About exactly one year after Chip Kelly went on a spending spree to make the Philadelphia Eagles’ 53-man roster exactly what he wanted it to be, Howie Roseman is doing what he can to eliminate any evidence of the Kelly era.
Two of Kelly’s most notable signings – $40 million running back DeMarco Murray and $63 million cornerback Byron Maxwell – are gone, each just one year after inking a long-term deal with the franchise, as is inside linebacker Kiko Alonso, the Eagles’ acquisition in the famous LeSean McCoy trade last offseason.
It’s surprising that Roseman was able to find a suitor for either Murray or Maxwell’s contract, and it gives the Eagles plenty of financial freedom should they want to sign free agents. Roseman will have to be careful to avoid any semblance of 2011’s Dream Team fiasco, but these moves were more getting rid of Kelly’s players than bringing in new names.
Roseman also made some more under-the-radar moves, signing a handful of players via free agency, each of whom will be addressed below.
DeMarco Murray (traded to Tennessee Titans in swap of fourth-round picks): Kudos to Howie Roseman for actually finding a suitor for Murray, a highly-paid 28-year-old running back who looked old, sluggish, and highly ineffective under Chip Kelly last year. It probably didn’t help Murray to play in a system that didn’t fit his skill set – and any back would see a drop in his numbers after a 497-touch campaign behind that Dallas offensive line – but still, Murray’s fall from glory was unprecedented. By December, he was all but irrelevant, losing in-game touches to Kenyon Barner, of all players. Murray finished the season with just 702 rushing yards on a paltry 3.6 yards-per-carry average, and this was despite being healthy for 15 of the team’s 16 games.
Running backs are traditionally replaceable in the modern NFL, which is why teams typically avoid dishing out big contracts like Kelly did for Murray. Tennessee can get out of Murray’s contract after 2016, so it’s not a terrible move for GM Jon Robinson to essentially acquire Murray as a one-year rental to see if he thrives in an offense featuring Marcus Mariota. And it’s very impressive that Roseman was able to get rid of Murray, when there’s a chance the Eagles may have outright released him.
So who will play running back in 2016? Apparently the Eagles are also making Ryan Mathews available, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, which is surprising considering he’s on a very reasonable contract and played well – when healthy – under Kelly. Darren Sproles is 32, and it’s no guarantee he even makes the roster at a $4.5 million cap hit for 2016, and Barner is at best a rotational piece of the backfield. Roseman may target a young player in the draft, he may sign a low-priced free agent, or he may end up keeping Mathews and rolling with him as the lead back or part of a rotation. Either way, Eagles fans have to be ecstatic that they won’t have to see Murray in a Philadelphia uniform again.
Grade: A
Byron Maxwell and Kiko Alonso (traded to Miami Dolphins as Eagles move from 13th pick in first round to eighth pick): Chip Kelly paid Byron Maxwell to be an elite, shutdown corner, and that’s not what translated to the field in 2015. Likewise, Kiko Alonso was acquired in a straight-up trade for All-Pro runner LeSean McCoy, a rare player-for-player trade not seen often in today’s NFL, and Alonso’s impact was minimal.
It took some time for the deal with Miami to officially go through – due to a shoulder injury of Maxwell’s – but he eventually passed his physical and will replace Pro Bowl corner Brent Grimes in Miami. Maxwell was badly exposed last year in Philadelphia without Richard Sherman opposite him and Earl Thomas roaming deep. Per PFF, he allowed opposing quarterbacks to post a passer rating of 100.7 on 78 attempts his direction. That figure rated 70th out of 118 qualifying cornerbacks. Maxwell also committed 10 penalties.
It’s a vote of confidence for 2015 second-round rookie corner Eric Rowe, who played well down the stretch, and it frees Maxwell’s massive contract (set to earn $9.7 million in ’16) off the books.
