Report: Eagles to sign underdog cornerback after successful rookie minicamp tryout

The Philadelphia Eagles held their rookie minicamp this past weekend, spending a few days to get their new draft picks and UDFA’s up to speed, as well as offering some tryouts to some potential hidden gems. One of those players, Shon Stephens, is reportedly set to sign with the team according to Andrew DiCecco.

Eagles add CB Shon Stephens to their roster

Stephens stands at around 6’0, 180 lbs and spent his collegiate career at both Ferris State & West Liberty. Interestingly, he’s actually the cousin of Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. He was reportedly set to workout with Pittsburgh to potentially play with Porter Jr but the Eagles were able to snatch him from their clutches.

He ended 2023 with 25 tackles, 8 picks, and 4 pass breakups. While the stat-line definitely pops, it has to be remembered that this wasn’t at a D1 level. As a result, a focus on athletic testing was important, and Stephens delivered.

At Michigan State’s Pro Day, he recorded 4.3 40-yard-dash along with 19 bench reps and a 36.5 inch vertical leap, which is impressive given his size.

The addition of another defensive back is an intriguing one given the amount of depth the Eagles have now, especially at nickel. The Birds brought Avonte Maddox back this past offseason and Isaiah Rodgers Jr. was reinstated after missing all of last season due to an NFL gambling policy violation. Sprinkle in Zech McPhearson and Tyler Hall and you have a position loaded with potential contributors.

The Eagles obviously see something in Stephens and it will be interesting to see how he fares during OTA’s and hopefully beyond.