Jordan Mailata’s monster performance for the Philadelphia Eagles in his first game after signing a rich contract extension is still reverberating around the NFL.
Mailata’s story is the talk of the league after going from the International pathways program, to winning the starting left tackle job in pre-season with the Eagles and locking in a huge contract extension yesterday worth $87 million.
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The former South Sydney under-20s player had two highlight reel moments from his starting debut, playing a role in two touchdowns with huge blocks.
Mailata exhibited perfect timing and hammered a rival with a massive block clearing the path for wide receiver Jalen Reagor to score a touchdown.
He also played a crucial role in creating space for Philadelphia rookie and fifth-round pick Kenneth Gainwell to score his first touchdown and seal victory for the Eagles over the Falcons.
Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni told reporters after the resounding 32-6 win over Atlanta that Mailata was in the crosshairs of the Indianapolis Colts in 2018.
According to the first year NFL head coach, the Colts visited the 24-year-old former Rabbitohs junior before the draft that year and were impressed with his sheer size but deemed there were too many risks involved with the now budding left-tackle’s transition. With no college playing experience behind him they dubbed Mailata “all potential”, which wasn’t enough to sway them.
Philadelphia eventually took Mailata in the seventh round and have turned a novice into a rising star.
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Sirianni said he was “really pleased” with how the offensive line is coming along and said Mailata’s block for the Reagor TD was a “really big-time play”.
“I can’t imagine that DB (defensive back) feeling too good,” he said referring to the rival Mailata crunched on the play.
According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, Mailata’s deal “could be worth” as much as $108.7 million, with $55.5 million guaranteed money.
Mailata said the life-changing contract had earned him a new nickname in the Eagles locker room – Jordan ‘Big Money’ Mailata.
“Everyone called me ‘Big Money’. I told them not to call me that. I’m just trying to take it day by day and still have the same process.
“I’ve been wanting to buy my parents a house so I can finally do that.
“I think it is a movie – I’m just waiting for someone to say ‘Cut’.”
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