The Eagles were quiet when free agency opened up; at least for a little while. It was not until 8:30 PM that the Eagles made moves official and there was more reports than just “visits” from specific players. Here is a look at each of the five signings from the busy day one for the Eagles.
Bradley Fletcher, CB, 6’0 200 pounds – two-year deal
Fletcher spent his first four seasons in the league with the Rams playing in 43 games. At just 26 years old, Fletcher was among the young defensive backs on the market. Fletcher can play physically and has been known to be an effective blitzer. The Iowa grad’s best season came in 2010 when he totaled 75 tackles and added four interceptions. In 2012 Fletcher added his fifth career interception and the first two forced fumbles of his career.
Fletcher fills one of the big needs the Eagles needed to fill in free agency. With the release of Nnamdi Asomugha early Tuesday and the unlikelihood of a new deal for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, the Eagles entered the new league year with just Brandon Boykin, Brandon Hughes, and Curtis Marsh as the cornerbacks under contract for 2013.
Patrick Chung, S, 5’11 210 pounds – three-year deal
Chung is also entering his fifth season after spending his first four years in the league with the Patriots. He is another one of the younger players on the market at just 25 years old and has played in 50 games with the Pats. Chung is a physical safety who is not afraid to claim the middle of the field as his own and punish anyone who enters his territory. The Jamaican-born safety has seven career interceptions, three career sacks, and two blocked kicks in his four year career.
The Eagles current starters, Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman, are special teams players at best. Chung is a legitimate starter in the NFL and will, by default, be the best safety the Eagles have had since Quintin Mikell (released by the Rams on Monday). There is an Oregon connection between Chung and Head Coach Chip Kelly; Kelly was only the offensive coordinator while Chung was there but a connection nonetheless. Patrick Chung can already be penciled in as the Eagles week one starter at safety.
James Casey, TE/FB/HB, 6’3 240 pounds – three-year deal
Casey was the first official signing for the Eagles 2013 free agency class. He is also the most intriguing. With the Texans for his first four years in the league, Casey was primarily used as an H-Back, running routes from the backfield and helping to block for Matt Schaub and Arian Foster. Casey’s first impressive year came in 2012 with 34 receptions for over 300 yards and 3 touchdown catches. He has only carried the ball twice so it is hard to define him as a fullback.
It will be interesting to see how Kelly will use the tight end as he has always been a fan of tight ends and uses them in a variety of ways. We could see a lot of tight ends heading into training camp, something that Kelly is no stranger to doing. This move still raises questions about Brent Celek, though. Is he expendable for the Eagles? If so, does he have any trade value before the draft? It will be exciting to see how Kelly decides to implement Casey into his offense.
Isaac Sopoaga, NT, 6’2 330 pounds – three-year deal
Sopoaga is the oldest of the five free agent signings at 31 years old. With eight year in the league, all with the 49ers, he has 125 career games under his extra-large sized belt. Sopoaga is a situational player having only played 395 out of 1257 snaps (31.4%) in the 15 games he played in 2012. He has never had more than 40 tackles or 1.5 sacks in a given season but he can still be a force and clog holes in the middle. The Hawaii grad and American Samoa native was a big factor in the 49ers Super Bowl run less than two months ago.
Sopoaga fills a need at nose tackle for the Eagles. Ricky Jean-Francois, a former teammate of Sopoaga’s and another Tom Gamble connection, is scheduled to meet with the Eagles tomorrow and it would be a surprise if he were to leave Philadelphia without a deal. Nose tackle is still an area for the Eagles to address unless they are hoping to condition a 31-year-old into making a transition from a situational to full-time player.
Jason Phillips, LB, 6’1 240 pounts – two-year deal
Phillips was a fifth round pick in 2009 by the Ravens and never made a huge impact. He was waived during the 2011 season but only stayed on the market for two days before the Panthers signed him. The 27-year-old has only played in 29 games in his four seasons in the NFL.
The Texas Christian graduate is likely a camp body. He will have to compete with other players to make the roster assuming the Eagles draft and sign a few more linebackers. Kelly said one of the reasons he liked the 3-4 defense was because it allowed to have more linebackers who can play special teams on the roster. Perhaps Phillips fits the special teams mold that Kelly and ST Coordinator Dave Fipp are looking for.
