The Eagles signed eight undrafted free agents following the 2026 NFL Draft, but one of them has a roster path that is essentially unobstructed: long snapper Rocco Underwood. The position is not glamorous. Snap-count contribution is minimal. But job security is job security, and Underwood walks into a situation where there is no incumbent in front of him.
The 2026 UDFA Class
Philadelphia added eight undrafted players this spring:
- Kapena Gushiken (DB, Ole Miss)
- Tucker Large (DB, Washington State)
- Deontae Lawson (LB, Alabama)
- Maximus Pulley (DB, Wofford)
- Jaeden Roberts (OG, Alabama)
- Rocco Underwood (LS, Florida)
- Joshua Weru (DE, Arizona State)
- Dae'Quan Wright (TE, Ole Miss)
Why Underwood Stands Out
The math is simple: the Eagles currently have no other long snapper under contract. Underwood is not competing against another snapper for the job. He is essentially competing against the bar of NFL-level snap consistency. Get the ball to Braden Mann or Jake Elliott cleanly, in rhythm, with the kind of accuracy NFL specialists require, and the job is his.
That is a meaningful detail because the long snapper position is one of the most reliable jobs in football. Once an NFL team has a snapper they trust, they tend to keep him for 8 to 12 years. Underwood, if he wins the job, could be the Eagles' long snapper through the rest of the decade.
The Importance of Snapping Continuity
Special teams are the most overlooked unit in football until they go wrong. A poor long snap can lose a game, and every NFL fanbase has at least one example seared into memory. A reliable snapper does not show up in box scores, but he does show up in field-goal percentages, punt-coverage outcomes, and the trust the punter and kicker have in their operation.
The Eagles have one of the most reliable kickers in football in Jake Elliott. They invested in punter Braden Mann with a recent contract extension. Putting a developmental long snapper behind them is the natural next step. Underwood gets to build the kind of chemistry that pays off year after year.
Other UDFA Names to Watch
Underwood has the cleanest path to the 53, but a few other UDFAs have legitimate roster odds:
- Deontae Lawson (LB, Alabama): The headliner of the UDFA class. A three-year starter for the Crimson Tide who slipped out of the draft due to an ACL tear in 2025. His football intelligence is widely respected, and if his medicals clear up in time, he is the kind of low-cost depth bet that often pays off in the linebacker room.
- Kapena Gushiken (DB, Ole Miss): Tied for the highest UDFA guarantee at $272,500, which signals real organizational belief. The defensive back room is crowded but he could earn practice-squad reps.
- Joshua Weru (DE, Arizona State): Also at $272,500 guarantee. Edge rusher depth is always at a premium, and the Eagles' rotation behind Jonathan Greenard has open snaps to claim.
The International Player Pathway Connection
Joshua Weru, like 2025 UDFA standout Uar Bernard, is an International Player Pathway prospect. The IPP program brings athletes from outside the traditional US football system into NFL camps with developmental support. The Eagles have leaned into the program in recent years, and the early returns have been promising. Weru joining Bernard gives the Eagles two pathway prospects to develop simultaneously.
The Bottom Line
Most UDFAs do not make the 53-man roster. The numbers are brutal: typically only one or two from any given class will be on the active roster Week 1. Underwood is the most likely of this group to break that pattern, simply because the opportunity in front of him is uncontested.
Long snapping is unglamorous. It is also a path to a 10-year NFL career for the players who do it well. If Underwood proves reliable in camp, he locks in the kind of stability that makes a UDFA contract feel like a steal.
