Eagles acquire DT Jenkins; Trade Bunkley
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Eagles acquire DT Jenkins; Trade Bunkley
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- The rich just got richer.
The Eagles have signed free agent defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins to a five-year contract, the team announced.
The deal is worth $25 million, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.
With the addition of Jenkins the Eagles traded defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley to the Cleveland Browns for a 2012 fifth-round draft pick. They also brought back free agent linebacker Akeem Jordan.
Jenkins gives the Eagles a pass-rushing option inside. Last season for the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers, Jenkins racked up seven sacks. He has 29 career sacks in seven seasons of play, mostly as a defensive end. He moved to a three-technique end when the Packers switched to a 3-4 two seasons ago.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said Jenkins can play both insdie or out.
"On third down he rushes from inside and we think he makes a difference in that role," Roseman said. "In this defense, in this scheme, it really utilizes all his talents."
The Eagles are giving new defensive coordinator Juan Castillo virtually a new defense. In the last few days they've added defensive end Jason Babin, cornerbacks Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha and now Jenkins.
The team's embarrassment of riches and its free-spending week has turned the NFL upside down. Aside from the above-mentioned defensive players, the Eagles also signed quarterback Vince Young, tight end Donald Lee and wide receiver Johnny Lee Higgins.
Roseman was asked if the Eagles still had room under the salary cap to continue to make moves. He deferred to team president Joe Banner, who was sitting in the audience.
"Hell, yeah," Banner said.
The Eagles have some long-term decisions to make in terms of money. Currently, wide receiver DeSean Jackson is holding out in the hopes of getting a new contract. Quarterback Michael Vick is also expected to get a new deal.
The Jenkins addition could signal the end for cornerback Asante Samuel, who is slated to earn roughly $15 million over the next two seasons. The Eagles have been receiving calls from teams looking to perhaps trade for Samuel, NFL sources said.
The Eagles could still make more moves. They may need a veteran linebacker, a backup running back, and perhaps another offensive linemen. The team's wide receiver situation -- with Jackson holding out and Jeremy Maclin absent with an illness -- could also influence the Eagles' plans.
Bunkley, the Eagles' 2006 No. 1 draft pick, departs after five seasons. It's fair to label Bunkley a disapointment. He recorded just six career sacks and would sometimes fade for games. Last season, he injured his elbow, missed a few games and eventually lost his starting spot to Antonio Dixon.
First!— CCRichards
Good god almighty, what a week!— evolutionary- Yeah a team with 10 holes has filled 3-4 of them. — JonKap
- Shame on you and the other negative posters here. I'm not the biggest Eagles fan, but you have to get credit where credit is due. They said they were going to be aggressive with their plan and spend money, and so far, they've exceeded EVERYONE'S expectations. To be negative now is ridiculous! — mjc1
- Go back to the Sixers boards JonKap. You have proved your ignorance about fielding a football team in general in just 13 words. You probably don't even understand how your comment is badly mistaken, do you? — goeagles87
- You need to slow your roll cuz. What do you know about a fielding a football team,..oh that's right your the commissioner of a fantasy football league. Your a joke with a different punchline everytime you post a comment.
Stop jumping all over people because they want to actually enjoy their team lighting it up in free agency. I can tell your one of those birds fans who is never, never, never happy. You just love living in misery. After a birds loss you don't recover til Wednesday right? Just in time to start the process all over again for the next game. Am I right? of course I'm right. Good luck with your fantasy league.— auspitz.paul - Hey Jonkap....I agree with everything mjc1 says below with one additional remark for you. YOU'RE A MORON!!! Now have a nice day (but I doubt it).
— djlen - What is going on? Awesome!!!!— shawnmac
- I dont hear Joe "nickels" Banner anymore ......now pay desean and vick .......Please stop with the first or first to post— eagles105
- This load up the middle will help, I'm wondering if Bunkley is the fall guy?...Laws and Dixon did nice jobs last year so I would think they would be safe...gotta love what they're doing so far.— bearsfriend
- I don't know if you posted this before Bunkley was traded, so if you did, good analysis and a good call on bunkley. — auspitz.paul
- this is nuts— oharabri
- They are doing great and things are still happening. They desperately need a right tackle, another quality running back and some linebackers. They're doing real good now they just have to finish the pieces. Signing all those free agent wide receivers confused me until I learned of Macklins illness and as we know Jacksons hold out. That scares me a bit.— golfer15
- Is Broderick Bunckley still around?— Rod72
