The Philadelphia Eagles have built a reputation for leaving the NFL draft with plenty of future starters, and this year's event wasn't an exception. The defending Super Bowl Champions addressed multiple needs throughout the three-day experience, leaving Lambeau Field with an exciting crop of first-year studs, ranging from Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell to Boston College offensive lineman Drew Kendall.
The Eagles' keen eye to spot up-and-coming talent is limited to the draft, though. Philadelphia has also signed its fair share of talented undrafted free agents of the years, including a new signing that's bound to be the envy of the NFC East.
Eagles Signing UDFA RB Montrell Johnson Jr. Will Make NFC East Rivals Jealous
Even though there's no denying Saquon Barkley's status as the Eagles' No. 1 running back, extra backfield depth never hurts. That's why the Eagles didn't waste any time signing undrafted Florida RB Montrell Johnson Jr. immediately following the 2025 draft, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Source: The #Eagles are signing Florida RB Montrell Johnson Jr.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 27, 2025
Legit 4.41 speed with nearly 3,100 rushing yards (5.4 YPC) and 33 TDs. Nice add for the Philly backfield. pic.twitter.com/8PULoFyIG8
Johnson may not have been the 2025 draft's top RB prospect, but that doesn't mean the Eagles didn't land themselves a UDFA gem.
Between his one season at Louisiana and three at Florida, Johnson displayed some promise out of the backfield. The New Orleans, LA native averaged a solid 5.4 rushing yards across his 569 career carries, converting those opportunities into 3,089 yards and a whopping 33 TDs. He also displayed some pass-catching upside with 411 receiving yards and two TDs on 61 catches.
Johnson's combination of balance and endurance make him the perfect RB to handle a handful of downs while Barkley and other veterans could use a breather. His willingness to get physical could also see him used as a blocker or even goal-line back, further illustrating the creative ways he can be used by Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni.
The former Gator isn't the fastest or sharpest runner, meaning he must excel at what he does well if he wants to crack the roster. He can also occasionally hit a home run when needed, positioning him to potentially be a change-of-pace back as his career develops.
At the end of the day, Johnson has all the tools to at least compete for a 53-man roster spot this offseason. Assuming he succeeds, it isn't hard to imagine the rookie RB terrorizing the Eagles' NFC East rivals twice per season, which would surely make them regret leaving him off their 2025 draft list.