BREAKING: Former 2020 NFL Draft third-round selection signed by the Eagles
March marks the start of NFL free agency, but the Philadelphia Eagles added a player to their roster on Wednesday. Julian Okwara, an outside linebacker and edge rusher, was signed by the Birds, the team said.
After completing the 2023 season on the practice squad of the Detroit Lions, Okwara became available for signing. The majority of players on the practice squad sign a futures contract with their organization in an effort to fight for a roster place the following year. It’s unclear in this instance if he desired a new start with a different team or whether the Lions declined to extend a contract to him. It’s possible that those two statements are accurate.
Since the Lions picked Okwara with a third-round pick (67th overall) in the 2020 NFL Draft, Okwara has only ever played for them. He was considered a possible steal at the time because, had he not sustained a fractured leg late in his senior year at Notre Dame, he would have been taken sooner.
Okwara played in just six games as a rookie, but in his second season, he improved his health and made progress. In 2021, he recorded five sacks, six TFLs, nine quarterback hits, one forced fumble, and one interception.
However, he was only able to play 19 games in 2022 and 2023 with just four sacks because to another ailment that struck him. Before being sent to the practice squad for the playoffs, he was a healthy scratch a few times during the previous season.
It’s possible that Okwara won’t develop into a dependable and consistent NFL player. With one spot available on the 90-man roster for the summer, the Eagles might as well give the 26-year-old a try. Allowing him to compete for a position on the team for next year would not harm anything. especially now that the Eagles appear to be thin at this position—and even more so in the event that Haason Reddick is moved.