Nick Graham came out of nowhere to earn a 53-man roster spot. That is often the case for undrafted rookies who hook on with a team in the days following draft weekend.

Graham spent the minicamps just learning the NFL game and then put together a good training camp and really came on in the preseason.

Quite simply, he made plays; more plays than sixth-round pick Rashad Barksdale and more plays than Dustin Fox, a former third-round pick of the Vikings who was fighting for a roster spot.

Following in the footsteps of Rod Hood, the last undrafted rookie cornerback to make the 53-man opening-day roster, Graham excelled on special teams while also providing depth in the defensive backfield. Despite being inactive for one game, he finished third on the team in special teams tackles (16) and fifth in special teams production points (169). He made his NFL debut on Sept. 17 against Washington and registered a team-high three special teams tackles. Graham's time at cornerback was brief. He was not credited with a tackle on defense.

Graham's special teams prowess can be traced back to his days at Tulsa. In his junior year, Graham blocked a punt against Houston that was returned for a touchdown. In an overtime battle with Navy a year later, Graham had a walk-off extra point block to seal a 24-23 win. His seven interceptions in his final two seasons were significant, but his work in the third area of the game was even more impressive.

Graham first caught the attention of the Eagles coaches in training camp, when he was bumped up the depth chart following injuries to Lito Sheppard and Fox. Working with second-team defense, Graham had the opportunity to play against the first-team offense and receivers like Kevin Curtis. And while Graham allowed a fair share of catches to Curtis, he didn't blow his coverage and wasn't beat deep. Needless to say, when he went against non-starters he performed even better.

Graham continued his fine play in the preseason. He had a fourth-quarter interception against the Steelers and followed that up with four tackles against the Jets. In the days preceding the final roster cuts, wide receiver Greg Lewis -- a former rookie free agent himself -- could be heard campaigning for the young man in the locker room.

Bottom line: Graham refused to look at the numbers at his position. Instead, he focused on making the most of his opportunities. His play -- both in practice and in the four preseason games -- earned him a spot with the team. With a good offseason, Graham has a chance to become a more vital part of the secondary.

- BOB KENT 

NOTE: PhiladelphiaEagles.com will not profile players scheduled to become unrestricted free agents.

This is an important offseason for Graham, who came from nowhere and made the team with a fine spring and excellent training camp last summer. Graham, at 5 feet 10, 191 pounds, is a tenacious guy who has a chip on his shoulder and as we have seen in the past with players like Al Harris and Rod Hood, that motivation can serve as a powerful tool.

Graham has to work on refining his technique in the offseason, and he needs to work on his strength and his burst. He has a good sense of how to play the position for a young guy and he is going to challenge for a roster spot and some playing time. It should be a competitive situation, especially if the Eagles bring in cornerback help in the months ahead.