Report: Eagles sign rookie minicamp tryout player to roster

At least one of the 22 tryout participants at the Philadelphia Eagles’ rookie minicamp made a positive impression over the weekend. The team is signing undrafted rookie free agent cornerback Shon Stephens to their offseason roster, according to a report from Andrew DiCecco.

ESPN’s Tim McManus previously noted Stephens was “off to a strong start in camp.” Stephens, cousin of Joey Porter Junior, was also invited to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ rookie minicamp but obviously won’t be attending now.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had Stephens graded as a priority free agent signing. Here’s a scouting report on him via the 2024 edition of The Beast:

A cornerback at Ridgeview High, Shon Stephens initially played for Bakersfield (Calif.) College for three seasons. He then signed with Division II Missouri Southern State in 2020 but returned home after his mother suffered a heart attack. He committed to Penn State as a walk-on, but credit issues made him ineligible.

After an All-America 2022 season at West Liberty, he committed to Purdue, but NCAA issues closed that door. He landed instead at Ferris State for his final season. Stephens maintains spacing well in coverage with fluid hips and body twitch and is always a threat to score — his tape reminded me of Darius Phillips.

Overall, Stephens is undersized and older [turns 26 in December], but he has A-plus speed, toughness and ball skills and projects as a back-end/practice-squad candidate.

Stephens is a long shot to make the Eagles’ 53-man roster, especially since the team is suddenly flush with cornerbacks and returners. But now he’ll get a chance to make the team by showing what he’s got in OTAs and training camp practices.