Everything happened so quickly for quarterback Carson Strong when the 2022 NFL Draft ended. He and his agent fielded a flood of phone calls from teams interested in signing Strong, a record-setting and incredibly prolific performer in his seasons at the University of Nevada. That the Eagles showed interest in Strong before the draft in the person of Assistant Quarterbacks Coach/Offensive Assistant Alex Tanney, who spent time with Strong discussing the team's scheme, tilted Strong's thinking in Philadelphia's direction.
And here he is, one of four quarterbacks on the 90-man roster, working diligently on presenting himself in the best light possible. Strong shrugged off the NFL Draft diss, saying it was "humbling" to be bypassed through seven rounds after he threw for 9,368 yards, 74 touchdowns, and only 19 interceptions in 32 games, 31 of them as a starter.
A long-time knee injury that has required multiple surgeries appears to have been a significant factor in Strong's NFL Draft fate, but he says he is healthy now and focused on one thing and one thing only – making the Eagles' roster.
"I'm just lucky to have a chance here with the Eagles – great coaches, great organization – and so I'm just eager to learn and get better," Strong said. "The Eagles are giving me a chance and I can't be more grateful for that. To be honest, I thought I was going to get drafted ... but at the end of the day after the seventh round after talking to the Eagles, I could tell they believed in me and they wanted me to come here and so I'm just happy and lucky to be here."
As much as the Eagles wanted Strong, he also chose Philadelphia primarily because of the coaching staff and the offense, as he knew it then. He's now immersed in the X's and O's and – along with Jalen Hurts, Gardner Minshew, and Reid Sinnett – is digging in on a daily basis.
How many quarterbacks will the Eagles keep on the 53-man roster? How does Strong fit in? These are questions that will be answered as August rolls along.
"They're all really good players. They're all different in their own way, but they can all play at a really high level," Strong said. "Jalen is an amazing athlete and he can spin the ball better than anyone I've ever seen and Gardner, he's just such a student of the game and he does everything the right way. Reid has been really cool bringing me under his wing as well, so I'm lucky to be a part of this quarterback room."
Strong knows he has a lot to work on and he's extremely critical of his game. On Saturday, for the first time, Strong saw some reps in 11-on-11 work and "sailed a ball" and also threw an interception in 7-on-7 work.
The bottom line? "I have a lot to work on and get better at for sure," Strong said.