The Eagles didn’t sign any of the huge names like Dashon Goldson or Jake Long that have recently been linked to the teams. They did fill positions of need, though, less than five hours in to the league year. Obviously it is still very early but the Eagles defensive personnel already looks like an improvement of the 2012 squad. The release of Nnamdi Asomugha certainly helps that argument too. The team is far from done with free agency and more names will surface as the market thins and prices are set.
The new coaching staff did a good job on their first run at free agency. We’ll see what they have in store over the next few days and what it all means to the direction they head in April’s draft.
Follow Brenden on twitter @brendenp2011 for Eagles updates or email him at BPeddigree2011@gmail.com.
money
how much money did the Eagles spend today?
I think the question is how much did they save? You will pay more to see this team than you will to see RG3, Eli Manning, Payton Manning, Colin Kaepernick just to name a few This team screws its fan base over year in and year out.
Once again after 2 of the poorest years to be a season ticket holder they have come out of the gate ready to capture the “Salary Cap Bowl”because after all its not about winning its about winning cheap !
I will continue my finance strike against the shekel hoarders down at novacare.
Will not spend for merchandise or tickets until there’s a fundamental change in the FO..it’s clear Andy Reid was not the biggest issue here…He was a pathetic coach but the FO is showing there hand in the team’s nose dive.
This team will finish on the bottom of the NFC East again.
Didn’t they blow like 20 million today? On top of that, they are purging defensive players off the 49ers which is the type of physical defense we want. So I guess you wanted them to sign the biggest name out there…like they did with Nnamdi? Cause that worked out so well.
Im not going to complain on what they did so far. I wanted Cook or Walker. But those guys both got big money. I want them to get Goldson but I guess the Bucs are going all out for him. If we get Elam, I could care less about Goldson.
The way this team will really improve is how they draft this year not free agency.
Look at the Bears signings compared to the Eagles and you’ll understand why this organization wallow in mediocrity.
Remember the Bears needed a QB? They got their QB…needed a receiver? Got a baller while we were content with midgets.
They needed a LT and now have a beast…they needed a TE and signed Bennett.
Don’t worry though…ticket prices just got raised.
suckers!
ok I looked at the bears. I’ll take Vick and mackin or Vick and Jackson over Marshall and cutler. Marshall is an amazing talent but an awful teammate and a awful human. cutler is an awful qb, awful leader, awful teammate and is a loser and a pick waiting to happen.
This hopefully is just the beginning Songs, guys are still getting released like Michael Huff out in Oakland and I think they’ll go after a couple of offensive lineman as well.
What were the names of the tall superstar WRs available? I would love a tall Wr too.
Lets recap- at the start of the day, FA started with a deep corps of play making secondary members, & we wind up with a 5’10” Patrick Chung, a stiff CB, a 6’1″ back up LB, & a 31 year old NT, & a BU TE. 2morrow, we sign Ricky Jean-Francois,who I like, but not 1 play maker, or difference maker. What a f^#@ing hot mess!!!!!! I started off, SO excited, now I’m pi$$ed!!!! This organization is absolutely sickening!!!!
NOT 1 F^#@ING PLAY-MAKER!!!!!!!
Dcar..
you know you’re talking about the “Golden Standard” dont ya?
These f^#@tards, better be signing another CB, &/or Safety, because they signed nothing but backups & special-teamers yesterday! If they think that Chunk & Fletcher, are their answer for rebuilding this abortion of a secondary, they are even more f^#@ed up, & inept, than I thought they were. I don’t mind Casey, he is ok, but Sopoaga is servicable, but 31, & the rest a BU’s & stiffs! Jean’Francois will be a good signing today, once he passes his physical, but I’m extremely underwhelmed, to say the least! I didn’t necessarily want all big names, but I wanted 24-28 year old, good, up & coming players, with upside, sizes 6’1″+. Thus far, very disappointing, & underwhelming!
Pencil nose Banner first gets Ray Horton to lead his defense, then sign Paul Kruger from the Ravens.
Don’t look now guys but the Browns will get a Superbowl before the Eagles can even think about one.
Winners on Day 1
Dolphins, Browns, Titans, Bears,Colts, Rams,Chiefs & Bronco’s
Losers on Day 1
Ravens, Steelers, Jets. Raiders and the other Team close in Cap Space
(Cowboys, Redskins, Texans, Packers)
Teams with decent Starts
Eagles
Cripes it is just the 1st day. They have a ton of holes to fill and you think that they can fill them all with all pro players? Not gonna happen. This team is really bad right now and it is going to take some time to turn it around. Let’s see how FA plays out and maybe even the draft before we give up the season.
