Joseph Ngata Signs UDFA Deal With the Eagles

The former Clemson wide receiver has found a new home.

It's hard to imagine a team, other than the Chiefs, that has garnered more good press this offseason than the Philadelphia Eagles. After making offseason splash after splash, - mostly splashing in the University of Georgia end of the proverbial pool - it's possible there was an under-the-radar move that may prove to have surprising dividends later on.

The Eagles signed former Clemson wide receiver Joseph Ngata to an undrafted free agent deal that makes the former kid from California one of the highest-paid UDFA's in this draft. Ngata's agents, Sam Mirza and Dan Saffron, negotiated a contract worth $230,000 and a signing bonus of $30,000 right off the bat. 200 of that 230k is guaranteed which is good news considering how volatile the life of an undrafted player can be. 

Joseph Ngata signed an UNFA deal with the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles

Ngata has always been physically impressive, coming in at 6'3 and 220 lbs, but his production has never quite matched the hype of what people wanted from his career with the Tigers. Injuries plagued him as he played in just a combined 12 games between his sophomore and junior seasons. However, statistically, he went out on a high note as the 2022 season was his best. Ngata played in every game of the season and caught 41 balls for 526 yards and 2 touchdowns. That led to an average of 12.8 yards per catch. 

While he may not have the elite athleticism of new teammates Devonta Smith or AJ Brown, there are still some tools to work with for a receiver at his size who ran a 4.54 40-yard dash in the combine and has a 34.5-inch vertical. The Eagles' depth chart at the position is obviously top-heavy but it will be interesting to see if the 4-year player for the Tigers can make an impression and work his way towards the back end of the rotation. He's got his shot now and that's all he needs.