http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/..._what_eagles_are_gaining_losing_with_eac.html
NFL free agents 2018: What Eagles are gaining, losing with each off-season transaction
Posted March 19, 2018 at 06:04 AM | Updated March 19, 2018 at 06:34 AM
By Zack Rosenblatt | For NJ Advance Media
The first 24 hours of
NFL free agency finish in a flash. There's not a moment to take a breath.
The
Eagles were busy, though now things have (finally) calmed down a bit. Most of the big names have changed teams, and the
Eagles look slightly different today than they did after winning
Super Bowl LII against the New England Patriots in February.
As of Sunday night, the
Eagles had added four new players and lost ten more for a variety of reasons ranging from trades, releases, retirements or leaving on their own accord.
With each player gained, the
Eagles are adding something they didn't have before. With each player lost, they are losing something that, to varying degrees, were instrumental pieces in a
Super Bowl-winning campaign.
Here's a look at what exactly the Eagles are adding with the new players, and losing with the old one.
Rob Carr/AP
ADD: DE MICHAEL BENNETT
Last team: Seattle Seahawks
How acquired:
via trade
What they're getting: A proven veteran, one of the better pass-rushing defensive ends in the NFL and a replacement for the departed Vinny Curry. Bennett also has the versatility to move over to defensive tackle, as needed. With the Seahawks, Bennett 931 snaps — or 84.8 percent of possible snaps.
He won't have to play as frequently with the Eagles, who constantly rotate on the defensive line. By comparison, Brandon Graham played 822 snaps (70.6%), Curry played 701 snaps (56.9 percent) and rookie Derek Barnett played 506 (43.4%). Per Pro Football Focus, Bennett ranked seventh in the NFL with 70 total pressures (sacks, quarterback hits and hurries), ahead of all of the Eagles' defensive linemen. Bennett had 8.5 sacks.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty
LOSE: DE VINNY CURRY
New team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What they're losing: A lifelong Eagles fan and key defensive line contributor over the last six years. Curry had one of the best seasons of his career last season, though it was truly his first as a near-full time contributor, as he played a career-high 56.9% of possible snaps. Playing more frequently on passing downs, Curry managed a career-best 38 quarterback hurries and 21 hits, though he only managed 5.5 sacks combined the last two seasons.
Curry was released to save cap space.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty
LOSE: RB LEGARRETTE BLOUNT
New team:
Detroit Lions
What they're losing: A powerful running back and popular locker room presence. Blount only played one season with the Eagles, and he was by no means a superstar, but he was a vital contributor to the team's running-back-by-committee and was stellar in the Super Bowl (14 carries, 90 yards, 1 touchdown). With Jay Ajayi and Corey Clement returning, the Eagles simply didn't require Blount anymore.
Kimberly P. Mitchell/Detroit Free Press/TNS
ADD: DL HALOTI NGATA
Last team: Detroit Lions
How acquired:
Signed to a one-year, $2.3 million contract
What they're getting: A veteran presence and run-stopper for the defensive line rotation. Ngata, 34, is entering his 13th season, making him far and away the most experienced member of the Eagles' defense. He is coming off a bicep injury that kept him out of all but five games last season, and at this point of his career he's no longer capable of receiving starters snaps, but he shouldn't have to with Fletcher Cox, Tim Jernigan and Bennett around. He'll
step into Beau Allen's role as a run-stopper, though Allen was more effective at that last season based on Ngata's small sample size.
Bill Streicher/USA Today Sports
LOSE: DL BEAU ALLEN
New team:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What they're losing: One of the best personalities on the team — just look at the above photo — and a solid run-defending defensive tackle. Allen likely priced himself out of the Eagles range, which led to the Ngata signing. Allen was essentially a co-starter with Tim Jernigan at defensive tackle, logging 495 snaps, compared to 586 for Jernigan.
Rob Carr/Getty
LOSE: WR TORREY SMITH
New team: Carolina Panthers
What they're losing: A well-spoken leader, locker room presence and veteran outside receiver. Smith struggled for much of the season, finishing the year with the league's sixth worst drop rate, per PFF. Smith only finished with 430 receiving yards and two touchdowns despite playing in every game. His best days are behind him, though the Eagles will still need to replace him on the outside — ideally with a veteran — and his personality will be missed in the locker room.
David Zalubowski/AP
ADD: LB COREY NELSON
Last team: Denver Broncos
How acquired:
Signed to a one-year, $2.25 million contract.
What they're getting: A skilled coverage linebacker and experienced special teams player. Nelson, 25, spent most of his career with the Broncos as a reserve who subbed in for dime packages and played a key role on special teams. By all indications, he intends to win a starting job at outside linebacker with the Eagles, which
could spell trouble for Mychal Kendricks. Nelson, like Ngata, is also coming off a bicep injury that cost him most of last season.
In Nelson's career-best 2016 campaign, per PFF, Nelson allowed the lowest percentage of catches completed into his coverage amongst linebackers who played at least 25 percent of their team's snaps. (Simplified: Nelson was one of the best linebackers in the NFL at preventing completed passes to the area he was covering.)
