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Eagles sign Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate, list him at wide receiver [UPDATE]

Quarterback factory!

Arizona v Oregon Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images

UPDATE: The Eagles are officially listing Khalil Tate at wide receiver.

Original story below.


The Philadelphia Eagles are signing Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate as an undrafted rookie free agent, according to NFLPA registered player financial advisor Mickey McGill.

The Eagles only had one roster opening after making 10 picks in the 2020 NFL Draft and signing 12 UDFAs. It looks like Tate is getting the last spot.

Tate, 21, appeared in 40 games over four years with the Wildcats. Our friends over at Arizona Desert Swarm wrote the following about him:

Tate is coming off a senior season in which he started nine games, and threw for 1,954 yards with 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also ran for 413 yards and three scores.

For his career, Tate threw for 6,318 yards and 57 TDs and ran for 2,285 yards with 18 scores, his 75 total TDs responsible for most in school history. His best year was in 2017 when, as a sophomore, he burst onto the national scene with an unreal run of performances after coming off the bench for an injured Brandon Dawkins.

Tate ran for an FBS quarterback-record 327 yards and four TDs at Colorado, the start of six consecutive games with 100-plus rushing yards.

Tate entered the 2018 season as a Heisman Trophy candidate, landing on the cover of Sports Illustrated during the preseason, only to see the combination of an ankle injury and an offensive scheme change neutralize his running ability. He finished the year with only 224 rushing yards and two scores but did throw for 2,530 yards and 26 TDs.

ADS also notes that Tate has been training with some guy named Donovan McNabb.

Tate likely figures to be a training camp arm for the Eagles, assuming camp even takes place. He’s fifth on the depth chart behind Carson Wentz, Jalen Hurts, Nate Sudfeld, and Kyle Lauletta.

Signing Tate makes sense since the Eagles are a quarterback factory. Seriously, though, it’s interesting that the team is suddenly showing a lot of interest in quarterbacks who can run in both Hurts and Tate.

Scouting report via NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein.

He appeared headed to a featured role as a dual-threat quarterback, but failed to put himself on the map as a passer or dual-threat prospect after 2017. His footwork and accuracy have been long-term issues and if Tate wants to play quarterback, he’s more likely to get a shot in a developmental league. He does have outstanding size, speed and athletic ability, which plays directly into a positional switch to receiver. His ability to fling the ball around offers intriguing package potential, as well. Ultimately, Tate will require a long-term plan and patience, whether he plays quarterback or receiver, and he’ll have to prove he’s determined enough to do what’s needed to make it.

It remains to be seen if the Eagles will keep Tate at quarterback or move him to another position.

The last Arizona quarterback on the Eagles’ roster — Nick Foles — wasn’t too bad.

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