The Alonso addition is a solid low-cost flier for the Dolphins. He clearly wasn’t at full health last season, and his play suffered, as a result. After his leaping end-zone interception in Week 1, Alonso was a season-long non-factor, registering just 30 tackles and no sacks, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries, or interceptions. The emergence of Eagles’ third-round rookie inside linebacker Jordan Hicks also made Alonso expendable. He won’t be missed in Philly.
Grade: A
Chase Daniel (signed to three-year, $21 million deal): It was expected that Chase Daniel would follow his former offensive coordinator, Doug Pederson, to Philly, but the amount of Daniel’s contract ($12 million in guaranteed money!) suggests he will be allowed to compete for a starting job. Sam Bradford certainly hasn’t thrived like Chip Kelly thought he could, and don’t rule out the possibility that Howie Roseman tries to trade Bradford and uses Daniel as a stopgap for a rookie quarterback. At the very least, Daniel is a quality backup signal-caller, although one who’s being paid quite handsomely. Expect Mark Sanchez to be shopped around and ultimately released if the Eagles can’t find a suitor.
Grade: C
Brandon Brooks (signed to five-year, $40 million deal): After watching last year’s guard trio of Allen Barbre, Matt Tobin, and Dennis Kelly struggle to replace Evan Mathis, Howie Roseman wasn’t going to go through that again. He signed former Houston Texans guard Brandon Brooks to a five-year deal that will pay him an average of $8 million per season. Brooks was one of PFF’s top-rated guards in 2014, thriving as a run blocker but also performing well in pass protection. While his performance dropped off in ’15, he still rated well. Brooks is just 26 years old and blessed with excellent size at 6’5″, 345 pounds, and he should be penciled in as one of the starters at guard.
Grade: B
Rodney McLeod (signed to five-year, $37.5 million deal): While he doesn’t have the name of Earl Thomas, Eric Weddle, or Devin McCourty, Rodney McLeod is a quality signing by the Philadelphia Eagles. The former St. Louis Rams safety actually rated by Pro Football Focus as the sixth-best safety in the entire NFL last year, finishing just one spot below Thomas and ahead of Weddle and McCourty. McLeod earned positive marks in overage (76.9 passer rating allowed) and successfully converted on 60-of-66 tackle attempts in run defense. He’s also extremely durable, having suited up for over 1,000 snaps in each of the last three seasons.
McLeod’s $37.5 million deal is more than you would expect for a relatively no-name player, but the Eagles are clearly betting on McLeod being an instrumental part of their defense going forward. He teams with Malcolm Jenkins (who recently received a long-term extension with the franchise) to give Philadelphia arguably a top-three safety tandem in the NFL.
Grade: B
Leodis McKelvin (signed to two-year, $6 million deal): A former first-round pick of the Buffalo Bills, Leodis McKelvin is reunited with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, for whom he played in 2014. McKelvin was initially drafted as a cornerback by the Bills back in 2008, but moved to free safety last year. That makes him a terrific fit for the Philadelphia Eagles, as he’s made in the mold of Malcolm Jenkins, as a corner/safety hybrid who was once taken in the first round. McKelvin will likely compete for a starting job at cornerback, but it’s probably more realistic that he contributes as a nickel corner and third safety.
Grade: B
Ron Brooks (signed to three-year, $6 million deal): Ron Brooks is another former Buffalo Bills player under Jim Schwartz. Brooks’ contract has incentives that can pay him up to $8.7 million depending on playing time. Realistically, he will compete for a depth spot as a cornerback. Last year for Buffalo, Brooks played sparingly in 12 games at cornerback, registering just five tackles.
Grade: C+
Nigel Bradham (signed to two-year deal): Nigel Bradham is the fourth former Buffalo Bills player that Jim Schwartz has brought in, and like Ron Brooks, he’s also a 2012 fourth-round pick. Bradham started 38 games over four seasons in Buffalo, and will get an opportunity to push for a starting spot in Philadelphia with Kiko Alonso having been traded.
Grade: B-
