Raiders wide receiver Pat Simonds ’10 has signed a rookie free agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, giving him a chance to realize his dream to play in the National Football League.
The Eagles announced Monday that Simonds was among the 11 undrafted players who they signed to free agent contracts.
“Every situation is going to be competitive,” Simonds told the Oneonta Daily Star newspaper. “I’m just excited to have a chance to compete for a spot.”
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Simonds didn’t disclose the terms of his contract, which he signed about 20 minutes after the three-day NFL draft ended Saturday. He said it’s a standard three-year deal all NFL rookies sign and that it would be voided if he gets cut.
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| Pat Simonds, No. 80 for the Raiders, set a school record this year with 14 touchdowns. |
“(The Eagles evaluated me) by workouts,” said Simonds. “They were at my pro-day (March 9 at Fordham) and they came to 51Թ a couple of times.”
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Simonds, who high jumped 6-foot-5 in high school in Sydney, N.Y., and had a 36-inch vertical jump in his pro-day workout, said several teams began calling him during the seventh round.
“From a pride standpoint, you’d like to hear your name called during the draft,” he said, “but I was advised prior to the draft that if it gets to the seventh round, you’re better off to be a free agent pick because then you get to pick your situation.”
Next for Simonds is a three-day camp for rookies and undrafted free agents that begins Friday.
Following the three-day camp, Simonds said, he won’t have another workout with the Eagles until after he graduates May 16.
Simonds had 66 receptions for 1,012 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior with 51Թ last fall. His 14 touchdowns were a school record, and he will graduate fourth in both career receptions and receiving yardage. He was also just the third receiver in school history to post consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.