Eagles Claim DT Byron Young

One of two Byron Youngs chosen in the 2023 third round, the defensive tackle is on the move. After the Raiders waived their Byron Young on Wednesday, the Eagles submitted a successful claim, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets.

Chosen 70th overall out of Alabama, Young played in six games last season and saw only 99 defensive snaps for the Raiders. The Rams received more promising work from their Byron Young — an edge rusher out of Tennessee — and the Eagles will take a flier on the other defender. Three years remain on the DT’s rookie contract.

The Raiders nabbed Young with the first of their two third-round picks last year, later choosing slot receiver Tre Tucker. The latter is ticketed for a regular role in his second season, with the team cutting Hunter Renfrow. Las Vegas spent big for Christian Wilkins in free agency, further limiting Young’s upward mobility. The team also waived D-lineman Matthew Butler, a 2022 fifth-round pick, on Tuesday. Butler, however, landed on Las Vegas’ practice squad. Young became a more attractive commodity on waivers.

Young, 23, will join former first-round picks Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis among Philly’s DT corps, a group that includes former third-rounder Milton Williams as well. The Eagles lost Fletcher Cox to retirement. Marlon Tuipulotu also remains on the Eagles’ 53-man roster. Young will make for seven D-linemen on the team’s roster, being set to learn Vic Fangio‘s scheme.

Coming to Vegas after earning first-team All-SEC acclaim in 2022, Young totaled four sacks and five tackles for loss in his final Crimson Tide season. In 2021, he produced nine TFLs and two sacks. While it is surprising to see a player drafted so highly cut after one year, the Raiders changed regimes in that span, firing the Dave Ziegler–Josh McDaniels pair and then hiring Tom Telesco as GM. While Antonio Pierce was in place when Young was drafted, he stood as the Silver and Black’s linebackers coach at that point. The Eagles will now gauge Young’s form.