2 Florida Gators invited to rookie minicamps by NFL teams
The Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed an undrafted free agent from the Florida Gators after the 2025 NFL Draft. Both teams have also invited a second UF player to their rookie minicamp.
The Super Bowl LIX champions have invited linebacker R.J. Moten, while the Bucs are bringing in defensive lineman Joey Slackman. Philadelphia also signed running back Montrell Johnson Jr. and Tampa Bay inked nose tackle Desmond Watson.
The rookie minicamps for the Eagles and Buccaneers are May 2-3 and May 9-11, respectively.
Moten made 23 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 0.5 sacks and a pass breakup in 2024 and attended the Eagles local pro day, according to James Simone, who first reported the invitation. R.J.’s father, Ron, was drafted by Philadelphia in the sixth round of the 1987 NFL Draft.
Slackman made five tackles last year after transferring from Penn, where he was the 2023 Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year. Slackman cross-trained as an offensive lineman during Florida’s Pro Day, although it’s unclear where he will work out with the Bucs.
UF coach Billy Napier indicated that Slackman could a better chance at making an NFL roster on the offensive side of the ball, which is where he would have recruited him out of high school.
“That was some of the feedback after the season. Joey maybe has more earning potential in the future as a center or guard at the next level,” Napier said. “The intelligence, the football IQ. This will be a long-term commitment from a big picture standpoint, but definitely a guy who, what a competitor, what an incredible leader. Just a blue-collar tough guy. So, I’m excited for Joey and if he was available now as a young player, we’d take him as a center or guard.”
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Gators in the NFL Draft
WR Chimere Dike: Round 4, Pick 103 – Tennessee Titans
DL Cam Jackson: Round 5, Pick 140 – Carolina Panthers
CB Jason Marshall Jr.: Round 5, Pick 150 – Miami Dolphins
LB Shemar James: Round 5, Pick 152 – Dallas Cowboys
QB Graham Mertz: Round 6, Pick 197 – Houston Texans
P Jeremy Crawshaw: Round 6, Pick 216 – Denver Broncos
DB Trikweze Bridges: Round 7, Pick 256 – Los Angeles Chargers
Florida UDFA signings
RB Montrell Johnson Jr.: – Philadelphia Eagles
WR Elijhah Badger: – Kansas City Chiefs
OL Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson: – Tennessee Titans
DL Desmond Watson: – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
ATH Ja’Markis Weston: – New York Jets
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