NFL Rumors: Eagles Sign Ex-Chiefs Sack Master in Free Agency

[time2rock]

NFL Rumors: Eagles Sign Ex-Chiefs Sack Master in Free Agency

• 
• By Mike Greger

• Updated Feb 22, 2022 at 11:18am

Getty: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts tosses the ball after being sacked by Justin Houston #50.

The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to have around $20.9 million in cap space this offseason. That number could spike to $34 million depending on if they restructure a few in-house contracts.

Needless to say, the Eagles will enter next month’s free agency period in much better shape than they did in 2021. Several names have already been thrown out as potential targets, including JuJu Smith-Schuster, D.J. Chark, Haason Reddick, Carlton Davis, Anthony Barr. Now Pro Football Focus had added two more intriguing players to the mix: DE Justin Houston, CB DJ Reed, Jr. Both guys are more under-the-radar signings but could step in immediately and fill holes on the defensive side of the ball.

Philadelphia is likely to lose starting cornerback Steven Nelson – he’s already hinted at cashing out in free agency – and Reed would actually be an upgrade at the position. He posted the sixth-best cornerback grade (via Pro Football Focus) last season at 78.6.

Arjun Menon wrote: "Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon runs a relatively basic scheme that plays a lot of zone coverage. This can help to mask some of Reed’s weaknesses, which includes his lack of height (5-foot-9).

Meanwhile, Houston is a four-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro who led the entire NFL in sacks back in 2014. The 32-year-old thrived under Andy Reid in Kansas City and crossed paths with Jonathan Gannon and Nick Sirianni in Indianapolis. He has 102 career sacks.

Arjun Menon wrote: "Even at 32 years old, he recorded 45 pressures and 4.5 sacks. Given that pressures are more stable from year to year than sacks, we can expect him to produce this same type of performance in 2022 with a little more sack luck heading his way.”

---

Eagles Should Restructure Darius Slay

Another idea gaining momentum has to do with Darius Slay’s contract. There has been talk of locking him up to an extension coming off a monster season where he was robbed of All-Pro honors. Remember, Slay is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2024.

The Eagles restructured his deal and saved $9.14 million in 2021 without Slay taking a pay cut. NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Dave Zangaro suggested a similar move this year where the team could convert his base salary to bonus money and spread out his $22.035 million cap hit. Slay’s base salary would drop to $1.12 million in that scenario.

---

More Speculation on Russell Wilson Trade

Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus provided an actual trade proposal for the Eagles in their quest for Russell Wilson. No, it doesn’t involve all three of their first-rounders in 2022. He thinks the Seattle Seahawks would do it for less – a 2022 first-rounder, a 2023 first-rounder, a 2022 third-rounder – as a way to get Wilson’s contract off their books.

The Eagles would inherit the two years and $51 million remaining on Wilson’s deal. And the Seahawks would only eat $26 million in dead money. Spielberger doesn’t mention Jalen Hurts being part of the trade either. That would a pretty hard deal for the Eagles to say no to.

https://heavy.com/sports/philadelphia-eagles/justin-houston-free-agency/

[UK_EaglesFan89]

I wouldn't hate it. I mean he'd be a decent stop gap I think. He's the kind of signing you make to allow you to really attack the draft. DE would still be a huge need though. 

[Rob331]

• Houston and a #1 draft pick backing up BG and Sweat makes sense to me. Ditto for Riddick
• I'd prefer Chark to Smith-Schuster, Improve our team and hurt Dallas at the same time. Sweet! 
• I'd be ok with Davis replacing Nelson, but I'd want a corner in the first and second round too
• i don't know if Barr is a sot player but he's better than anything we currently have on the roster. 
• DJ Reed - no way. I'm done with miniature corner backs. 

I'm surprised there are no safeties on the list  - hopefully we see (in this order) Marcus Willimas, Terrell Edmunds, Dion Bush, and Quandre Diggs on the list as me get closer to free agency. 

 

[VaBeach_Eagle]

By the time you read this...

[time2rock]

I'd argue edge rusher is currently our biggest need.  While Houston wouldn't necessarily be a bad signing, I would only consider it IF he can be added on a minimal contract (I think the likelihood of that is low) to fill a role in much the same way Long did when we signed him.  But due to his age it would be a short term fix - in no way should it change any plans to draft a DE early in April (preferably 2 ... one on day 2, another on day 2 depending on how the board shakes out).  

[pallidrone]

20 hours ago, Rob331 said:

• I'd prefer Chark to Smith-Schuster, Improve our team and hurt Dallas at the same time. Sweet! 

How would they be hurting Dallas?

[time2rock]

35 minutes ago, pallidrone said:

How would they be hurting Dallas?

He’s probably thinking of Gallup.  

[Rob331]

5 hours ago, time2rock said:

He’s probably thinking of Gallup.  

Thanks pal - You're right I have been thinking about hurting Dallas by signing Gallup. But - I actually got it wrong, I've been thinking about Gallup's injury at the end of the year and WOULD actually now prefer Chark. 

Then again, I could compromise with myself and root for us signing Cedric Wilson. 

[time2rock]

1 hour ago, Rob331 said:

Thanks pal - You're right I have been thinking about hurting Dallas by signing Gallup. But - I actually got it wrong, I've been thinking about Gallup's injury at the end of the year and WOULD actually now prefer Chark. 

Then again, I could compromise with myself and root for us signing Cedric Wilson. 

Players coming from divisional rivals that are taught to hate the Eagles from the time they enter the league never seem to work out for us.  But I do like Chark quite a bit too … I think he would be a good option for us.  Also like Robinson but guessing he may be too costly.  I don’t see some of the other options as being realistic … I think they will either be re-signed by their current teams (like Williams and Godwin) or will cost too much (Adams, etc).