Jordan Mailata: the Eagles Most Underappreciated Player

Jordan Mailata has been one of the most talked-about names in the NFL for his exploits with the Philadelphia Eagles, yet he doesn’t appear to be getting the attention his performances warrant.

The Australian, who was picked in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Eagles, spent several seasons in the practice squad before getting his break. Then, he made his debut in week 4 of the 2020 season after replacing injured rookie Jack Driscoll in the third quarter of a clash with the Washington Commanders.

During the offseason, statisticians dissect what went on from the campaign before, and it has determined Mailata to be one of the most underappreciated NFC players.

This is despite stats showing that Mailata was able to snuff out defenders away from runners behind him, which was longer than any other left tackle in 2022.

It seems easy to forget that Mailata featured in his first Super Bowl earlier this year for the Eagles, although they were edged out 38-35 in a gripping contest by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Although the Eagles had more total drives (10) in that game, they lost more fumbles and had more rushing 1st downs.

We also should take some time to reflect the journey on the 26-year-old Mailata has been on. Included as part of the International Pathway Program aimed specifically to increase NFL participation, Mailata hasn’t always found it easygoing. Well, that is because he had to make the switch from a different code — NRL.

Although he had an undistinguished career with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Mailata arguably brought the NRL into sharper focus and helped put the sport on the map. Despite the increasing exodus of players moving from the NRL to the NFL, the NRL still has a big pull.

Bettors looking to wager on the NRL will have no trouble finding reputable sites for NRL online betting in Australia. Aside from the usual betting giants, such as Unibet and bet365, PlayUp has a big reputation with bettors Down Under, and you will find a raft of pre-match lines for any NRL games as well as futures to tuck into if you like to take a more long-term perspective with your betting.

Mailata may have taken time to find his feet, and while he was recently rewarded with a bumper four-year contract worth $64 million, he seems to be rather undervalued.

From the stats that were brought up assessing the previous campaign, Mailata is starting to look more assured at the Eagles, and he brings a lot to the table in terms of work rate and overall attitude.

Of course, the Eagles will drum up plenty of interest when the new NFL season kicks off on September 8.

The next goal as one of the best left tackles in the NFL will be for Mailata to play in the Pro Bowl, and he has gone from strength to strength.

Whatever happens, Jordan Mailata should be cherished by the Eagles, because it may not be long before other big teams take notice and swoop in for him.

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Tags: Football, Jordan Mailata, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles

About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.