After joining the Eagles in the middle of last season, former Panthers' third-round pick Daeshon Hall worked hard this offseason to get bigger.
Jim Schwartz noticed.
"I think you're seeing a stronger, more physical player than when he got here last year," the defensive coordinator said.
Hall had a busy offseason working out with Donovonn Young at Nine Innovations in Houston. Coming from a 3-4 defense, Hall worked tirelessly to put on weight as he transitioned back to a 4-3 defensive end with the Eagles.
Last season, the 6-foot-6 Hall weighed under 250 pounds. Now? He's in the 270s.
Sports
In partnership with NBC Sports Philadelphia
That's a lot of time in the weight room, but it seems to be paying off. The 24-year-old filled up the stat sheet in Thursday's preseason opener. In 43 snaps, Hall had 6 tackles, 3 TFLs, 2 QB hits, a sack and a forced fumble and played through a shoulder injury that has kept him out of practice as the start of this week.
Hall insists the shoulder injury isn't significant and he hopes to be ready for the second preseason game in Jacksonville on Thursday. With the season-ending injury to Joe Ostman, there appears to be some opportunity with the Eagles and Hall sees it too.
The Panthers drafted Hall out of Texas A&M in the third round back in 2017 but he lasted just one year in Carolina. They cut him before the 2018 season. Last year, Hall was with the 49ers, then the Texans and then joined the Eagles in December.
It's unusual for a team to give up on a third-round pick so early.
"It was a shock but that's how the business works. … Just gotta go with it," Hall said. "I accepted it. Got some more opportunities and just trying to make the most of the opportunity I have."
Hall played in three regular season games down the stretch, picking up the first half sack of his career, and was with them for the two-game playoff run.
Now, he's trying to make the roster after a full offseason with the Eagles, who are seeing the talent that once made Hall a third-round pick.
"I do because he's a good rusher," defensive line coach Phillip Daniels said. "He can get on the edge and he's slippery. He's physical at the point of contact. I can see what made him a third-round pick. I watched him when he was coming out and he was a good player."
It turns out he's still a good player. And he has a chance to stick around.
Click here to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.
