Undersized Eagles lineman is making noise during training camp
· Yahoo Sports
The Philadelphia Eagles have earned a reputation for finding offensive linemen in places other teams overlook. Some certainly arrive as premium draft picks. Others emerge from the middle rounds.
A select few begin their journeys with almost no fanfare at all. Willie Lampkin falls firmly in the latter category. He entered the league as an undrafted rookie in 2025. He signed with the Los Angeles Rams on April 28, 2025, but was waived with an injury designation on August 26 as part of the final roster cuts.
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Philadelphia claimed him off waivers a day later and placed him on their injured reserve two days after that. With a few of the Eagles' starters missing time so far, this year's version of training camp has provided the best chance he has had to prove he belongs.
The second-year offensive lineman isn't generating many headlines, and he probably won't. His path to the 53-man roster remains difficult to envision given Philadelphia's depth up front. Still, training camp is beginning to reveal why the Eagles felt he was worth developing in the first place.
Willie Lampkin is showing why the Eagles remained patient
Lampkin's NFL story has been unusual since its beginning. Now healthy, he's finally getting an opportunity to show what the organization saw in him. He ranks among the top second-year Eagles capable of making a huge leap in year two.
The first thing that stands out is what doesn't fit. Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer mentioned this in a recent camp write-up. At roughly 5-foot-11 and under 300 pounds, Lampkin doesn't possess the traditional frame most NFL teams seek along the interior offensive line.
That size disadvantage creates obvious questions about how he'd hold up against some of the league's larger defensive tackles and nose guards. The Eagles, however, have never evaluated offensive linemen solely by height and weight. Technique matters. Leverage matters. Competitiveness matters.
Lampkin has quietly displayed all three. Recent practices have shown a player capable of holding his own in pass protection while also generating movement in the run game. He's spent time at both center and guard, versatility that only increases his value as he competes for a roster spot.
McLane also states the following:
"Lampkin stoned undrafted rookie defensive tackle Zion Wilson in one-on-ones. He lined up mostly at center in the first week of camp, but he was at right guard on Friday. He’s a technically sound run blocker. He was able to move defensive tackle Byron Young. But he also didn’t cede much ground in pass protection."
That doesn't mean his climb will be easy. Philadelphia boasts one of the NFL's deepest offensive line rooms, and several players currently appear ahead of him in the pecking order. Making the active roster could require an exceptional finish to camp and the preseason.
Still, the Eagles have built one of football's best offensive line development programs by identifying traits others overlook and giving players time to grow. Lampkin may never become a starter. He may not even make the initial 53-man roster.
But if the first week of camp is any indication, he's beginning to show why the Eagles viewed him as a worthwhile investment. And when it comes to offensive linemen in Philadelphia, that's usually enough reason to keep paying attention.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Undersized Eagles lineman is making noise during training camp