Bleeding Green Nation
The Birds are adding more offensive line depth.
The Philadelphia Eagles are signing free agent offensive lineman Matt Pryor, according to a report from the Inquirer’s Jeff McLane.
Pryor is returning to Philly after originally being selected by the Eagles with a sixth-round pick (No. 206 overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft. He made 10 starts in 27 games played with the Birds before he was traded (along with a 2022 seventh-round pick) to the Indianapolis Colts for a 2022 sixth-round pick (which was later included in the Eagles’ deal with the New Orleans Saints that ultimately landed Jalen Carter in midnight green).
Pryor spent two seasons with Indy, making 14 starts in 33 games played. He then signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023, playing just 42 offensive snaps as a backup for them. Pryor played for the Chicago Bears last season, where he logged 15 starts in 17 games played.
All told, Pryor has made 40 starts in 93 career games played (including playoffs). Pryor clearly hasn’t played well enough to maintain a long-term starting job (though PFF did have him graded 21st out of 79 guards last season) but he has the chance to be an experienced backup option for the Eagles. That is, if he doesn’t outright beat Tyler Steen for the right guard job.
Pryor also brings versatility to the table having played every offensive line spot except for center. Here’s a look at his career snap counts by position per season:
2018 — N/A
2019 — RG 139
2020 — LT 78, LG 47, RG 394, RT 254
2021 — LT 94, RG 69, RT 266
2022 — LT 249, RG 212, RT 113
2023 — LT 5, LG 11, RT 26
2024 — LT 1, LG 49, RG 895, RT 59
Totals — LT 427, LG 107, RG 1570, RT 718
Pryor is the second veteran addition to the Eagles’ offensive line this week. The team previously signed Kendall Lamm, who projects as a Fred Johnson replacement in the swing tackle role, on Monday.
Signing Lamm and Pryor gives the Birds more depth but it hardly precludes them from taking an offensive lineman early in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Eagles have been doing homework on top blocking prospects.
