By Paul Bowman, Sports Talk Philly Editor
When an NFL team is looking to sign a young player, it likely isn’t the first though of many that that player will play at one of the deepest positions on the team.
Such is the case with the Eagles as the team is apparently interested in adding another young tackle to their roster.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported today that former Army OT Brett Toth is awaiting Army leadership approval to sign his contract with the Eagles.
Due to an action from Donald Trump, the armed forces have begun to allow players to get waivers to sign with pro sports teams immediately out of college. Toth is hoping he can receive one of those waivers.
Toth was the first West Point attendee to compete in the Senior Bowl, where he made a bit of a name for himself among NFL scouts, and has completed one year of military service.
It is a bit odd that Toth is interested in signing with the Eagles rather than one of the other teams that has interest in him because the Eagles line is so deep and it is late enough in training camp that Toth would seem to stand little chance of actually cracking the Eagles roster.
Among those who appear to be locked into the 53-man roster, the Eagles have six guys who can play offensive tackle and five that it is their primary position. Among them are Jason Peters, Lane Johnson, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Jordan Mailata, Isaac Seumalo and first-round pick Andre Dillard.
While Peters is likely to retire after the 2019 season and Big V is a free agent, the Eagles appear poised to carry lineman Iosua Opeta on the practice squad as a project after his emergence from a small school. That may make it even more difficult for Toth to even make the practice squad.
Toth may come to the Eagles seeking guidance, however.
The Eagles have one of the best offensive line coaches there is in Jeff Stoutland as well as a top-tier right tackle and a Hall of Fame bound left tackle.
Should he get the go-ahead to sign his deal, Toth has a great deal of experience in run blocking, but may need work in pass blocking as Army’s offense rarely utilizes the passing game.