One minute the Eagles hadn't done anything in free agency and the next there are five new guys inked to play for Chip Kelly in Philadelphia next season. They may not have the name recognition of the splashy free agent class that became known as the Dream Team, but that's perfectly fine with me, as we all know how that turned out. The rebuilding Eagles want guys who can buy into a team building from the ground up. Together.
Let's take a look.
NT Isaac Sopoaga, 3 years
Here's Roob on Sopoaga:
Sopoaga, 31, started 80 games for the 49ers from 2005 through 2012 and
gives the Eagles an experienced nose tackle as the Eagles presumably
switch from a 4-3 front to a 3-4 front under new head coach Chip Kelly
and defensive coordinator Billy Davis.
CB Bradley Fletcher, 2 years
Here's Tommy Lawlor on Fletcher yesterday:
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The guy who fascinates me the most is Bradley Fletcher from St.
Louis. He missed time in 2011 due to an injury and was just a backup
last year, but if you put on the tape, he's got the best pure cover
skills of any corner on the market. You are taking a bit of a chance on
him, but he played all 16 games in 2010 and 2012 so it isn't like he's
injury prone. The reason he was a backup is that the Rams signed
Cortland Finnegan and drafted Janoris Jenkins early. That pushed
Fletcher to the back burner. He was the No. 3 corner and played well.
Fletcher will turn 27 this summer and has plenty of good football left
in front of him.
LB Jason Phillips, 2 years
S Patrick Chung, 3 years
A backhanded compliment? Or a sad reality?
TE / FB James Casey, 3 years
Casey could fit in nicely to the kind of offense Chip Kelly wants to run and he has a remarkable tale of getting to the NFL and the Eagles. Worth a read.
more coming...