Bleeding Green Nation
The Birds are adding some more OL depth to their offseason roster.
The Philadelphia Eagles are signing undrafted rookie free agent offensive lineman Marcus Tate, according to an official team announcement.
The Clemson alumnus previously participated in the Eagles’ rookie minicamp on a tryout basis back in early May.
Tate, 22, was a four-year starter who missed a number of games due to multiple injury issues. Save for 14 sparing snaps at right tackle in 2024, he exclusively played at left guard.
Some projected Tate to be a Day 3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft but there were likely questions about his health and his lack of versatility. He also has very tiny hands, relatively speaking.
On the bright side, Tate does boast more than adequate size for a guard at 6’5”, 321 pounds. He’ll now get a chance to study at Jeff Stoutland University.
The odds are obviously against Tate sticking around but maybe he can show that he’s worth developing on the practice squad.
Scouting report via NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein:
A four-year starter with good size and strength, Tate’s injuries over the last three years have stolen some shine from his play. He’s better in pass protection than he is as a run blocker. He plays with elevated pads that rob him of drive power, but he can play on the move and has a good feel for angles to execute in space. He’s technically sound in pass pro with a sturdy base, a crisp punch and the ability to keep rushers in front of him, but he has occasional issues with long twists and blitzers. There is some favorable tape for Tate, but his injury history makes projecting his pro potential a bit murky.
