Eagles sign former Texans punter Donnie Jones; dump Mat McBriar

Looking to improve a punting game that has been lacking, the Eagles signed two-time all-pro punter Donnie Jones to a one-year contract after his former team, the Texans, signed Shane Lechler to a deal on Friday.

The addition of Jones led to the release of Mat McBriar. Signed by the Eagles during training camp last summer, cut before the season, and then brought back in September, McBriar never fully rebounded from offseason foot surgery and finished tied for last in the NFL in net punting average.

Jones, 32, was 13th-best in 2012 with a 40.5-yard net. His 47.2-yard gross ranked 11th, while McBriar's 46.5-yard average was 15th. The Eagles punt cover team allowed an average of 13.6 yards per return, which was second-worst in the NFL. The Texans punt cover unit finished 13th.

Jones said that he had "numerous" offseason conversations with the Texans about returning. But when they signed Lechler to a three-year contract he became expendable.

"I really wasn't waiting on them," Jones said Monday during a conference call. "My thought is that Philadelphia really wanted me here. You always want to go somewhere where you're wanted."

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman met with Jones' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, at the NFL owners meetings last week in Phoenix, according to the punter.

Jones, 32, spent last season in Houston, but his best were in St. Louis. He earned second team all-pro honors in 2008-09 and set Rams franchise records in punts, gross average, and net average.

In 2008, the 6-foot-2, 221-pound Jones became one of seven players in NFL history to gross more than 50 yards a punt. He ranks fifth in NFL history in both gross (45.6) and net punting average (39.0). He was drafted out of LSU in the seventh round of the 2004 draft by the Seahawks. He spent a season in Seattle and the following two in Miami before landing in St. Louis in 2007.

The Eagles have signed three former Texans (linebacker Connor Barwin, tight end James Casey, and Jones) in free agency this offseason and acquired two more from Houston last year (linebacker DeMeco Ryans and tackle Nate Menkin).

Butler to visit. The Eagles will host free agent linebacker Victor Butler at the NovaCare Complex on Tuesday, according to an NFL source. Butler, 25, who has played four seasons for the Cowboys, has visited a number of teams, most recently with the Browns.

The 6-foot-2, 248-pound Butler played outside linebacker in Dallas' 3-4 defense. (The Cowboys switched to a 4-3 this offseason.) He was a situational pass rusher and played on fewer than a third of the snaps on defense last season. But Butler did record three sacks, forced two fumbles, and had nine quarterback hurries.

The Eagles made a move to beef up their pass rush this offseason by signing Barwin to a contract two weeks ago. With their expected switch to a 3-4, the Eagles need more outside linebackers with experience in the scheme.

Trent Cole, Brandon Graham, and Vinny Curry are slated to be outside linebackers, but all three have only played as defensive ends in a 4-3.