Eagles trade for LB Ryans
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Eagles trade for LB Ryans
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Eagles acquired former Pro Bowl linebacker DeMeco Ryans in exchange for a fourth round draft pick and a swap of third round picks, sources confirmed Tuesday.
The Eagles, who had two fourth round selections in the upcoming draft, gave Houston their fourth pick in that round to get Ryans. The Texans also got the 77th overall pick while the Eagles now select 89th in the exchange of third rounders.
The team later officially announced the trade. Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com first reported the news.
The trade for Ryans gives the Eagles the legitimate starting middle linebacker they sorely lacked a year ago. The 27-year-old was a two-time Pro Bowl player early in his career (2007, 2009), but he ruptured his Achilles tendon in 2010.
He got off to a slow start last season and took some time getting used to playing in a newly-implemented 3-4 scheme, but he showed signs of his old self late in the year. Still, Ryans said he felt out of place in a 3-4. Now he gets his chance to move back into the middle alone.
He will have to pass a physical with the Eagles on Wednesday, however, for the trade to go through. Ryans is slated to earn approximately $12 million in base salary over the next two seasons.
"DeMeco is a proven Pro Bowl linebacker in this league and we’re excited to be able to plug him into the middle of our defense,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "He’s been the signal caller and a leader on a very good Texans defense for the last several years. He’s a tough, instinctive football player and he’ll be a great fit for our team."
The Eagles, expected by some to be players in free agency, took a pass on the linebackers on the market. Stephen Tulloch re-signed with Detroit today. Curtis Lofton remains unsigned. David Hawthorne and London Fletcher are also still available.
But the Eagles chose another route to get the linebacker that many thought they needed in the middle of their defense. They started training camp with rookie Casey Matthews in the middle, but he lost that job early in the season. Jamar Chaney slid over from strong-side into the middle and continued to play all three downs, but he lost playing time as the season wore on.
With the 6-foot-1, 248-pound Ryans on board, Chaney will likely move back to strong-side. Rookie Brian Rolle ended last season as the starting weak-side linebacker. Adding Ryans won't likely preclude the Eagles from addressing linebacker in the draft, although it is unlikely they'll expend a first-round pick at the position.
Ryans, originally a second-round draft pick in 2006, started in his first game as a pro and didn't miss a start for 70 games until he blew out his Achilles in 2010. He was a team captain starting in 2010. Ryans leaves Houston as the franchise's all-time leader with 637 tackles while also contributing eight sacks, six forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries and two interceptions in his six-year career.
"We're thrilled to be able to add a young and productive linebacker in DeMeco Ryans," Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said. "We'd like to thank [Houston general manager] Rick Smith and the Texans. Once we found out that he could be available to us in a trade, we quickly found a way to work together to produce a good outcome for both teams."
After Ryans' physical -- should he pass -- he will meet with the media at the NovaCare Complex along with Reid and Roseman.
Pretty da mn good pickup for a 4th round pick! Much better than relying on a draft pick. Pretty good off season so far. I see one or two more mid-range pickups over the next couple weeks, then slide into the draft to get some future talent. I hate having to force a draft pick (except maybe the 1st round) into the starting line up too early.— gdibig- Congrats to Banner and Reid for this milestone! This is the 200th player coming off an Achilles Tendon injury they've signed! (In all seriousness, jury is out - we shall see)— mjb
- and puh-leeeeze...enuf with the lame Tebow talk. Let him kneel somewhere else.— vegas_limodriver
- meh, hate the injury past— blueye7
- If he shows up, he's already better than anyone we have.— Eaglecheesehead
- Am I missing something? This cat averaged FOUR tackles per game last year, hasn't picked off a pass since 2007, does not force fumbles, nor does he deflect many passes. Why should anyone be excited about this? Because he's not Chris Gocong? Because the stats say, he is!!— banned_thompson
- Some of his defensive stats dropped dramatically in 2011, his first full season since 2009.— escapedcamden4monterey
- Nothing is for free, and for a 4th round pick, this looks free.— camasbud
- I would love for them to trade down a couple spots and take Zach Brown from North Carolina. Two play making LBs— Nicknm
- I'd use this draft to beef up the offensive and defensive line now that Ryans is on board. Mix in a toy for the offense and a safety for depth and we're set. I'd look at Plaxico but he'd have to be cheap. He'd just be a specialist on this team.— MrMiles1
- let's see how he plays in pads behind the wide 9...making the pro-bowl isn't a gimme...maybe the 3-4 scheme wasn't his bag...we'll know in a few months - from here...today...it looks like a solid move— ziggy
- let's see how he plays in pads behind the wide 9...making the pro-bowl isn't a gimme...maybe the 3-4 scheme wasn't his bag...we'll know in a few months - from here...today...it looks like a solid move— ziggy
- let's see how he plays in pads behind the wide 9...making the pro-bowl isn't a gimme...maybe the 3-4 scheme wasn't his bag...we'll know in a few months - from here...today...it looks like a solid move— ziggy
- I agree, ChrisM. This is a great trade. Although it gives my stomach twinges of the Ernie Sims acquistion, I think it will play out better. He is 6 foot 1, 247, converted MIKE. He ruptured an Achilles, sure, but he is a year removed and had to adjust to Wade Phillips 3-4, after being a 4-3 backer his whole career, He is ripe for a comeback, trust me. Now, what I wanna know, is why the Birds are not all over Yeremiah Bell. I have won the title in 4 out of my last 5 seasons of fantasy football, and Yeremiah Bell has been my starting safety in all of them. He is top 10, if not top 5, stat-wise. We need to grab him. Why has no one mentioned this?!?— iknoweverything
- Ernie Sims never reached the level of play as Ryans. Before Ryans injury he was a stud. I believe he is young enough to get back to his probowl level in the right system. For what the Eagles gave up to get Ryans and for the amount of money they are paying him, I think it is a can't lose deal. Don't get me wrong though I would still draft a Linebacker in the first two round. Personally though I think Ryans still has it and is going to have a great year for us. — ChrisM
