Josh Jobe: Another Undrafted Free Agent Steal For Philly
The Philadelphia Eagles have signed former Alabama defensive back Josh Jobe as an undrafted free agent. Not unlike recent Eagles’ signee Carson Strong, Dobe had been projected to go as high as the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but instead fell off all 32 teams’ draft boards. In yet another savvy move this offseason, Howie Roseman has added a great depth piece to Philly’s defense.
So, what led to Jobe being an intriguing prospect in the first place? What caused him to slide undrafted through all seven rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft? What does he bring to the table for Philly?
Let’s take a closer look at each of these questions:
An NFL-Ready Prospect
Josh Jobe was a two-year starter for the Alabama Crimson Tide under legendary head coach Nick Saban. Saban famously employs a pro-style defense that consistently pumps out solid NFL talent. Jobe has a great opportunity to carry on this trend.
Jobe fits the mold as a prototypical cornerback, at around 6’0,” 182 lbs. with a long wingspan of over 6’4.” Per Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Department, he is known for getting his hands on receivers to disrupt routes and is effective against the run. He is long, strong, and aggressive, and shows NFL-level potential.
Jobe had already caught the eye of NFL scouts after an impressive junior campaign in 2020 while playing across for Patrick Surtain II. He racked up 55 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, and 11 passes defended. Despite already appearing in mock drafts after his junior year, Jobe opted to return to college for his senior season. Unfortunately, this decision did not necessarily boost his draft stock in 2022.
He still had decent numbers during his senior year, racking up two interceptions, but watched most of his numbers decline. He finished with 38 total tackles, 1.0 tackles for loss, and zero sacks along with those picks.
What Caused The Slide?
Jobe does have some clear holes in his game. He lacks the elite speed of many of his fellow DBs. This, in combination with his tendency to over-aggressively pursue the ball, can put him in extremely dangerous positions. He also has a reputation for struggling in zone coverage, dropping back too deep, and allowing easy plays underneath. Generally speaking, he found himself out of position far too often.
Again, not unlike fellow recent undrafted free agent signee Carson Strong, it may have been an injury that ultimately led to his slide. A foot injury caused him to miss Alabama’s post-season, and per Jobe himself, was the primary cause of his dip in production during his senior year.
While he is widely believed to have the skills and athleticism to eventually succeed at the pro level, the remaining holes in his game (and likely need to develop for a season or two before touching a starting lineup), the injury concerns, and the decline in productivity during his senior season simply raised too many red flags for teams to use a draft pick on him.
What Does He Bring To The Table In Philly?
Jobe is a solid prospect who instantly improves the depth of the team’s defensive backfield. He will have the opportunity to learn behind one of the league’s top cornerbacks in Darius Slay. The Eagles are in a good position to bring Jobe along slowly and give him adequate time to get up to speed in the pro game before handing him significant playing time.
Jobe is also an outstanding special teams player who will instantly provide a boost to those units.
While the specific price tag for Jobe’s services has not been released, he is certainly signing on at a discount price. For example, recent Philly signee Carson Strong was signed for a $320,000 contract, and Jobe likely will not even reach that figure.
Jobe is an NFL-talent with experience in a pro-style system. He will instantly be able to contribute on special teams and could very well be a starter in the future.
What’s not to love about this signing?
Comentários