The sky is always falling on GCobb.com.
bugs, nobody is talking about all pros at every position, but it would be nice, since they have $45M to spend, to sign a f^#@ing impact starting player, & not backups & special teams players! Other than Casey, who is a luxury signing, we signed, not 1 playmaker! More slop! If they sign Jean-Francois 2day, that’s fine, but does NOTHING to fill the holes that are still in the secondary & Oline!
Casey is not a Luxury Signing,he will be an integral part of Kelly’s spread the ball, create mismatches with his Size/Stregth against DB’s and his quickness when going against LB in the passing game
He will save 2 Roster SPots (Havilli and Probably Harbor) is very Versatile and can play 3-4 Postions and will turn out to be a bargain and a Fan favoritre and more importantly a solid contributor..
The Eagles will still be releasing some more players…expect it. That will free up money and it will still be possible to sign an impact player or two. Yesterday was only day 1.
DCAR- if FA was over I would agree with you, but it isn’t. There are still plenty of solid CBs and a couple safeties out there. Also a lot of OL. They could potentially even take a look at Barwin.
All I am saying is that there is a long way to go.
If they sign Jean-Francois, Barwin, Winston & Delmas, like is being reported, that would turn my frown, upside down! But, I’ll believe it, when I see it!
Also, Goldson left TB without a contract! I’m keeping my fingers crossed! I really like him! You have to worry about the middle being abused, with him!
*Won’t*
There you go brother. Let’s let this thing play out.
BTW- I thoroughly enjoyed you putting that dude in his place last week. My favorite part was how you just worked in a potential beatdown into your schedule.
LOL Bugs! I shouldn’t have let that insignificant fool push my numbers like that! I was foolish! But it was entertaining, to say the least! XD
If they sign these 4 Players to go along with the 5 they signed Yesterday and then still have a couple of Players who are Tradeable (Cole,Graham, Foles & Maclin) where they can get some additional Draft Picks.. then this would be a great Off-Season..
On a side note, if they signed these 4 Players above,,
I would have called 5 of the 9 Signee’s thus far.. (Sap,Casey,Barwin,Winston & Delmas)…
Not bad for old Redneck from Boone,NC…
exactly
Paul Kruger is overrated before this past season where was this guy you guys can’t play both sides of the fences when the team spends crazy of free agents and failed you guys ripped the team now they get good solid football players y’all ripped them. The most important thing is this team get players to fit there system and so far there doing that and we still have the draft so please stop with the negative talk.
In your eyes they may have holes but last 2 seasons the coaching scheme was so terrible you really can’t say they have as many holes it’s really hard to judge some of these players because of that but some will flourish under this new coaching staff.
Turk …we’re not buying it.
Every off season there’s a new excuse.
“We’ll expect a big jump in year 2” …the players they said this about sucked ass in their 2nd year.
“We had no OTA’s”
Oh! so that explain making the failed offensive line coach the defensive coordinator in a lockout season….gotcha!
Now…..”The coaching staff was bad and we really don’t know if these players are a product of bad coaching”
You mean the same coach in Reid that apologists claimed knew more than the fans?
no more excuses…
rushers running right by Watkins is not because of coaching…ok?
You’re paid to block, not watch the guy run by you!!!!!!
Nate Allen getting trucked and beat up the middle have nothing to do with coaching.
The fans are not buying the same excuses year to year.
Put the trash out and get players…admit Watkins and Nate Allen were mistakes and improve the positions…..get a center too!!!!
I remember San Francisco 49ers 2 years ago was 5-11 playing real bad had about the same amount of talent the Eagles had and boom change the Head Coach and all of a sudden 2 years later there the best team in the NFC just chill and relax games are not played on paper the new coach hasn’t even had 1 training camp and you guys are going crazy with the negative.
**Safety Pollard to be released by Ravens (Meaning they will re-sign Ed Reed)
CB Antoine Winfield, 26 Years old released by the Vikings
there are a ton of Secondary Players out there that can help the Eagles and most on 2 Year Deals without a lot of $$$ or Risk involved
Winfield was 26 10 years ago
Typo on my end- WInfield is 36 Years old and took the heart out of Mike Vick and the Eagles Season with that delayed corner blitz from 15 yards out that miraculously, VIck never saw coming from his front side too.. Sacked Vick, caused a fumble and rambled untouched for 50 Yards TD just before halftime when the Eagles Franchise lost their last best chance to do something in the Postseason during the Vick/Reid era
Andre Smith – T – Bengals
ESPN’s Dan Graziano suggests the Eagles are looking into free agent right tackles Andre Smith and Sebastian Vollmer.
