Stoll makes roster and most of opportunity
Undrafted and with a chip on his shoulder, the former Nebraska tight end is now an Eagle.
With the 257th pick in the last draft, the Lions took a running back. At 258, Washington selected a wide receiver. At 259, it was a linebacker going to Tampa Bay.
And that’s when it hit Jack
Stoll with a force stronger than any Big Ten linebacker, straight in the gut, jarring and awakening: There would be no 260th pick. He would go un-drafted. And he would have to find work as a tight end on his own.
Since he was once considered a likely pro before a series of injuries blunted his senior season at Nebraska, the 6-4, 247-pound Stoll knew he’d have some cometo-camp offers. And he did. The Eagles, though, were the most interested, offering him more money than any of their undrafted free agents … that, and an appealing chance to learn from some of the best.
“It was a great opportunity with the Eagles,” Stoll was saying Thursday, before practice from the NovaCare Complex. “Obviously when you are in a room with Zach (Ertz) and Dallas (Goedert) and a bunch of other guys, it’s an awesome opportunity to come and learn.”
That’s what sold Stoll on the
Eagles. And soon the Eagles would be sold again on him, appreciating his training-camp effort and his six catches in two preseason games before making him their only undrafted rookie on their final-cut-day 53man roster.
“I’ve always had the confidence that I am an NFL caliber tight end,” Stoll said. “So it was awesome just being able to go out there and prove it.”
Around the draft, it was still unlikely that Ertz would be an Eagle for a ninth season, but it was clear that Goedert had
achieved enough to be their tight end of choice. The chances, then, of Stoll winning much playing time were few.
While Ertz would remain with the Eagles, prospective tight end Tyree Jackson
would injure his back during camp, loosening the tight end depth chart. So by next Sunday, when the Eagles visit Atlanta, there will be Draft Pick No. 260-plus in uniform, having been counseled by Ertz, Goedert and assistant coach Jason Michael, who arrived with Nick Sirianni from Indianapolis with a sturdy reputation as a tight-end guru.
“Being the undrafted guy, you come to the reality that you are not going to come in and be a starter on Day 1,” Stoll said. “But being able to learn from guys like that and being in a city like this is really what kind of drew me here.
“Their pitch was, ‘You’ll be able to come here and learn and to show what you have. They didn’t guarantee anything.”
With a reputation as a dependable blocker, Stoll caught 61 passes for 657 yards and six touchdowns in four seasons with the Cornhuskers. Already, he believes his exposure to Goedert and Ertz has made him more of a passinglanes threat.
“I always like having a chip on my shoulder,” he said. “And nothing should be given to you. Being an undrafted guy, that’s how it works. But Philadelphia is an awesome city and I am excited to be here.”
• • • He already had Jalen Hurts, the incumbent and likely Opening Day starter. He already had Joe Flacco, a Super Bowl champion and one of the signature quarterbacks of his era.
So offensive coordinator Shane Steichen really didn’t need recent NFL starter Gardner Minshew, who’d thrown 37 touchdown passes in his first two NFL seasons, in the mix. But the Eagles traded a conditional sixth-round pick to the Jaguars for his rights, so it’s largely up to Steichen to ready him for whatever Sirianni has in mind.
“I think the biggest thing is obviously just learning the system,” Steichen said. “Any time you bring in a new quarterback, regardless of when it is, they’ve got to learn the system. And once they learn the system, they can go operate at a high level on the field. I think that’s the biggest thing: Just learn the
system. But I’m happy to have Gardner here.”
• • • Offensive lineman Jack Driscoll was placed on injured reserve with a pectoral strain. Hassan Ridgeway, who had been released Tuesday, was re-signed to fill the spot.
Also sent to the IL was cornerback Josiah Scott (hamstring), with the Eagles claiming defensive back Andre Chachere off waivers from Indianapolis.
Former Cardinals receiver KeeSean Johnson joined the practice squad with undrafted rookies Marvin Wilson (defensive tackle) and Nick Eubanks (tight end). Safety Grayland Arnold was released from the practice team.