Moves that could affect the Eagles
Philly.com, Inquirer, and Daily News coverage of the Eagles
Moves that could affect the Eagles
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
With the combine wrapped up and free agency less than two weeks away, news and rumors continue to swirl around the NFL, many of which could affect the Eagles in one way or another.
Let's start with the linebacker market. Pro Football Talk reports that the Lions hope to re-sign Stephen Tulloch, but the two sides are currently not close to getting a deal done. Tulloch, who turned 27 in January, signed a one-year, $3.25M deal with Detroit last offseason, and head coach Jim Schwartz recently praised the middle linebacker for his production playing behind the wide-nine.
Meanwhile, London Fletcher, who turns 37 in May, but led the NFL with 166 tackles last season, isn't sure if he'll return to the Redskins, per Alex Marvez of FoxSports.com.
"Hopefully, we’ll get something done," Fletcher said in a Sirius XM NFL Radio interview Tuesday night. "But if I make it to March 13 (unsigned), who knows?"
The wide receiver market continues to develop as well. According to Mark Maske of the Washington Post, the Redskins are looking to add a big-name pass-catching target. Per Maske, Vincent Jackson could be at the top of Washington's list, but a source tells him San Diego has not ruled out using the franchise tag on its No. 1 receiver.
My guess is, if Vincent Jackson becomes a free agent, he'll set the top end of the wide receiver market. Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported recently that the Chargers were willing to offer him a five-year deal worth between $10M and $11M per season. Because San Diego tagged Jackson in 2011, it'd be looking at a one-year salary of around $13.7M if it wants to tag him again.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Steelers plan to tender, not franchise, wide receiver Mike Wallace. A couple weeks ago, I wrote about how Wallace's availability could affect DeSean Jackson. However, if the Steelers really want to keep Wallace, they'll be able to do so. Because he would be a restricted free agent, Pittsburgh would have the chance to match any offers from competing teams.
So for a team to land Wallace, it would have to formulate an offer that the Steelers wouldn't match and be willing to give up a first-round pick. While the Steelers are reportedly in bad cap shape right now, there are always ways to create room if necessary. As for the Eagles, while Wallace is a better version of DeSean Jackson, the upgrade is not worth giving up a first-rounder.
Speaking of clearing up cap space, the Saints are looking to do just that by restructuring the contract of defensive end Will Smith, according to Mike Triplett of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. The Saints have several key players, such as Drew Brees, Marques Colston and Carl Nicks, who are not currently under contract for 2012.
And finally, the Ravens will franchise running back Ray Rice by Friday, according to Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times. Back in January, I made the point that LeSean McCoy should be keeping an eye on what kind of deal Rice gets because the two are similar players. Rice was the 55th pick in 2008, while McCoy went 53rd a year later. Rice is a better pass-catcher, but their values (and contracts) should be similar.
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The Eagles are going to sign Wes Welker. Book it.— guyguy4- Wes Welker will suck with Vick throwing to him instead of Tom Brady. That's the difference between great QBs and what the Eagles trot out there year after year. The great ones make their receivers great. Oue QBs whine about not having great receivers.— Bama
- DeJean not tagged? Why as the article says? Plax? Some old guys? Pete Pihos?— Koons
- Sheil, I've been telling you. The Eagles are in a much better cap situation than the Lions. They can out bid the Lions for Tulloch. I suspect they're gonna offer him a big, long term contract. He would truly be plug and play. He's a proven 3-down, MLB behind a wide nine alignment. It makes more sense to sign him than to draft a LB in the first round. They can move Chaney to SAM.— soulman386
- Good objective post soulman! Sure beats the drivel normally seen here from the few dozen negadelphians, WIPers, and poser trolls that have nothing better to do in their sad, lonely, pathetic lives! I agree that a free agent MLB would be better as we need a vet to step in to solidify the position, and not a rookie to learn on the job. I think we go with a large DT with our first pick which might actually make the LB's we have now workable by freeing them up to make plays.— Johnnydeagle
- Some team like NE will gladly give up their low first rounder for Wallace.— Penfold18
Comment removed.- WE need linebackers and for D.Jackson to grow up! We need a Vet at MLB would be a good thing and I would have to say DT with SIZE who can stop the run and cause issues for the O-Line.... Lets see if the birds finally get things right at this years draft like a stud at Safety. hey just my opinion— srcdaddy1216
- "Mailroom" has this all under control. The Tonner overheard this when he stopped in the Novacare Center to drop a load, "Low turnover this year. The problem last year was...too many changes!! Yeah, that's it...too many changes. What's that, San Fran changed coaching staffs, players and still made it to the NFCCG? Hmmmm....well that may be, but can they say they are the Gold Standard? Can they say they invented the game? Can they say they outsmart the rest of the NFL each and every draft? Didn't think so. We can say that whether it's true or not."
Nowhere, and the Tonner means nowhere, is delusional thinking appreciated more than at 1 Novacare Way.— hunglikeaton - Mike Wallace is a better version of Desean Jackson? When did Mike Wallace go to the probowl as a reciever and punt returner? Or did I miss that season?— Zeru
- The Steelers are such a better team than the eagles. They draft people that can punt return so that Wallace doesn't need to do that.
— EricSpin301 - The Eagles can never make the more obvious/popular move, like get a middle linebacker from free agency such as Tulloch. Instead, they have this inner demon which tells them then can out-smart everyone. Let's select an undersized lineman, casy matthews, and watch him get bowled over for 5 games, then realize he is not big enough or the clearly undersized B. Graham and watch him get pancaked by 300+LBs tackles. Ultimately the fans have to endur the pain, knowing the obvoius was ignored by the Eagles. The torture from their arrogance continues ... and this upcoming draft will be no different.— Lerze777
- Sheil - Are you serious?! Maybe the raw numbers seem to indicate that Ray Rice is a better pass-catching RB than Shady, but DUDE, Shady is flat-out a better runner AND pass-catcher than Ray Rice. Period. Let's keep it real.— 5NOT4
- The Eagles will NOT make a big time free agent signing. Forget Tulloch, it ain't happening.— billtfla
- Free agent market looks tough... Eagles might be stuck with the draft in terms of addressing their needs.— Mr. Magee
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