Fred Johnson
Philadelphia EaglesModel Score
How good he is at what he is supposed to be doing, out of 100. Not a projection of what he will do next, and not a read on his contract. Median is about 70, and a 95 is rare. How it is built →
Season Stats · 15 games
Draft & College
STM Take
From career tier 6-8 finishes (#43 in 2020 with Cincinnati, #73 in 2024 with Buffalo) to tier 1 (#5) in 2025 is the kind of veteran journeyman upside the Eagles' OL coach Jeff Stoutland is famous for unlocking. The 29-year-old age plus the UDFA pedigree means the breakout is genuinely surprising; the 2026 question is whether it was system-aided or whether Johnson has new technique.
Johnson came out of Florida as an undrafted free agent in 2019 with Pittsburgh, then was claimed off waivers by Cincinnati where he spent four seasons as a swing tackle. He bounced through Houston (2023) and Buffalo (2024) before Philadelphia signed him as veteran depth for 2025. He stepped into a meaningful role when Eagles tackle injuries hit, and the tier 1 #5 finish on what was likely a half-season starter sample is one of the more surprising OT lines on the board.
Strengths
- Career arc from UDFA to tier 1 (#5) with the Eagles in his 7th NFL season is the rare veteran journeyman success story. Jeff Stoutland's coaching is the consistent variable across these stories.
- Six prior NFL seasons of survival as a swing tackle confirms reliable per-snap technique. The Eagles' OL identity rewards backups who can step into either tackle spot.
Concerns
- Single tier 1 season at age 29 plus the UDFA pedigree raises real sustainability questions. The 2024 Buffalo #73 finish was just one year ago.
- His 2026 role depends on Eagles' tackle health (Lane Johnson at 36, Jordan Mailata's injury history) more than his own consistent production.
What to watch: Whether Johnson's 2026 snap share clears 60% as a starter or whether he returns to swing-tackle backup duty.