Tyler Steen played left offensive tackle for Alabama in the 2022 season. But when the Philadelphia Eagles selected Steen with the 65th pick in the NFL Draft on Friday night, they announced his position as guard.

That will be Steen’s path to the field as a rookie.

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Philadelphia’s offensive line is considered one of the best in the NFL under position coach Jeff Stoutland. But the Eagles have a hole at right guard after Isaac Seumalo signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency this offseason.

“We want to get him here and work with him and see what will happen next week at rookie minicamp,” Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni said after the Eagles picked Steen. “We think he has good flexibility. We feel like he can play both positions, and we’ll see what happens.”

Philadelphia has in-house candidates at right guard.

Jack Driscoll started nine games there in 2021. But the former Auburn standout also is the Eagles’ swing tackle and made starts last season as an injury replacement for left tackle Jordan Mailata and right tackle Lane Johnson. A second-round draft choice last year, Cam Jurgens is the backup to All-Pro center Jason Kelce. Sua Opeta has made three starts in his four seasons with Philadelphia.

“That’s really a long way away,” Sirianni said on Friday night when asked if Steen would get the opportunity to compete at right guard. “We don’t have to make that decision for a while. But the best player will play at that position. We feel like we have some good options. And the reason why we took (Steen) is because we feel good about him. Everybody in the building feels good about him, so it’s too early to say that, but the best player will play.”

In 2021, the Eagles used a second-round selection on Alabama center Landon Dickerson. Dickerson shifted to left guard and earned Pro Bowl recognition in 2022.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said Steen’s work at guard during practices for the Reese’s Senior Bowl had been “real valuable” in Philadelphia’s draft decision.

“You get to see him in the SEC playing tackle,” Roseman said. “Him going from Vandy to Alabama, I think was a huge growth, and playing left tackle for the University of Alabama, obviously, that’s a high-profile position. There’ve been a lot of NFL players play that position. And you watch him play tackle, and he’s had success there.

“Then he moved at the Senior Bowl. He played guard. You could see him moving people off the ball. You could see his athleticism in space. It’s a 6-6, 320-pound guy who started in the SEC. Smart guy. Comes from a great family. Obviously, coach Stoutland is a big part of our process as well and really excited to get his hands on him.”

Steen started 33 consecutive games at Vanderbilt before transferring to Alabama for the 2022 season.

Since Nick Saban became the Crimson Tide’s coach in 2007, every player who has been the regular starter at left tackle has been drafted. Steen joined a line that started with Andre Smith and has run through James Carpenter, Barrett Jones, Cyrus Kouandjio, Cam Robinson, Jonah Williams, Alex Leatherwood and Evan Neal. While Alabama was having nine left tackles drafted, Vanderbilt produced 18 total picks.

“I think what I learned the most is the level of competition at practice and in the weight room and the meeting room is high,” Steen said about his season at Alabama. “I think that’s kind of what I realized when I was at Alabama, and the fact that in order to be a really good player, obviously, you could show your stuff play in and play out, but it’s really about the consistency and being able to perform well on a play-by-play basis. I think that’s one of the main takeaways I took from Alabama.”

Steen said the chance to play guard during Senior Bowl week in Mobile gave him confidence entering his NFL opportunity.

“I felt pretty good over there,” Steen said. “I feel like I can play across the offensive line, and so getting the opportunity to play guard at the Senior Bowl was pretty good. I felt pretty comfortable over there. I took the same approach as playing tackle.”

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.