Eagles Future Deals: Three Little-Known Players That Could Help Philly
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PHILADELPHIA - In the NFL, futures deals usually equate to training-camp fodder more than meaningful contributors but the Philadelphia Eagles have a large futures cast already assembled in advance of the new league year on March 13, a few of which might even have a chance to help come September.
The Eagles have signed 21 players to futures contracts to date, 14 of whom ended the 2023 season on the practice squad and seven more who were quickly plucked off the street after the season ended in a disappointing fashion for Philadelphia.
The 14 holdovers include running back Lew Nichols, wide receivers Joseph Ngata and Griffin Hebert, tight end Noah Togiai, offensive linemen Brett Toth, Le’Raven Clark, and Lecitus Smith, defensive end Tarron Jackson, defensive tackles Thomas Booker and Noah Elliss, linebacker Brandon Smith, cornerback Mario Goodrich, defensive back Mekhi Garner, and safety Tristin McCollum.
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The seven signed from outside the organization are WRs Shaquan Davis, Jacob Harris, and Austin Watkins, TE E.J. Jenkins, offensive lineman Jason Poe, cornerback Tiawan Mullen, and edge rusher Terrell Lewis.
Of the latter group Mullen and Jenkins also spent some time on the 2023 Eagles’ practice squad.
Some in the 2024 futures class have already contributed to the Eagles but if you’re truly looking forward and trying to handicap contributors, opportunity is a big part of that equation and it could swing the door open for three particular players at positions of need.
-RB Lew Nichols: A 2022 seventh-round pick at No. 251 overall in Kansas City, the hard-running Isiah Pacheco will be headlining the Chiefs’ running game in a second consecutive Super Bowl this Sunday.
Nichols, 22, was a seventh-round selection (No. 235) by Green Bay last April but didn’t stick with a Packers team that had tremendous RB depth led by Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon and the Eagles were happy to add him to the practice squad in October as a developmental project.
Philadelphia will enter the 2024 offseason with only one veteran RB under contract in Kenny Gainwell. Bodies have to be added and certainly will be but Nichols, who once led the nation in rushing at Central Michigan with 1,710 yards has the size (5-10 and 220 pounds) and power to give the Eagles a north-south, move-the-chains-type back if things click.
-WR Jabob Harris: The Eagles’ cupboard is bare behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith outside the numbers as Kellen Moore takes over the offense. Veterans Julio Jones, Quez Watkins, and Olamide Zaccheaus didn't produce enough in 2023 and all set to become unrestricted free agents.
The organization carpet-bombed its futures list with big bodies at WR with Joseph Ngata, former tight end turned WR Griffin Hebert, Shaquan Davis, Austin Watkins and Harris (6-5, 211), the dart with the biggest upside.
A one-time fourth-round pick of the Rams out of Central Florida, Harris is only 26 and once averaged over 20.0 yards-per-reception in college with solid contested-catch abilities, all with 4.39 stopwatch speed. That's at least intriguing and worth the look.
-Edge Rusher Terrell Lewis - The Eagles have been looking for a fourth edge player for their rotational mindset up front on defense for the past two seasons with Derek Barnett, flaming out due to injury in 2022 and ineffectiveness this season.
Lewis, 25, has the frame and athletic ability to pull it off.
A 2020 third-round pick by the LA Rams out of Alabama, NFL Media draft analyst and former Eagles scout Daniel Jeremiah once compared Lewis to Minnesota Vikings star pass rusher Danielle Hunter, noting Lewis’ length (6-5 and 252) and change of direction skills.
The Hunter comps are long gone at this stage but 32 pressures and six sacks over 30 professional games indicate a potential role player could still be uncovered, especially with Vic Fangio and his staff getting their hands on Lewis.