Eliot Shorr-Parks | NJ Advance Media
James Lang/USA Today Sports
LOSE: CB PATRICK ROBINSON
New team:New Orleans Saints
What they're losing: An elite slot corner and 2017 playoff hero. The Eagles tried hard to bring Robinson back into the fold, but ultimately chose to re-sign linebacker Nigel Bradham after being unable to come to an agreement. Of all the personnel losses this off-season, this one
might be the biggest. PFF rated Robinson led the NFL in interceptions coming in the slot (3) and PFF graded him the fourth-best cornerback in the NFL.
Grant Halverson/Getty
ADD: DB DARYL WORLEY
Last team: Carolina Panthers
How acquired: via trade
What they're getting: A versatile, young corner with experience also playing safety. Worley, 23, had the 11th best run stop percentage among corners in 2017, per PFF, and his 52 tackles would've been second only to Jalen Mills at corner for the Eagles. Worley was middle-of-the-pack in terms of coverage, ranking 73rd (of 121 who played 25% of snaps) with a 92.4 quarterback rating on passes targeting him.
He had 64 tackles, two interceptions and 10 pass deflections for the Panthers in 2017.
Tim Boyle/Chicago Sun-Times via AP
LOSE: TE TREY BURTON
New team:
Chicago Bears
What they're losing: A versatile, gadget offensive weapon. Burton rose from undrafted free agent to one of the Eagles' many Super Bowl heroes, playing a key role in the famous "Philly Special" play where he threw a touchdown pass to quarterback Nick Foles. Burton became an important receiving weapon in reserve behind Zach Ertz, and
played himself out of the Eagles' price range. He finished 2017 with 23 catches for 248 yards and five touchdowns.
Abbie Parr/Getty
LOSE: TE BRENT CELEK
New team: None yet, though he visited the Lions and might be considering a reunion with Andy Reid.
What they're losing: A veteran, important team leader, a skilled blocking tight end and the most popular person in the Eagles' locker room. At this point in his career, Celek, 33, was not much more than a blocker at tight end. Even then, he regressed quite a bit in 2017, ranking as one of the worst pass and run blocking tight ends in the NFL, per PFF. Still, Celek is a popular figure in Philadelphia who spent all 11 years of his career here. Celek,
also released to save money, will be missed.
Tim Hawk/NJ.com
LOSE: K CALEB STURGIS
New team: Los Angeles Chargers.
What they'll miss: Consistency. The Eagles wouldn't have won the Super Bowl without Jake Elliott's long-distance kicking heroics, which also in turn unwittingly cost Sturgis his job with the Eagles after he suffered an injury. For all of Elliott's power, though, he still struggled on short range kicks, going 4 of 7 on kicks in the 30-39 yard range and missing three extra points. In 2016 — Sturgis only played one game in 2017 — Sturgis made all 12 of his 30-yard field goal attempts and only missed one extra point.
Gregory Shamus/Getty
LOSE: P DONNIE JONES
New team: None,
retiring
What they're losing: Arguably the best punter in Eagles history. Jones, 37, was a true veteran who rarely made mistakes, and he will be missed. The Eagles
will try to replace him with Cameron Johnston, an undrafted free agent in 2017 out of Ohio State, or whoever else the team brings in as competition this summer.
Bill Streicher/USA Today Sports
LOSE: WR MARCUS JOHNSON
New team: Seattle Seahawks
What they're losing: A youthful option at receiver. Johnson, 23, didn't contribute much in one season with the Eagles, catching five of nine targets for 45 yards, losing a fumble against the Cowboys on Dec. 31. He also spent the 2016 season with the Eagles' practice squad.
Zack Rosenblatt may be reached at zsr1090@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @ZackBlatt. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/04/26/philadelphia-eagles-nfl-draft-picks-selection-grades
By
SI WIRE
April 26, 2018
After a devastating injury to star quarterback Carson Wentz, the Philadelphia Eagles shocked the world on their way to a 41-33 Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots in February. But the first Super Bowl win in franchise history didn't stop Philadelphia from adding pieces, as Doug Pederson traded for DE Michael Bennett and CB Daryl Worley (who they
released after an arrest) to kick off NFL free agency. The Eagles also signed DT Haloti Ngata and WR Mike Wallace to add to their already potent team.
In last year's draft, the Eagles picked Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett in the first round.
The Super Bowl champs didn't have any picks in the second or third rounds, so they got one second rounder for this year and one for next year from Baltimore (along with a fourth-rounder that originally belonged to the Titans) in exchange for their own fourth round pick and the final pick of the first round, which the Ravens used to select Lamar Jackson.
How will they use their picks in the NFL draft? We’re breaking down every selection below.
Here's the full list of picks the Eagles hold in the 2018 draft, which will be updated as each selection is made.
Round 2, Pick 17 (No. 49 overall):
Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State
Andy Benoit's Grade: A+
Head coach Doug Pederson understands that defenses hate offenses that can throw the ball out of two-tight end sets. That’s especially true when that offense has a running game as expansive and effective as Philly’s. With Zach Ertz and Goedert on the field together, No. 3 linebackers will now be forced into coverage. Carson Wentz will be licking his chops.
Round 4, Pick 25 (No. 125 overall) [via Baltimore]:
Avonte Maddox, CB, Pittsburgh
Round 4, Pick 30 (No. 130 overall):
Josh Sweat, DE, Florida State
Round 6, Pick 32 (No. 206 overall): Matt Pryor, G, TCU
Round 7, Pick 15 (No. 233 overall): Jordan Mailata