As Jalen Hurts Stars, Why Eagles Will Need These 4 Longshot Players To Make Super Bowl Run

And rightly so.

But really, the Eagles’ chances to return to the Super Bowl could hinge on players who were drafted in the late rounds, or not drafted at all. In fact, the Eagles have four undrafted free agents on their 53-man roster.

There are three from last season on this season’s roster in safety Reed Blankenship and cornerbacks Josh Jobe and Mario Goodrich. Cornerback Eli Ricks made the roster after going undrafted this season.

In addition, wide receiver Britain Covey, who’s starting this season on the practice squad just like last season, also played a major role on last year’s team as an undrafted free agent. He was the Eagles’ punt returner last season and will likely serve in that role this season.

Goodrich was asked if it seems strange that a Super Bowl-contending team would be relying heavily on so many undrafted free agents.

“I’d say they like undrafted guys,” Goodrich said with a laugh. “I’d just say they value the work the guys put in. I’m grateful for my teammates and the coaches for giving me this opportunity. I feel like it speaks for the work the guys put in.”

But really, there’s a lot more to it than that. On most playoff teams, quarterbacks can take up nearly one-fourth of the entire team’s salary cap. Add in a few other key players making $15 million or more per season, and it’s clear that teams have to rely on late-round or undrafted players making salaries of under $1 million to succeed.

The Kansas City Chiefs used his formula last season when they won the Super Bowl, beating the Eagles 38-35. The Chiefs had quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, defensive tackle Chris Jones and left tackle Orlando Brown taking up nearly 45% of the entire salary

But the Chiefs also had five rookies starters in that game, including seventh-round picks in running back Isaac Pacheco and cornerback Jaylen Watson. An astonishing three rookies started in the secondary.

There’s just no other way to contend yearly without key contributions from those longshot players.

“I don’t know if there’s a trick to it,” Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said about finding those players. “From the day that those guys come in our building, every day we’re talking about developing, developing, developing, developing.”

Sometimes you just get lucky.

Ricks, for example, was supposed to be a top draft pick. He was considered the top-ranked high school cornerback when he committed to LSU. After two seasons there, he transferred to Alabama and had a disappointing injury-filled season. No teams drafted him.

Perhaps Ricks would have had a different attitude in training camp had he been an early-round pick. As it was, Ricks was often with the third and fourth teams through the first few weeks of camp. Those players get very few reps during practices, so Ricks was desperate for any kind of opportunity.

He finally got one late in the first preseason game, against the Baltimore Ravens. That’s when Ricks intercepted Anthony Brown’s pass and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown.

“I had to stand out, especially being an undrafted guy,” Ricks said. “I always want a pick, every game. But I knew my opportunities would be slim, so I needed something to stick.”

The same was true with Goodrich. The Eagles cut Goodrich at the end of camp last season, and re-signed him to the practice squad, where he spent the entire season.

But Goodrich took every opportunity in practice last season to go against receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, as well as learning from veteran Pro Bowl cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradberry.

That’s why Goodrich feels especially close with undrafted players like Blankenship, who’s a starter this season, in addition to Jobe, who’s considered the top backup to Slay and Bradberry, and Ricks.

“As an undrafted guy, it’s harder,” Goodrich said. “People who get drafted, they’re going to get the head-nod most of the time. But seeing guys like them just work and just continue to work, it’s exciting. We all went through it together. And to see them out there, it’s a brotherhood.”

Blankenship is the gold standard as a full-time starter this season.

But a year ago, Blankenship was a little-known safety out of Middle Tennessee State who made the Eagles’ 53-man roster. Even then, Blankenship was buried behind starters Marcus Epps and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, along with backup K’Von Wallace through the first half of the season.

Blankenship had just two total snaps on defense when he replaced an injured Gardner-Johnson during a late November game against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. Blankenship intercepted one of Rodgers’ passes, then started the next five games while Gardner-Johnson was out with a lacerated kidney.

Blankenship knew then that he belonged.

“Safeties in the league make those types of plays,” Blankenship said. “When my number was called, I was supposed to be in the right spot, and they had confidence in me to be back there and do my job.”

That is evident this season. Both Gardner-Johnson and Epps left in free agency, and Blankenship has taken every first-team rep this summer.

Ricks and Goodrich would like to get to that point, too.

Neither one worried about getting the dreaded call that they would be waived. Ricks said he took a “fat nap” Tuesday morning, while Goodrich came into the NovaCare Complex to work out in the weight room.

That’s why they’re not satisfied with just making the roster.

“All the things I’ve been doing to get here, I have to do more,” Ricks said. “I have to keep building. I think the player everyone is seeing is not even close to the ceiling that I have.”

For the Eagles to get back to the Super Bowl, that might have to be true.

Martin Frank:

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