Former Penn State defensive star signs with Philadelphia Eagles
Saquon Barkley initiated a trend during the commencement of NFL Free Agency by joining his hometown team, the Philadelphia Eagles. Now, another notable ex-Penn State Nittany Lion, PJ Mustipher, is also becoming a part of the team’s roster. Mustipher inked a one-year deal with the Eagles on Tuesday afternoon.
Expressing his thoughts on the signing through the team’s official website, Mustipher stated, “Observing the Eagles’ remarkable achievements in recent years has been truly impressive. With the abundance of talent on this roster and particularly along the defensive line, I believe there’s no better move for my career than being associated with this organization.”
The Eagles are seeking to bolster their depth and potential along the defensive line following the retirement of former All-Pro defensive tackle Fletcher Cox earlier this month. While Mustipher may not possess the identical skill set as the former Eagles star, the team evidently believes in his capability to exceed his performance from his debut NFL season.
Having endured a challenging start in the NFL, the former standout Penn State defensive tackle is still striving to establish himself. Mustipher suffered an ACL tear in October 2021 during a crucial game against Iowa, which significantly impacted his performance in the subsequent 2022 season due to the rushed nature of his recovery.
Due to the setback caused by the injury in 2021, Mustipher went undrafted in the following spring. Nonetheless, he was picked up by the Denver Broncos post-draft and spent the initial phase of his rookie season on the team’s practice squad. Mustipher later joined the New Orleans Saints in December after being signed off the Broncos’ practice squad. According to the official NFL record book, Mustipher recorded four tackles, with PFF crediting him with one stop on 42 snaps.
Mustipher faces the challenge of fitting into the esteemed Eagles’ defensive tackle unit, which includes college standouts like Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, both of whom were first-round picks in recent drafts. Additionally, Milton Williams, a third-round selection in 2021, adds to the competition. Given his size at 318 pounds, Mustipher is expected to assume the one-technique role behind Davis, contributing his adeptness in run-stopping to the Eagles’ defensive tackle position.
Notably, Mustipher joins other former Penn State Nittany Lions on the Eagles roster, including linebacker Brandon Smith. Smith spent part of the previous season on the Eagles’ practice squad after being released by the Carolina Panthers in the preceding summer. He signed a futures contract with the team at the conclusion of the 2023 season.
