In case you missed it, the New York Giants claimed rookie linebacker Joey Alfieri off waivers from the Philadelphia Eagles over the weekend. Here are some things you need to know about Alfieri.
How he got here
He is a 6-foot-3, 239-pound linebacker who played for Stanford and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent. Alfieri played 47 games at Stanford with 25.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.
The scouting report
From NFL.com:
Alfieri played along the edge at Stanford but projects to a 4-3 outside linebacker role as either a WILL or SAM depending on what is asked of him. He plays with good aggression and technique at the point of attack and teams could get excited by his fast 40-yard dash time, but he can be more linear than fluid thanks to inconsistent change of direction. His special teams traits and ability to match up with big tight ends in coverage bolster his chances of making a roster or practice squad.
What “Rule of Tree’ thinks
For those who don’t know, Rule of Tree is the SB Nation web site covering Stanford.
Jack Blanchet of Rule of Tree said Alfieri was “a rock solid 3-4 outside linebacker for the Cardinal for the last four years.”
Blanchet had this to say about Alfieri’s NFL prospects:
“As far as NFL ability goes, he’s a solid athlete but not exactly starter material at this point. He’s a bit better as an edge-setter than pass-rusher, but I imagine he has special teams and backup ability at this point.”
His Pro Day numbers
Here is what Alfieri did at the Stanford Pro Day:
40-yard dash: 4.53
Vertical jump: 33.5
Broad jump: 9-foot-10
Bench press: 17 reps
What a former Eagles teammate said
“Joey is just stupid athletic,” Eagles rookie offensive guard Nate Herbig, who was college teammates with Alfieri told NJ Advance Media this spring. “He’s very smart [and] just has really good ball instincts.”