Recently acquired quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson met with the media virtually for the first time as an Eagle on Thursday.
Thompson-Robinson, who was traded from the Cleveland Browns along with a fifth-round pick for Kenny Pickett, took a look at the Eagles' practice facility inside the NovaCare Complex before speaking with local reporters.
However, it wasn't his first time inside the building.
The former UCLA Bruin took a top-30 visit with Philadelphia ahead of the 2023 draft but was ultimately selected by the Browns in the fifth round.
'To be back here definitely feels good for sure," Thompson-Robinson said.
"This was one of my favorite teams coming out in the draft process. I loved everything about my visit here, just the way it was ran."
The 6-foot-2 quarterback started five games in two seasons with the Browns, completing 121-of-230 passes for 880 yards and one touchdown. He added 187 yards on 35 carries as a dual-threat quarterback.
Thompson-Robinson also has some familiarity and connection to the quarterback room which currently consists of Super Bowl LIX MVP Jalen Hurts and third-year player Tanner McKee.
"I'll jump right into the quarterback room – I've crossed paths with Jalen a few times. He's worked with a chess mentor of mine in Seth Makowsky, so we have a little bit of familiarity there. I'll have to ask him a bit about chess once I get into the room and if he wants to play a couple games or two," Thompson-Robinson said.
"Me and Tanner were in the same quarterback class in high school, so I've known Tanner for a while now. I've been able to really admire his game. Obviously, I played him in the Pac-12 when he was at Standford, so I've been able to follow Tanner for a while."
The Las Vegas native says he's "pretty good if anyone wants to get a match in, I'll get you guys my Chess.com account."
He used to play every day during his time at UCLA and now still plays frequently. The skills he learns from the game is something he uses when it comes to being an NFL quarterback.
"So much of this position is about decision-making. I think that's really all chess is, it's just a board to make decisions on and every decision means something. You have to be consistent in that," Thompson-Robinson said. "I think that's really how it helps playing quarterback and really all positions. It's just being able to take that same mentality and mindset into the game and know that you've got to be locked in for a full four quarters."
As he enters Year 3 in the league, Thompson-Robinson has a chance to learn from another multi-threat quarterback in Hurts, who will be 27 at the start of the 2025 regular season.
"I think everybody just raves about how professional he is both on and off the field, especially at such a young age. So, really just getting to see that approach every day," Thompson-Robinson said about getting to learn from Hurts. "Support him and compete with him in any way I can. That's only going to make me better, as well as the rest of the room. I've been a fan and admired Jalen for quite some time now."
The new QB is ready to learn and do whatever it takes to prepare for the start of the 2025 season.
"Just diving in with these new teammates, diving in with this new playbook. Really being a sponge to Jalen (Hurts) as well as coach in the quarterback room and making sure there's no stone unturned," Thompson-Robinson concluded with. – Written by Liam Wichser