Albert O. is staying in Philadelphia. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, tight end Albert Okwuegbunam has signed a one-year deal to stick with the Eagles. The 25-year-old was set to hit unrestricted free agency next month.
Following three seasons in Denver, Okwuegbunam was facing waivers at the end of the 2023 preseason. The Eagles swooped in and added him via trade, acquiring the tight end and a seventh-round pick for a sixth-round selection.
Despite the trade, Okwuegbunam barely came off the bench this past season, even with starter Dallas Goedert sidelined. He was limited to only four games in 2023, finishing the year fourth among Eagles tight ends in offensive snaps (behind Goedert, Jack Stoll, and Grant Calcaterra). The Eagles still valued Okwuegbunam enough to give him a chance at a 2024 roster spot, and the veteran could provide the organization with a bit of insurance with Stoll hitting restricted free agency.
Following a productive college career at Missouri, Okwuegbunam was a fourth-round pick by the Broncos in 2020. He was limited to only four games as a rookie thanks to a torn ACL, but he earned a significant offensive role during his second season. He finished the 2021 campaign with 33 catches for 330 yards and two touchdowns, starting six of his 14 appearances. With rookie Greg Dulcich added to the depth chart in 2022, Okwuegbunam saw a lesser role, finishing with only 10 catches for 95 yards.
Pro Football Focus gave Okwuegbunam solid reviews through his first two seasons in the NFL, but the website hasn’t been as favorable on his 2022 and 2023 performances. If the tight end is able to rediscover any of that previous talent, he could find himself with a larger role in 2024.
Curious, I can’t imagine there’s a huge market for him or that the Eagles can’t find anyone better.
He might be a depth piece. Eagles can draft a tight end on day 3 who’s probably faster and obviously way cheaper
I assume it’s a very modest deal and they’re still not counting on him to be one of their top two or maybe even three tight ends. But he certainly showed promise early on, and you can see why a team would be enticed by his physical gifts. The man showed up at the combine 6’5″, 258 with tackle-length arms, and ran the 40 in under 4.5 seconds. There are only so many human beings with those traits, let alone ones who’ve shown any playmaking acumen.
Interesting they didn’t give him more playing time when Goedart was hurt.
SUPER BOWL BOUND BABY!
Stoll hitting restricted free agency is the key here. That will put him at 3, and they must not be too high on Calcaterra so number 2 is in play for him with a strong camp. They can fill a number 3 or 4 tight end with a walk on free agent but still kept him instead, which also tells you he’s in play for number 2.