PHILADELPHIA Eagles rookie defensive tackle Jordan Davis He described his first taste of NFL football as “kind of what you would expect” and “a lot more than that.”
The preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles was attended by a raucous crowd. New York Jets He shared that Lincoln Financial Field was reminiscent of Sanford Stadium in Georgia, where he played for the University of Georgia. It took some time to get used to being surrounded by green on the field after four years of seeing only Bulldog red.
He hasn’t had to go through this adjustment alone, however. The Eagles selected Davis as the 13th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. They also picked up a linebacker Nakobe Dean at No. 83 overall in round three, reuniting two top players from Georgia’s dominant national champion defense.
Davis stated that Dean and Davis “try to do everything together.” They coordinated their arrival times to Lincoln Financial Field for Jets games so they could walk in the facility side by side. Davis said, “It gave us the ‘first days of school’ vibes.”
It was a familiar scene on the field. Davis (6’6″, 340-pound) controlled the traffic flow up front. Dean (2nd on the team with 5 tackles that night), was in position to attack just south of the line.
Dean said, “Oh yeah, it’s obvious that we have a special chemistry.” “We already know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, so we know each other’s personalities. We are already close. It’s much easier to be with him.
Davis stated, “Just as in the past.” “I am used to Nakobe flying about, making plays. He’s going be an expert at this level. He is going to learn. He’s going get his feet under him. It would be an amazing feat to carry that experience from college to become a 1-2 tandem.
We are approaching fall and we want to take a closer look at the Eagles’ rookies this offseason. This is the Georgia duo leading the charge.
DT Jordan Davis (Rd. 1, 13th overall)
Davis’s moment with fellow rookies was the most viral of Eagles camp. Cam Jurgens on skates during one-on-one drills.
“It’s hard to stop a big train when it’s moving,” said veteran defensive tackle Fletcher Cox.
Davis’ size stands out in a league full giants. You can add power and speed to Davis’ 4.78 second 40-yard dash. fastest for any player over 330 pounds at the combine Since 2006) and it’s easy to see why this is such a difficult matchup.
He is 6’6″, 341 lbs and ran a 4.78-40. No wonder Jordan Davis received all the attention after his Combine performance. ?@jordanxdavis99 | @GeorgiaFootball | @Eagles pic.twitter.com/pyspmkeU9T
— NFL (@NFL) May 5, 2022
While Davis’ pass rush needs to be improved upon, he’s already an attraction for double-teams. He will be part of the immediate defensive line rotation.
C Cam Jurgens (Rd. 2, 51 overall), Nebraska
Davis didn’t like the fact that his one on one against Jurgens went viral. He claimed it sensationalized just one rep and didn’t correctly reflect Jurgens’ overall performance. He is correct. Jurgens is the Eagles’ most-respected rookie when you take into account the whole body of work.
On draft night, Jason Kelce Jurgens is the name of this “my favorite player in the draft.” Kelce was asked by the Eagles to evaluate the centers during the predraft process. Kelce replied that “out of all the men that I’ve seen over the past two, or three years, this guy is the best.”
Jurgens, who is still recovering from an elbow surgery, has been working with the first team most of the offseason. He has done well. You can see the Kelce-like traits in Jurgens when he goes out into space and hauls linebackers and safetyties 20 yards downfield. Kelce has been contemplating retiring for several seasons. He’ll be able to rest assured that he is leaving the central position in good hands, given the early returns.
LB Nakobe Dean 3,83 overall), Georgia
Dean, the national best collegiate linebacker, was awarded the Butkus Award. However, he fell to the third round due to medical concerns. Dean didn’t have to worry about any of the other teams’ concerns, so he hasn’t been missed since.
Dean had a quiet summer, except for the Jets preseason opener. He is currently behind T.J. Edwards On the depth chart for middle linebacker. He’s been mixed in with the second team in spots and although there haven’t been any splash plays yet, the coaching staff is positive about his outlook.
“He’s very smart, he’s tough, and he’s very physical,” said defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. “Happy with where he’s at.”
LB Kyron Johnson (Rd. 6 overall, Kansas
Johnson is competing for the role of strongside/rush linebacker Haason Reddick And Patrick Johnson. He has been coming on as of late. Johnson led the team in tackles with seven against the Titans in the preseason finale. Miami Dolphins Nearly added a sack. He has a strong argument to be on the final roster as a reserve linebacker/special teams player.
After multiple concussions, Calcaterra briefly quit football in college. In 2021, he returned to the game and caught 38 passes for 465 yards and 4 touchdowns for SMU. He has a tendency to open wide and create after the catch in this offseason. He was injured in his hamstring, but he has been steadily back to full strength and was able to catch two passes for 30 yard against the Dolphins.
Calcaterra needs to improve his strength and blocker skills, but he has enough potential as a pass-catcher for a roster spot.
Noticeable rookies who were not drafted
Devon AllenThe former Oregon wide receiver has become a world-class hurdler. In the second preseason game against The, he caught a touchdown catch of 55 yards. Cleveland Browns Then he followed that up by two fine plays from his gunner position on special team against Miami. He had not played in a single game since 2016, and was solely focusing on track and fields until recently. His production is worthy of note. He could be a promising prospect for the practice squad.
Safety Reed Blankenship He has been one the most consistent performers in his position this summer out of Middle Tennessee. He provided one of the few defense highlights in Saturday’s loss against Miami by providing a big hit that drove Miami’s ball carrier to the ground. He’s now on the roster bubble.
Utah receiver Britain Covey His return game has seen him excel with the Utes, and he has been given a lot of attention. His quickness and ability to make big plays are attractive to the coaching staff. He could be a reserve receiver or return specialist for the team.
Alabama cornerback Josh Jobe His steady climb up the depth chart has been a great success. He was working with the outside corner unit before sustaining an elbow injury. Now, he is well-positioned to join the team.