DeOntae LaWson

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Deontae Lawson lands a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI) on a three-year deal at roughly $1M AAV — a grade that reflects the inherent uncertainty of a rookie UDFA contract rather than any indictment of the player himself. There is no current season production to evaluate, which is exactly what you'd expect from a prospect entering his first professional camp, so the CVI leans heavily on projection and positional market context. At the linebacker position, undrafted free agent salaries consistently sit at the league minimum floor, and Lawson's $1M AAV is precisely that — a no-risk financial commitment that gives Philadelphia maximum flexibility to cut or elevate him based entirely on camp performance. The "surprisingly undrafted" narrative surrounding his Alabama pedigree is the most compelling factor working in his favor; SEC production at linebacker translates meaningfully to the professional level, and the prevailing sentiment suggests measurables — not talent — drove his draft-day slide. The Eagles have been active adding depth across the roster this offseason, and Lawson fits that pattern as a low-stakes developmental piece in what figures to be a competitive training camp battle. A practice squad landing spot represents the realistic ceiling in year one, though the three-year term on the deal gives the organization enough runway to develop him without burning a roster spot prematurely. At this price point, the CVI almost can't miss — the downside is a summer roster cut, and the upside is a depth linebacker who earned his way onto the 53 through production that outpaced expectations.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where DeOntae's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance AnalysisPre-Debut

DeOntae LaWson has not appeared in an NFL regular season game.

Fan Sentiment

Fan reaction and beat coverage cluster around a D sentiment grade for DeOntae Lawson. The Eagles' addition of the Alabama linebacker as an undrafted free agent has generated the kind of measured, procedural media attention typical of UDFA signings to contending rosters—straightforward coverage from beat reporters and dedicated fan communities, but no meaningful buzz or skepticism from the broader NFL audience. Lawson carries the modest credibility of his Alabama pedigree, which consistently produces NFL-caliber talent, but he enters as a pure depth and developmental prospect with everything to prove during the preseason. The Eagles' recent linebacker shuffling—releasing Isiah King and Za'Darius Smith while adding Lawson and reinforcing their defensive line with A.J. Epenesa—signals a wholesale roster restructuring at linebacker that leaves Lawson operating in an unsettled depth chart situation heading into training camp. His path from anonymous UDFA to roster relevance depends entirely on standout preseason performances; without immediate on-field evidence, he remains a fringe name in an organization that's already cycling through linebacker bodies, and the D-grade reflects that precarious, undefined standing just 91 days before the regular season opener.