Eagles sign a quarterback, Jamie Newman, after the draft, along with some interesting receivers
The former Wake Forest starter transferred to Georgia last year but ended up not playing.
Usually, signing with an NFL team as an undrafted free agent means you have an outside shot at making the practice squad. If the stars really align, you might make the actual roster.
Quarterback Jamie Newman has a better-than-average shot with the Eagles, who only employ Jalen Hurts and Joe Flacco at the position, and certainly need a third QB. The team didn’t select a quarterback among its nine draft picks, so agreeing to terms here after the draft probably was a no-brainer for Newman, a strong-armed, 6-foot-3 QB whose weight is listed anywhere from 215 to 234, depending on where you look. The 234 is NFL.com’s listing.
Newman is listed as a former Georgia quarterback, but he never played for the Bulldogs. He transferred to Georgia in 2020 after a good year as the Wake Forest starter, then opted out of last season over COVID concerns. The Senior Bowl was the only time he represented Georgia on the field.
In 2019, Newman threw for 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, completing 60.9% of his passes in a dozen starts. That was his only full collegiate season as a starter. He’s big and athletic but slow on the trigger, scouts say, and hasn’t been good in the face of pass-rush pressure. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote that Newman is “too content sticking with primary target despite coverage.” Zierlein also tabbed his ceiling as NFL starter-level, though. He looks like an interesting project for new coach Nick Sirianni and his staff.
The Eagles don’t announce their signings of undrafted rookies -- UDFAs -- now until they actually sign contracts, since several years ago there were some players who agreed to terms, then found better deals elsewhere. But a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed that Newman has agreed to terms, along with the other prospects listed in this story.
Another UDFA who might stand a very good chance of making the team is Florida wide receiver Trevon Grimes, whose offensive coordinator was Brian Johnson, the new Eagles quarterbacks coach. Grimes is 6-4, 218, and can go up and get the ball in the end zone, as is evident from his nine touchdown catches last season.
First-round selection DeVonta Smith was the only draft addition to a lackluster Eagles wide receiving corps. Sirianni, a longtime WRs coach, might want some guys he chose in the group.
Jhamon Ausbon -- settle down out there, he’s no relation to Jamon Brown -- is another big receiver, 6-2, 217. He opted out of 2020 but caught 66 passes at Texas A&M in 2019, for 872 yards and five touchdowns, despite what scouts said was less-than-ideal speed. He was a team captain at A&M, as was the case with six of the Eagles’ nine draftees, team personnel vice president Andy Weidl said.
Another team captain was Indiana center Harry Crider (6-3, 307).
Since the Eagles didn’t draft a tight end, there could be a spot for UDFA Jack Stoll from Nebraska, who is 6-4, 247. He caught 25 passes as a junior but just seven in seven games last season.
JaQuan Bailey (6-2, 246) is an undersized defensive end from Iowa State, and Kayode Awosika (6-3, 307) is a Buffalo tackle who could move inside.