Eagles to sign safety Rodney McLeod

The Eagles and former Rams safety Rodney McLeod have agreed to a five-year, $37 million contract with $17 million in guarantees, an NFL source said today.

With the recent contract extension given to Malcolm Jenkins (four years, $35 million with $21 guaranteed), the Eagles have invested significantly more in the safety position than ever. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound McLeod won't turn 26 till June. He started every game for the Rams over the last three years and hasn't missed a game in his four-year NFL career.

He recorded a career-high 82 tackles last season. He has five career interceptions and seven career forced fumbles.

New defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz used interchangeable safeties before he came to the Eagles. McLeod is on the smaller side, and mostly played free safety for the Rams. Schwartz may want to keep him more in centerfield with Jenkins playing closer to the line and in the slot like he did last year.

"Size will always be his issue, but overcomes with his brain," a senior NFC West scout said of McLeod. "Super smart. Will make all the calls and get everyone aligned. Really good tackler on the back end. Does not have top end range to play on the top and get his hands on the ball often, but because of his good instincts and recognition skills, he takes reads away from the quarterback."

Asked if McLeod was physical, the scout said, "He's tough as [bleep]. No fear."

The Jenkins-McLeod pairing helps shore up a secondary that still has a question mark with cornerback Byron Maxwell being shipped to the Dolphins. The addition of McLeod makes it all but certain that the Eagles won't re-sign free-agent safety Walter Thurmond.