When the Philadelphia Eagles rolled the dice on Tim Tebow in April, everyone knew the former 2010 first round pick (No. 25 overall) out of Florida was faced with very long odds of making the team.
In fact, Bovada had him as a -200 favorite to be released before the start of the regular season.
But despite “struggling” in OTAs, Tebow seems to have a decent shot of sticking around now as the No. 3 QB and potential gadget player with strong leadership traits and ability to make plays with his legs.
NJ.com’s Eliot Shorr-Parks actually included Tebow in his updated 53-man roster projection last month.
And Eagles starting outside linebacker Brandon Graham also happens to believe in Tebow.
“Tim Tebow is going to shock a lot of people, because he is going to make the team,” Graham told Detroit radio host Lauren Beasley. “And I think he will play a lot.”
It’s unclear what role Tebow would have with the Eagles if he does make the team, but he could certainly help the Eagles win tight games with his clutch playmaking ability, particularly if he’s used in two-point conversion attempts.
Tebow’s roster status and undetermined role in the Eagles’ offense is among the most interesting storylines to watch over the next month and a half leading up to the start of the regular season.
Graham, also a former 2010 first round pick (No. 13 overall) out of Michigan, was once widely regarded as a draft bust, but he really impressed as a rotational pass rusher last year, notching 47 tackles with 5.5 sacks and four forced fumbles across 524 snaps and grading out as the NFL’s fifth-best 3-4 outside linebacker, per Pro Football Focus.
Last year’s emergence earned him a four-year, $26 million contract from the Eagles this spring, and despite undergoing a challenging transition this offseason as the team’s new starting 3-4 OLB opposite Barwin — which will include having to drop into coverage — Graham has his sights set on taking his game to the next level in 2015.
“Coach Kelly he just made me get back into my comfort zone, as far as like standing up,” Graham said.
“I want to break out this year and show them what they’ve been missing,” Graham added. “I’ve just been working so hard. Yesterday was so hard, I almost passed out. I was just going too hard because I was just thinking about a lot, as far as I just can’t wait to get out there. I just really thank Chip Kelly because he got my mind right.”
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