league decided to ignore.
The Philadelphia Eagles will be like many teams this week when they open phase three of their offseason program and begin voluntary organized team activities. While the headliner will be A.J. Brown and everything surrounding that situation, it will also be our first exposure to the rookie class in Philadelphia.
Well, one player that the rest of the NFL forgot to draft has been named to a list that every rookie wants to be a part of.
Deontae Lawson named most exciting Eagles UDFA
“Despite being a two-time captain and second-team All-SEC performer at Alabama, a fairly lengthy injury history caused linebacker Deontae Lawson to go undrafted this year. The Eagles are set where the starters at inside linebacker are concerned with veteran Zack Baun and youngster Jihaad Campbell. But the team’s depth at the position could use a boost, and a healthy Lawson has the experience and athleticism to at the very least carve out a reserve and special teams role in Philly.” – Gary Davenport, Bleacher Report
Lawson would have likely joined Campbell and left Alabama in 2024 if not for a knee injury that derailed what was a career year for the stacked backer from Mobile, Alabama. Lawson is an extremely high-character player and someone who has played a ton of football.
Deontae Lawson 2025 stats
- 89 total tackles.
- 4.5 tackles for loss.
- 1.5 sacks.
What are the Eagles getting from Deontae Lawson?
He’s a mix of new school build and playstyle, with old school mentality. He is one of the higher character prospects in the class, with high-quality leadership and teammate skills. On the field, he’s probably best as a dime linebacker or coverage backer, but he can grow into more of a three-down role.
The Eagles have always looked for leadership qualities and intangibles when it comes to their stacked backers, and Lawson could be the latest in a long line to do so. While he obviously won’t start over Campbell and Baun, and faces an uphill climb to make the roster, I wouldn’t count him out.