Undrafted free agents are one of the most underrated elements of the offseason. The draft always gets a ton of hype, and rightfully so. However, the teams that are able to maintain success in the NFL are typically the same organizations that have success with undrafted free agents. The Philadelphia Eagles put together one of the best undrafted free agent classes in the entire league this year, providing a major boost to the 2022 roster.
They have several players who will end up on the roster, like University of Clemson cornerback Mario Goodrich and Alabama corner Josh Jobe. However, running back Kennedy Brooks will have the biggest impact of any UDFA for the Eagles.
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Eagles Undrafted Free Agent To Make 2022 NFL Roster
It's a bit surprising to see Brooks go undrafted. He had a prolific career with the Oklahoma Sooners, contributing on some of the best offenses in the country. He started for three seasons, earning more than 1,000 yards rushing in each campaign. He also averaged 8.1 yards per carry as a senior, a ridiculously high number. While it's true that Brooks benefitted from playing terrible Big 12 defenses, that shouldn't take away from his elite production and solid traits. He breaks tackles well, and his vision is fantastic, especially for any team that runs a zone running scheme.
Brooks probably should have been a late-round selection, but his somewhat disappointing combine pushed him down draft boards. The combine is a notoriously overrated event, as there have been countless players who have tested poorly and worked out just fine. Brooks was a steal as an undrafted free agent, and the Eagles should keep him on roster.
Brooks should make the roster fairly easily. The depth at the running back position almost ensures that. Miles Sanders is the starter, but he's had serious injury concerns over his entire career. His play when healthy hasn't been anything to write home about either. Boston Scott is the next man up. Scott is a decent, albeit unspectacular runner who gets the job done when he's called on. It wouldn't be surprising to see Scott cut before the regular season, especially if Brooks makes a big impression in training camp.
The third running back, Kenneth Gainwell, will have a spot on the roster as well. However, his skill set is totally different from Brooks', so Gainwell's presence won't have much of an impact on Brooks's chance of making the Eagles' roster. Overall, this is one of the least established, fickle running back rooms in the NFL. It's easy to see Brooks coming in, making the roster, and competing for snaps in some capacity.
It's much easier to make an NFL roster as an undrafted running back than almost any other position. The skill gap between NFL backs and some college backs just isn't as big as it is at other positions, and that will allow Brooks a good chance at making the roster. Several late round backs, like Elijah Mitchell of the San Francisco 49ers, managed to earn themselves starting spots as rookies.
James Robinson of the Jacksonville Jaguars was an undrafted free agent, and he started as a rookie as well. Phillip Lindsay is another undrafted runner who had an immediate impact in the first game of his career. The precedent is there for running backs in a way that just doesn't exist for most other positions. Brooks is by far the most likely Eagles undrafted free agent to play any sort of snaps in the early going.
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