The Philadelphia Eagles brought in three defensive tackles for a workout on July 21: Joe Evans, Leonard Payne Jr. and Jacob Sykes.
Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia reported the tryouts.
While Jordan Davis is locked into a starting role and Jalen Carter is set to play a massive role in Year 3, the depth behind them is questionable. By taking a closer look at Evans, Payne and Sykes, the Eagles are looking to address both rotational needs and potential insurance against injuries as they fine-tune their roster for what promises to be a grueling 2025 campaign.
Philadelphia has long prioritized defensive line depth, particularly in an NFC East that features run-heavy teams like the Commanders and Giants. Let’s take a closer look at the three players the Eagles worked out.
Some Background on the 3 DTs Philly Brought In
Evans started his college career at LSU, where he appeared in 16 games over three seasons and totaled 28 tackles and half a sack. In search of more playing time, he transferred to UTSA for the 2022 season and earned Conference USA honorable mention honors, netting 18 tackles (eight solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and two QB hurries in 11 games.
In 2024, Evans signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent but failed to make the 53-man roster, eventually spending time on their practice squad before being released in September. He later landed a short stint with the Indianapolis Colts but didn’t appear in any regular season games.
Payne began his collegiate career at Fresno State before transferring to Colorado, where he emerged as a versatile contributor on the Buffs’ defensive front. At 6-foot-3 and 301 pounds, Payne flashed intriguing athleticism, clocking a 40-yard dash in the 4.88–4.97 second range and grading out with solid positional speed.
He went undrafted in 2024 but signed on the the Miami Dolphins. He was later released and inked a one-year, $840,000 deal with the Green Bay Packers. He didn’t make it past final cuts, though, and has been a free agent ever since.
Sykes played four seasons at Harvard, earning first-team All-Ivy League honors in 2021 after recording 7.0 sacks. Following his graduation, he transferred to UCLA, where he started 13 games in 2022 and recorded 29 tackles and a sack. Sykes went undrafted in 2023 and signed with the Seattle Seahawks but was waived during final roster cuts.
He later joined the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas and played in seven games, recording one sack and two tackles for loss.
A Closer Look at the Philadelphia Eagles DT Depth Chart
The Eagles currently have two stellar DTs in Davis and Carter, but the depth chart beyond them consists mostly of undrafted rookies and journeymen.
Moro Ojomo is the best of the bunch, and he has shown definite promise. But there’s also Ty Robinson, Thomas Booker, Byron Young and Gabe Hall in the mix, and none have really distinguished themselves.
Considering the way Philly has emphasized maintaining a dominant defensive line in recent years, it’s no surprise the team is still looking to find another hidden gem to add to the group.
