The Philadelphia Eagles have a new head coach in Chip Kelly and the team has started to bring in players to fit his scheme, including New York Giants safety Kenny Phillips and Baltimore Ravens cornerback Cary Williams, who signed a three-year contract.
According to ESPN.com, the Eagles signed Williams to a three-year contract worth $17 million that includes $10.5 million guaranteed, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. ESPN is also reporting that the team signed Houston Texans linebacker Connor Barwin to a six-year, $36 million deal and Kenny Phillips to a one-year deal.
The Eagles have depth issues all over the roster and need to improve on defense after going just 4-12 last season. The team cut high-priced cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha this week after the two sides couldn't negotiate a pay cut and the Eagles also lost Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to the Denver Broncos. The move also adds another player to the list that the Eagles have lost in free agency.
Dannell Ellerbe signed with the Dolphins, Anquan Boldin was traded to the 49ers, Paul Kruger signed with the Browns, while the team also cut Bernard Pollard. Williams was an essential part of the Ravens success, playing in every game and recording 67 tackles with four interceptions. After earning a starting role in 2011, the cornerback played in all 32 games and all the playoff wins prior to the Super Bowl.
Phillips was a big move for the Eagles, as they were able to weaken their rival in the Giants. The safety played in New York for five years after being drafted out of Miami and made 72 tackles and four interceptions as the Giants won the Super Bowl in 2011. Although he is injury prone, the Eagles are expecting him to be a major contributor.
Asomugha had been a huge disappointment after signing a five-year, $60 million contract and now all the main players that signed with the Eagles as part of the "dream team" are now gone, including Cullen Jenkins and Jason Babin. The Eagles finished 8-8 in 2011 before dropping to 4-12 last year, which resulted in the firing of head coach Andy Reid.
