Philadelphia Eagles Re-Sign Albert Okwuegbunam: Reasons Behind the Decision

PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Eagles made a surprising move by re-signing veteran tight end Albert Okwuegbunam to a one-year deal, disrupting many “Stay or Go” scenarios in the Delaware Valley.

In an effort to bolster the tight end position after losing veteran starter Dallas Goedert, the Eagles acquired Okwuegbunam from the Denver Broncos last August in exchange for late-round draft picks.

This move was seen as a smart one by GM Howie Roseman, as Okwuegbunam had shown promise in Denver with his exceptional athleticism. The Eagles, sitting at 31st on the waiver wire, knew that the Broncos were planning to move on from him, making it unlikely that they would be able to acquire him through waivers.

At 6-foot-5 and 258 pounds, Albert Okwuegbunam possesses rare speed with a 4.49 40-yard dash time. He had 54 receptions for 546 yards and four touchdowns as a backup tight end with the Broncos from 2020 to 2022.

While his production may not have been significant, especially when compared to the Eagles’ current tight ends Jack Stoll and Grant Calcaterra, Albert Okwuegbunam’s potential as a receiving threat was seen as an upgrade.

Unfortunately, Okwuegbunam did not live up to expectations in the 2023 season. He was rarely used, even when Goedert was sidelined with an injury, and saw limited playing time before ending up on injured reserve in December.

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With his contract set to expire, it appeared that Albert Okwuegbunam would test the free-agent market in March. However, the Eagles surprised many by offering him a new one-year deal ahead of schedule.

Perhaps new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore sees potential in Okwuegbunam and wants to work with him during the offseason. Having the opportunity to start fresh with more time to develop under the guidance of position coach Jason Michael could benefit Okwuegbunam.

Ultimately, this extension not only extends Okwuegbunam’s contract but also allows him more time to prove himself from last year’s trade to the upcoming 2024 season.

This decision does not rule out the Eagles exploring other options to improve the tight end position through free agency or the draft. If Albert Okwuegbunam does not show significant improvement during the offseason, the Eagles can easily move on from him.