Future Is Now
Eagles Futures Signings Worth Watching
The Eagles earlier this month unveiled an undrafted free agent class that initially included nine players, with wide receiver Giles Jackson becoming the 10th after a successful rookie minicamp tryout.
The post-draft signings, of course, occurred on the heels of what was a 10-player draft haul, but still, this rookie free agent class appeared a bit leaner than it typically has been over the years.
Some of that can be explained by the 13 players (12 now, with running back Tyrion Davis-Price waived) who signed on Feb. 14 to Reserve/Futures contracts.
Those players each spent part, or all, of the 2024 season on the Eagles’ practice squad, so the thinking here is that, similar to last offseason, many of those listed are expected to add viable camp competition.
The names are: DB Tariq Castro–Fields, WR Elijah Cooks, LB Dallas Gant, WR Danny Gray, DT Gabe Hall, DE K.J. Henry, LB Ochaun Mathis, TE Nick Muse, CB Parry Nickerson, S Andre’ Sam, T Laekin Vakalahi and CB A.J. Woods.
With that, here’s a look at four Eagles signed to Reserve/Future contracts I’m most looking forward to seeing on the field for OTAs and training camp.

GETTY IMAGES: Eagles WR Danny Gray is awaiting his opportunity to prove he belongs on the 53-man roster.
WR Danny Gray
A 2022 third-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers who found himself on the outs late last summer, Gray signed to the Eagles’ practice squad in early September. The 26-year-old wideout remained on the practice squad for the entirety of the 2024 season, though his presence hardly flew under-the-radar.
Gray, working with the scout team, would often draw the assignment of emulating the top wide receiver of the Eagles’ weekly opponent. He would frequently acted as a thorn in the side of the starting secondary throughout the weeks, with defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean each praising Gray’s behind-the-scenes contributions. Perhaps a change of scenery and fresh perspective – coupled with a seemingly favorable opportunity – fuel Gray’s roster climb in Philadelphia.
While miring out of sight on the scout team last season and relegated to the sidelines on game day, the 6-foot, 200-pound speedster believes things would have been different had he been with the team months earlier.
“I’m gonna throw this out there right now … if I was here at the beginning of camp, it would have been a no-brainer I’m on the 53,” Gray said last season. “I’m gonna tell you that right now.
“Like, not with arrogance, but because I know what I bring to the table. I know how hard I work. And I know I stand out in whatever I do. I know what I bring. So, yeah, if I was here earlier, there’s no doubt.”
DT Gabe Hall
Widely considered to be among the crown jewels of the 2024 undrafted free agent class, Hall signed with the Eagles last spring, joining the ranks of what was then a crowded house at the position. The Baylor product, who can play any position along the defensive line, failed to distinguish himself in training camp but stuck around on the practice squad, where his development under defensive line coach Clint Hurtt continued.
Last season when checking in, the 295-pound Hall mentioned just how beneficial going against Landon Dickerson in practice every day helped his game. Hall said Dickerson convincingly won those matchups. Working in Hall’s favor is his youth, versatility, potential and contract. The latter, of course, is perhaps especially important, with the Eagles eventually having to invest heavily in some of their key defensive centerpieces. Assuming Hall has refined specific areas of his game and maximizes each rep, he should conceivably be in the mix to earn the final slot at interior defensive line.
S Andre’ Sam
There’s been quite a buzz building around fellow safeties Lewis Cine and Maxen Hook, but it would be wise to file away the name Andre’ Sam, a second-year pro who has been mentioned unprompted on multiple occasions by defensive backs coach Christian Parker.
Sam, 26, was a post-draft signing of the Eagles last spring following a banner 2023 season at LSU, where he was named the Percy E. Roberts Defensive Player of the Year. Aside from a Week 14 elevation against the Panthers, Sam spent the duration of the 2024 season on the Eagles’ practice squad.
While Sam should benefit from another year learning under Parker and safeties coach Joe Kasper, his competitiveness and internal drive shouldn’t be understated. For perspective, in our near-weekly chats last season, Sam shared he would set goals for himself in practice as a way to maintain a competitive edge. One week, it could be seven or eight tackles and a turnovers. Another week, it may have been two turnovers.
Sam also forged a close-knit relationship with former Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, the initial meeting occurring during a training session at “The Lab” in New Orleans. As trainer Patrick Robertson told me during our sit-down during Super Bowl week, Gardner-Johnson viewed Sam as a younger brother.
Sure, Sam, whose college career also included stops at McNeese State and Marshall, doesn’t have the same allure as Cine, a 2022 first-round pick, or even Hook, the new kid on the block. But while he might be an afterthought to some, that wouldn’t appear to align with how the team views him. Perhaps Sam can channel what he’s learned from a year of observing and absorbing information to make a run at the fourth, and presumably final, safety slot.
CB A.J. Woods
Woods, originally a post-draft signing of the Commanders last spring, joined the Eagles’ practice squad following the Week 1 win over the Green Bay Packers in Brazil. Woods was a player who stood out to me whenever I watched the 2023 Pitt Panthers, as he showcased stickiness in coverage and a willingness to invest in the tackling part of his job despite boasting a slighter build.
He was mostly deployed as a cornerback at the college level, but Woods repped quite a bit as the scout team nickel last season for the Eagles. I vividly recall a conversation we had leading up to the Bengals game, when Woods was tasked with emulating Mike Hilton. Woods noted how much he’d taken away from the physicality of Hilton’s game. The 5-foot-9, 186-pound defender also appeared on the 2023 edition of the annual Bruce Feldman College football “Freaks” list due to his blistering speed and athleticism.
– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.
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