Defensive tackle Jeremy Clark, cornerback Nick Graham and safety Marcus Paschal are three of the nine rookie free agents who will look to follow in the footsteps of Jamaal Jackson, Greg Lewis, Quintin Mikell, Nick Cole, Tank Daniels and Pat McCoy. Those last six players mentioned all fell through the cracks in the draft only to earn a roster spot and play for the Eagles.

Jackson, Lewis and Mikell took a step further by earning contract extensions.

But first things first for the current crop of rookie free agents. Thursday night's preseason finale against the Jets is the final audition for these nine players. Clark, Graham, Paschal and defensive end Marques Murrell will start in a game that may not mean anything in the standings, but will mean the world for these players. By Saturday at 4PM, most of the rookie free agents will be out of a job, hoping to keep their NFL dreams alive elsewhere.

While the players know that, they understand that those final roster decisions are ultimately out of their control.

"I just have to go out and play every play like it's my last, have fun and let everything else take care of itself," said Clark as he sat at his makeshift locker drinking Gatorade on Tuesday afternoon. "I have to worry about what I can control and that's going out and playing well Thursday."

Clark is listed third on the depth chart at left defensive tackle behind Mike Patterson and LaJuan Ramsey. However, Ramsey has been felled by a high ankle sprain and fellow defensive tackle Ian Scott was sidelined for the entire preseason with a knee injury.

Cornerback Nick Graham has been given a lot of advice since he signed with the Eagles following April's draft. First, don't look at the numbers. Graham, who grew up an Eagles fan, said he only looked at the numbers when he made the decision to sign and at that point he decided the best situation for him was here in Philadelphia.

The second nugget of wisdom he was conveyed was what he described as the "magic formula" for making the team.

"You just have to go out there and make plays," said Graham, who had an interception against the Steelers last Sunday.

Paschal will start Thursday, but he's already earned a significant time on special teams during the preseason. While Paschal battles fellow rookie, C.J. Gaddis, a fifth-round draft pick, for the fourth safety spot, Paschal doesn't want to look to closely into how the coaches have utilized him to this point.

"You can't count your chickens before they've hatched," said Paschal.

The pain of being passed over in the draft has come and gone for the rookie free agents. They've had the chance to hear from the players who were once in their own spot. They've had the chance to compete on the same level as the players who were drafted, as well as, the veterans. Now, it all comes down to Thursday night. One last opportunity to showcase your ability. One last occasion to prove you belong on the final 53-man roster.