The offensive line was a major problem area for the 2012 Eagles, but they did solidify right tackle by kicking guard Todd Herremans outside. Perhaps new coach Chip Kelly envisions a healthy Jason Peters at left tackle, Herremans back at his natural inside position and a fresh right tackle. Smith seems like an odd fit in an up-tempo scheme, but Vollmer and Eric Winston would make some sense.
Related: Eagles, Sebastian Vollmer
Source: Philadelphia Magazine Mar 13 – 11:43 AM
NO to smith
YES!!! tovollmer
Dcar- once again false info
Goldson is in TB right now per Adam Schefter working on a deal. He hasnt left.
Let some other Team overspend for Goldston.. He’s good but there are 10 other Safeties that are just as good as he for 1/4 the Cost.. Goldston is cashing in on the 49ers Visibility, don’t get me wrong he’s a very good Player but is very suspect versus the pass.. Take him off that Great All-Around 49er Defense and I am not sure that he’s just another NFL Safety
With plenty of Safeties/CB’s out there right now, any Team who Ovespend’s and Commit’s Big Dollars for a Long-Term Deal is FOoliosh in my opinion..
jott, not my false info. It was reported on WIP Mike & Ike show! So sue me dillhole!
Stay away from Jake Long and Andre Smith at All Costs..
Long’s Body is breaking down and Smith is too soft, not very well conditioned and wouldn’t last in Kelly’s up-tempo Style of Offense and is another Stacy Andrews waiting to happen.. Stay away from both of these …
Go after Vollmer or Eric WInston or Draft a Fisher or Lane Johnson at #4..
the guys we grabbed are hopefully to add depth.. Im sorry but the NE S is not enough for me. This S fa class is good and will be our best chance to fix the problems of the last 5 years, are we seeing the return of “ACL GUY”??
**Jaguars release WR Laurent Robinson after signing him to a big deal last Free-Agency from the Cowboys.. He’s 6-2 205lbs with decent Speed and Hands
maybe he could fit with the Eagle’s.. he’s only 27 Years Old and has been relatively healthy during his Career…
Jags are cleaning house big time..
@bugs
I agree with you. Making a big splash on the first day of free agency isn’t a true barometer of any decent teams destiny. The whole league(including most eagle fans) toasted the eagles for landing Nnamdi. My self including. It wasn’t even close. He was the big fish when we landed him. As a huge fan of his, I finally admitted he was a disaster well before the season ended. Everyone of these signings are a marked improvement just on paper over the bums currently at their positions.
Pats sign amendola.
Which is strange isn’t it? Pats sign another white guy. That’s weird. Their roster is only 78% white, so they must have felt they needed to maintain their quota.
That being said, $$ says amendola kills Weller stats wise next year.
CB Keenan Lewis meeting with Saints
CB Antoine Cason meeting Cardinals
As is LB Ray Maluaga
LB Manny Kawson signs with Bills
Safety Ed Reed to meet with Texans
Safety Charles Woodson netting with 49ers
Bronco’s sign DT Terrance Knighton
To a 2 Year Deal
Cardinaks Sign LB L Alexander and Safety Y Bell
Goldshon = overrated and not worth the money.
Andre Smith – does not fit in Kelly’s scheme – at all.
Vollmer or Winston would be a nice fit.
Herremanns’ “natural position” is NOT OG. He played it adequately but his natural position is where he is playing RT.
Patrick Chung is Quintin Mikell redux. Good tackler; liability in coverage.
Graham should not be “trade bait.” By the end of last season he was the Birds best pass rusher. Doubt that he is going anywhere. Cole is another matter.
And finally, Texans fans are crying over the loss of Casey. Really. He could be quite effective in Kelly’s schemes.
Fishfriedbrainfrank
Eagles fans are in no position to say a safety is overrated after the garbage displayed the last few years at the safety position….got it?!!?
Let’s talk about our safeties before claiming better safeties are overrated
Our safeties are trash including the acquisition of Chung.
Saying Graham was our best pass rusher is not saying much when he came from a group that rarely got to the QB…..Graham is nothing special and should be traded if the right offer is out there.
Agree with Paulman – get Vollmer, Winston, Joeckel , Lane, or Fisher. If we get Winston or Vollmer, then that would be a signal that we will be drafting Jordan or a DT in round 1.