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The Eagles have spent a lot of time addressing the safety position this offseason. The team brought in Malcolm Jenkins and Chris Maragos in free agency and drafted Stanford's Ed Reynolds in the fifth round of the draft. After the selection process, the Eagles added more competition to the group by signing undrafted free agent Daytawion Lowe.
The Oklahoma State safety may have gone undrafted but his tape and college career speak for themselves. While Justin Gilbert got all the headlines, Lowe served as an enforcer on Oklahoma State's defense.
College Career
A native of Oklahoma City, Lowe did not have to travel far to play college ball. He committed to Oklahoma City in 2009 and played in 11 games as a true freshman. He collected 10 tackles, but missed two games due to injury. In 2010, Lowe was forced to redshirt his sophomore season after suffering a shoulder injury in the offseason.
He returned in 2011 and led the team with 97 tackles and added an interception after starting 13 games. In 2012, Lowe was tied for the team lead in tackles with 75 and added two interceptions. He was named second-team All-Big 12 as a redshirt senior, after finishing the season with 87 tackles and two interceptions in 13 starts. Lowe finished his career with 39 straight starts.
Pro Day Numbers
*Was not invited to NFL Combine
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 196 lbs
40: 4.45 seconds
Vertical Jump: 37.5 inches (would have ranked 3rd at the Combine in 2014)
Strengths
Lowe is a big and heavy hitter. He has solid instincts and plays the sidelines well. He is patient against the run and displays quality coverage ability. He is aggressive and crafty with the ball in the air. Lowe will knock the ball out of a receiver's hands and doesn't mind getting his hands dirty. He will lay out ball carriers. He plays bigger than he is in games.
Weaknesses
At times, he is a bit slow to react. He has stiff hips and doesn't run to his Pro Day speed. He tackles low and while that worked in college, it may prove difficult at the NFL level. He has a history of injuries, which is a bit concerning. His lack of change of direction ability shows on tape and Oklahoma State protected him for the most part in that regard.
How He Fits
Lowe is likely to compete with Reynolds and Keelan Johnson for the fifth and final safety spot (yes, they will keep five safeties due to Maragos). While he doesn't have the experience in the defense that Johnson has or was drafted like Reynolds, Lowe may be the most savvy of the three. He is a hard worker and displays leadership ability. He is also an enforcer and a player that would likely do well on special teams. He is facing an uphill battle to make the roster but it may not be as big of a long-shot as it looks on the surface.
In Action
*Draft Breakdown only had one video dedicated to Lowe, but he really stands out on this tape of Justin Gilbert against Missouri.