The NFL’s cut-down day is behind us, and for players on the roster bubble, no news is often good news.
At first glance, the Philadelphia Eagles’ initial 53-man roster includes its share of surprises. The team went heavy at defensive tackle (6) and defensive back (11), while staying lean at tight end (2) and offensive line (9).
One young, rising defensive tackle was fired up to make the team.
Thomas Booker IV, a former 5th-round pick of the Houston Texans, entered Eagles training camp as a relative unknown having spent all of last season on the practice squad. He enters the 2024 regular season on the active roster.
Here’s what the 24-year-old said after surviving cut-down day:
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman took questions from the local media Tuesday evening and shed light on Booker’s offseason.
“He lived in the facility,” Roseman said. “Tremendous work ethic. Obviously an incredibly smart guy, a Stanford guy. He's got all the tools in his body. Just an incredible tribute to him and how hard he worked.”
Roseman and the Eagles shifted from loading up on undrafted free agents prior to training camp, instead signing 20 players to futures deals. Booker signed one of those deals. He made an impression last year working primarily on the scout team, but he earned his roster spot this year behind an excellent preseason. He had eight pressures and a sack in 70 preseason snaps, an 11.4% pressure rate.
"When you see his tape and his get-off, and his ability to play with leverage, to play with power, to affect the quarterback, to be disruptive around the quarterback in the backfield,” Roseman said, "to us, it was clear the guy deserved to be on the team.”
And in this case, no news really was good news for Booker.
“I probably should have said this to him before I said it to you guys,” Roseman quipped.
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