Philadelphia Eagles Hope to Avoid Depth Issues at TE After Signing C.J. Uzomah

The Philadelphia Eagles bolstered their tight end depth with the signing of C.J. Uzomah, or did they?

Maybe CJ Uzomah will be the next Richard Rodgers. Or maybe he will be the next Dan Arnold.

Remember Arnold? The Philadelphia Eagles signed the veteran tight end last year hoping that he could provide more offensive firepower should something happen to starter Dallas Goedert.

Well, something did happen to Goedert – again. He missed three games after breaking his forearm in Week 9 a year after missing five games with a shoulder injury. Except Arnold was long gone by the time they needed him in 2023, unable to make the team out of training camp.

Even though he was 28 at the time and the owner of 95 catches for 1,258 yards and seven touchdowns in his seven-year career, Arnold spent last season out of football and is still unsigned.

Aug 28, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets tight end C.J. Uzomah (87)

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

The only thing that has changed between Arnold and Thursday’s signing of Uzomah is the situation. Jack Stoll is no longer with the Eagles, bolting in free agency for the New York Giants. Not that the former undrafted free agent from Nebraska provided much offense in Goedert's absence.

Returning to the battle to be Goedert’s backup are Albert Okewuegbunam and Grant Calcaterra.

Uzomah’s resume has more stuffing to it as well. The 6-5, 270-pound Auburn product has played nine years with 192 catches for 1,881 yards and 10 touchdowns. He is, however, 31.

What does he have left? After seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, Uzomah signed a three-year contract with the New York Jets for $24 million, with $15M guaranteed at signing and a $6.9M signing bonus.

He didn’t give the Jets much bang for that buck, though, playing in 27 games but making just 29 catches for 290 yards and three touchdowns.

There is no guarantee he makes the Eagles’ roster, just like there was no guarantee for Arnold.

Rodgers worked out well for the Eagles back in 2018 when they signed him as a free agent. He played just eight games for them before 2019, but when Goedert went down with a calf injury and missed four games, Rodgers stepped up in a big way.

The veteran tight end made 24 catches for 345 yards and two touchdowns in eight of nine games, including during the time Goedert was out.

Maybe Uzomah can do what Rodgers did if he is needed in more of a role should something again happen to Goedert.

It was worth taking a chance to find out just as it was last year when they took a chance on Arnold.

Perhaps Okewuegbunam or Calcaterra beat out Ozumah, and that that would be fine, but it may even be worth drafting a tight end when the process begins on April 25 and runs through April 27. It is not a very deep class at that position so if the Eagles want one they would probably have to take one among the top 120 or possibly wait to sign one as an undrafted free agent.