The LA Chargers (along with the rest of the NFL) had to cut the roster down to 53 players by Tuesday. There were a lot of tough decisions that the Chargers had to make but ultimately the team rolled out a great-looking 53-man roster, albeit with some surprises.
One player who appeared to be on the roster bubble was cornerback Tiawan Mullen. The undrafted rookie cornerback played really well in the preseason and had traits that the Chargers typically seek after with his athleticism, versatility in the secondary, and strong special teams play.
It appeared that the Chargers were going to choose between carrying an extra cornerback with Mullen or carrying an extra safety with Mark Webb Jr. Instead, the Chargers went with another undrafted rookie, AJ Finley, at the safety position.
Many fans expected to see Mullen on the Chargers practice squad after being waived so Brandon Staley and the coaching staff could continue to develop him. Mullen ultimately was not one of the initial players signed to the practice squad as he instead signed to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad.
CB Tiawan Mullen (Chargers) is signing with Eagles practice squad, per source.
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) August 30, 2023
It may seem trivial, but the fact that the Eagles of all teams are the ones that made room for Mullen on the practice squad should be slightly alarming for Chargers fans.
Eagles signing Tiawan Mullen to practice squad is bad news for the Chargers
If there is one team in the league that deserves a crown for evaluating talent and always being ahead of the curve it is the Philadelphia Eagles. Time and time again the Eagles will pull off savvy signings, trades and draft picks that most other teams in the league overlooked.
It is similar to the Los Angeles Dodgers in baseball. If the Dodgers see something in a pitcher and bring them in that is typically a great sign for said player. If the Eagles see something in a player, particularly a defensive player, then that is probably a great sign for them. Just look at Kyzir White last year.
Does this mean that Mullen is going to be a huge contributor to the Eagles in his rookie year? No. But it shows that the potential that Chargers fans saw in the preseason and training camp isn't a mirage. It is real. The Eagles have proven it.
Mullen has the traits to be a productive player in the NFL. Now that he is with the Eagles he will be in a situation that will maximize his potential. It might not be long until Chargers fans are playing the "what if" game with Mullen.