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.
- Tebow sucks.
— coloradoeagle - Like to get Tebow if possible.— Willysoup
- Get out of here with that mess. Some people just can't stay on topic to save their life. Forget Tebow, if he was so great he would be a back-up in Denver for the man that said he would let him marry his daughter but would not turn the franchise over to him as a starting or back-up QB. Get lost with that mess. You probably would mess up a wet dream. So excited about DRyans Go Eagles — Blessed8251
- it isn't worse than what we currently have, and his base salary is more than all of our other LB's combined so they must have liked enough of what they saw cuz they weren't about to throw that type of $$ around for Tulloch or Lofton— brock
- I really like this move. He isn't your typical undersized linebacker that the Eagles have gone after in the past. 6'1 and 248 pounts. Probowl caliber linebacker that we desperately needed. Ya he is coming off a injury but he really came on the last four games of the season. Better then the normal. I'd still draft a LB in the 1st or second round, but this is better then what I expected.— ChrisM
- I CAN NOT BELIEVE THIS.... THEY GOT A TOP 3-5 MLB. WOW. Dream Team for real if we get a safety or two.— Casin055
- Sooooooooo, why would Houston let him go so cheap?
For the same reason that we got Ernie Simms so cheap, and the same reason we got Lorenzo Booker so cheap, and the same reason we got Steve Smith so cheap.....
HE CAN'T PLAY!!!!— banned_thompson - You are wrong. The reason they traded him is because the Texans switched to a 3-4 defense and Ryans fits in as 4-3 system. This is a good move and he is a probowl caliber LB. This is a great move by the Eagles and they only have up a 4th. — ChrisM
- banned_thompson, Ryans is a beast. Sims was a fantasy football move - going on a name even though if you watch the games you're looking at an undersized concussion prone LB (Sims). Booker was a bad decision. Steve Smith was a low-risk, potentially high reward move when we potentially had our #1 WR (Maclin) out indefinitely. Look at the moves individually and focus on football not just moves that you can hate on. — mx55
- No one logically can trash this move..He is a great fit as a MLB in a 4-3 defense, wide -9 or not. He was Houstons defensive captain..The message boards are going nuts on the Texans site..If they truly only gave up a 4th or 5th for him it's a great trade..or would we rather roll the dice with Jake Ikewenogu, Bryan Smith etc.. Good job Gold Standard— PhillyMike5959
- Can he play 1st base?— gentian
Comment removed.- With good reason, @JJWatt and @antoniosmith94 were surprised and disappointed at the news of Demeco's trade while on set of @nflnetwork I love it, the Texan players were in shock when they heard it. Warren Sapp said you have lost your support in the middle buddy. LOL— Blessed8251
- Why would Houston make this trade? I don't get it. Cap problems??— djack10
