Eagles signing 5 free agents, including QB Chase Daniel
The Eagles were one of the NFL's most active teams on the first day of free agency, reaching deals with five players and continuing the reconstruction of the roster under Howie Roseman and Doug Pederson.
The Eagles were one of the NFL's most active teams on the first day of free agency, reaching deals with five players and continuing the reconstruction of the roster under Howie Roseman and Doug Pederson.
The Eagles agreed to sign offensive lineman Brandon Brooks, safety Rodney McLeod, linebacker Nigel Bradham, quarterback Chase Daniel, and cornerback Ron Brooks. The team made the deals for McLeod, Brandon Brooks, and Ron Brooks official. The other signings were confirmed by league sources.
Brandon Brooks, McLeod, and Bradham are all likely starters this season and will fill holes that required attention entering the start of the league calendar year.
Brandon Brooks, 26, signed a five-year deal for $40 million with $21 million guaranteed, according to a league source. He spent the last four years with the Houston Texans, who drafted him in the third round of the 2012 draft out of Miami (Ohio) with the pick traded by the Eagles for DeMeco Ryans. Brooks started 44 games at right guard and one game at left guard. He steps into a position of need for the Eagles. He missed four games to injury in the last three seasons, but otherwise he has been a stalwart on Houston's line. At 6-foot-5 and 335 pounds, Brooks resembles the big, physical linemen the Eagles favored under Andy Reid.
McLeod, 25, comes to the Eagles on a five-year deal worth $37 million with $17 million guaranteed, according to a league source. The former undrafted rookie turned into a dependable starter for the St. Louis Rams, playing every game of his career and starting the last three seasons.
McLeod finished with 82 tackles, three forced fumbles, and one interception last season. At 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, he is not a big safety, but he's known as a savvy player with the versatility required in today's NFL. McLeod is able to play in coverage, but he also is a physical defender. He comes from a scheme similar to the one Jim Schwartz will run with the Eagles. After the Eagles spent the last few years shuffling safeties, McLeod will combine with Malcolm Jenkins to give the team two high-paid, veteran safeties to fortify the position.
Bradham, 26, will sign a two-year deal. Terms were not known. The outside linebacker spent the last four years with the Buffalo Bills, starting 37 games. His best season came in 2014, when he played strong-side linebacker for Schwartz and totaled 104 tackles, 21/2 sacks, one interception, and two forced fumbles. At 6-foot-2 and 241 pounds, Bradham can fit into the same spot in Schwartz's defense with the Eagles. The 2012 fourth-round pick out of Florida State will likely join Mychal Kendricks and Jordan Hicks in the starting lineup, giving the Eagles a replacement for Kiko Alonso after Alonso was dealt to Miami.
Daniel, 29, comes on a three-year deal worth $21 million, with $12 million guaranteed. Daniel spent the last three years working with Pederson in Kansas City as Alex Smith's backup. He will likely be Sam Bradford's backup in Philadelphia, and he brings knowledge of the system and seven years in the league - albeit with only 77 career pass attempts. But the signing is similar to the one Reid made in 1999, when he brought Pederson from Green Bay.
"He's a solid backup," Pederson said at the combine, adding that he also thinks Daniel can start in the NFL. "He kind of reminded me of me when I was a backup in Green Bay. He's a guy that really helped Alex [Smith], on and off the football field. He's a leader in his own way, he's talented, and hopefully he gets an opportunity."
With Daniel entering the quarterback room, Mark Sanchez could soon be out. Sanchez, who has been the backup the last two seasons, counts $5.5 million against the salary cap. The Eagles would save $3.5 million if they released him and $4.5 million if they were able to trade him.
Ron Brooks agreed to a three-year deal worth $5.5 million with $1.55 million guaranteed, according to a league source. He is the third defensive player the Eagles signed from the Buffalo Bills in two days, all of whom played under Schwartz in 2014. Brooks, 27, was a fourth-round pick by the Bills in 2012 out of LSU and totaled 41 tackles in his four seasons with the team. He was mostly a special-teams contributor, and he finished with 10 special-teams tackles in 2014. Brooks provides depth to the secondary, which lacks experience.
Combined with the two trades that were completed Wednesday, the five newcomers continued another offseason upheaval for the Eagles. And Wednesday was only the first day - they might not be finished.
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