Philadelphia Eagles: Damion Square’s career is deceptively impressive
The former Philadelphia Eagles UDFA is still kicking.
The Philadelphia Eagles‘ 2013 season feels like a lifetime ago.
Sidebar: January feels like a lifetime ago, but that’s neither here nor there.
The team had just fired long-time head coach Andy Reid, was half a decade away from winning the Super Bowl, and had just signed the hottest head coaching candidate the world over, Chip Kelly to a five-year contract worth $32.5 million. Michael Vick was entrenched at quarterback, LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson were teammates, and the Birds’ tried-and-true 4-3 defense was on the way out in favor of a new-look 3-4 scheme under ex-Arizona Cardinals’ coordinator Billy Davis.
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To accommodate this transition, the Eagles used five of their eight draft selection on the defensive side of the ball, adding players like Earl Wolff, Joe Kruger, David King, and Jordan Poyer – who is having a deceptively good career as a safety with the Buffalo Bills – to help ease the schematic transition and bulk up at positions of need opposite Kelly’s lightning-fast offensive attack.
But those weren’t the only new defensive addition making their debuts in 2013.
That’s right, despite using the 67th overall pick on LSU nose tackle Bennie Logan, the Eagles doubled down on the nose tackle position with the addition ex-Alabama interior rusher Damion Square.
Square, a former four-star recruit out of Houston, amassed 93 total tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks at Alabama before failing to hear his name called on draft night. He then signed with the Eagles, competed with players like Antonio Dixon and Isaac Sopoaga for a roster spot, and ultimately appeared in 10 games before being waived just prior to the 2014 NFL season.
In a lot of ways, Square was like a pre-Beau Allen Beau Allen, a slightly undersized nose tackle who could sub in for Logan on obvious passing downs against two tight end personnel.
So, you may ask, why is this relevant in 2020? Well, Square just signed a new contract with the Los Angeles Chargers, his fifth extension with the team.
You see, after being waived coming out of camp in 2014, Square was claimed by the Kansas City Cheifs, was waived again on Halloween, and then made his way to San Diego where he played out the remained of his rookie contract. Square then signed a one-year extension with San Diego in 2016, a two-year-deal with the brand-spankin’ new Los Angeles Chargers in 2017, and two more extensions in 2019 and 2020 respectfully.
At the tender age of 31, Square is about to become an eight-year vet – firmly eligible for the NFL post-football benefits – who has earned a very impressive $8.13 million and counting for 1,959 defensive snaps – or roughly $4,150 per snap.
Will Square remain a significant part of the Bolts’ defensive rotation after the addition of ex-Viking Linval Joseph? I mean, his snap count may take a slight dip, but after surviving two different head coaching regimes with two different defensive systems, I’d say Square is about as consistent in Los Angeles has traffic on the 405, or a massive line at the In-and-Out on Sunset.
We all love to talk about the NFL’s premier stars, brand new rookie, or argue about all-time great, but when I saw the news about Square’s new deal, I had to sit back and smile, as it’s always nice to see the little guy find a way to hammer out a blue-collar career despite having the odds stacked against him.
No, the Philadelphia Eagles shouldn’t re-sign Timmy Jernigan. dark. Next
So, weirdly, Damion Square should be thankful Chip Kelly’s Philadelphia Eagles released him when they did, as he very well may have never latched on with the Chargers had he not first played with the Cheifs in 2014. Maybe Square can head over to Westwood, to shoot some shoot, share some stories, and grab a bite with Kelly at UCLA – there’s an In-and-Out Burger out there too.