The Philadelphia Eagles made some offensive upgrades in last weekend's draft with the addition of wide receiver Makai Lemon at No. 20 and tight end Eli Stowers at No. 54. While they made some other noteworthy selections in the later rounds, they did not stop there with multiple undrafted free agent (UDFA) signings since the conclusion of the draft.
One notable UDFA signing is Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson, who received a deal with $10,000 in guarantees, per Spotrac. TE Dae'Quan Wright ($50,000) and long snapper Rocco Underwood ($20,000) signed bigger deals, but when you consider Lawson was a three-year starter and two-time team captain at Alabama, the potential is there for this to turn into a steal for the Eagles.
Throughout his career with Alabama, Lawson compiled 274 total tackles, 16 passes defensed, 6.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one interception. An ankle injury sidelined him for three games in 2023, while a torn ACL sidelined him for the final two games of the 2024 season. Despite those setbacks, Lawson was second-team All-SEC last season and led the Crimson Tide with 80 tackles, all while making 15 consecutive starts.
Lawson's draft profile suggests he has the potential to become a good backup who could develop into a starter. Philadelphia's pass rush needed a boost coming into the draft, and Lawson's reactive agility and athleticism should give him an excellent shot at earning a spot on the practice squad, if not the 53-man roster.
Eagles UDFA Signing Deontae Lawson Could Make Some Noise
Even though Philadelphia's pass rush needed additional depth going into the 2026 season, there is no clear path to a starting role out of the gates. With Nolan Smith Jr., Zack Baun, Jihaad Campbell, and Jonathan Greenard already listed on the depth chart as the team's starters, along with Jalyx Hunt coming off a breakout second season in the league, there are plenty of capable starters that Lawson would have to go through.
With that said, there is certainly an opportunity for Lawson to become a reliable depth option for the Eagles. Philadelphia added Arnold Ebiketie and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka in free agency and drafted New Mexico LB Keyshawn James-Newby with the No. 252 pick in the seventh round. However, there are plenty of question marks relating to depth in the LB room. Lawson's track record at Alabama points to a player who could leap ahead of some of the backups and earn a spot on this roster.
While Lawson was projected to be a sixth or seventh-round pick, it is possible those past injury concerns played a role in his fall. There is always a risk with late-round draft picks and undrafted players, but the payoff can be worth it should a player develop into a contributor.
The hope is that another year removed from the ACL tear will help Lawson get back to full strength and continue to return to form after an impressive 2025 season. If that is the case and he has a good training camp, Lawson has the talent to crack the Eagles' 53-man roster and make this a bargain UDFA signing for the franchise in the long run.
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