The Philadelphia Eagles signed left tackle Fred Johnson to a two-year contract on Thursday after a strong showing during training camp.
Many Eagles fans were disappointed when it appeared that Johnson was a roster casualty following the signing of wide receiver Freddie Swain. However, it appears that the move was simply procedural.
The 26-year-old spent the first three years of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals. He appeared in 23 games and had at least one start (eight total) in each season. Last year, Johnson spent five games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Johnson Rewarded With Contract After Strong Training Camp
Signed to the Eagles practice squad last November, all indications out of training camp were that Johnson had a strong chance of making the 53-man roster.
On Thursday, that came to fruition with the organization rewarding Johnson for his hard work.
Johnson saw a fair amount of action during the Eagles’ first two preseason games and impressed with his ability to maneuver his 6-foot-7 frame in pass protection.
After being rewarded with a two-year deal, it appears that Johnson will be the primary backup to left tackle Jordan Mailata.
Johnson Has Elite Athleticism For His Size
At the NFL Combine, Johnson turned heads with his elite athleticism, especially for a man his size. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Johnson recorded an athleticism score of 74, which ranked seventh among all tackles in his class.
It makes sense that Johnson has been a bit of a late bloomer. He started football late but has been steadily improving. Once considered a raw prospect out of Florida, he’s seamlessly made the transition from guard to tackle, where he can use his length and athleticism more effectively.
