Philadelphia Eagles: Rodney McLeod Signing is Huge
By Jeremy Klump
The Philadelphia Eagles signing of Rodney McLeod seemed to fly under the radar this week. But they could be flying high in 2016 because of it.
There is always talk about the Philadelphia Eagles and how they have not been able to find a great safety since their all-time great, Brian Dawkins, however, the Eagles could have two great safeties in 2016.
Malcolm Jenkins, who the Eagles gave a well-earned contract extension to, played his best season as a pro in 2015. Jenkins was a rock for the Birds successes on defense and he has been cementing himself as one of the best safeties in the entire NFL.
Pro Football Focus ranked Jenkins as the second overall safety in 2015 and his play on the field backed up that claim. Jenkins may have had the Eagles biggest play on defense in 2015 when he picked off Tom Brady for a 99-yard touchdown.
Jenkins’ partner in crime, his opposite safety, was Walter Thurmond in 2015, but Thurmond is an unrestricted free agent in 2016 and he will not be returning because the Eagles. The reason for that is because the Eagles decided to make a splash in free agency and lock up a safety that they will hopefully pair with Jenkins for years to come.
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That safety is former Rams standout Rodney McLeod.
McLeod signed with the Rams in 2012 as an undrafted free agent. However, he caught on quickly and earned the starting job by his second season. McLeod would go on to start the last three seasons. In his career with the Rams, he compiled 193 tackles, eight forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and five interceptions.
Eagles
In 2015, McLeod ended the year with 82 tackles, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception. His numbers were impressive and Pro Football Focus had him ranked as the 10th best safety in the entire NFL. McLeod helped himself out by playing well in 2015 because he was going to be a free agent after the season. The Eagles were able to snatch him up and sign him to a five-year, $37 million contract.
According to Spotrac, the deal only has cap hits of $2.6 million in 2016 and $5.6 in 2017, but jumps up to $7.6 million in 2018 and is followed by $9.1 and $10.1 in 2019 and 2020. The contract is broken down in a way where the Eagles are betting that 25 year old will keep progressing and showing that he is one of the best safeties in the entire NFL.
This was a great move my the Eagles because they now have Jenkins and McLeod. Both of the safeties are coming off of arguably the best season of their career in 2015 and are both hitting their strides as players in the NFL.
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It is no secret that the Eagles have struggled with their secondary over the years, so having two dependable safeties is something that can give comfort to the Eagles coaches.
McLeod will bring a physical presence to their secondary and is someone that can fly around the field. He hasn’t missed a game in his four seasons and he is a guy that can come down in the box and cover tight ends or pass catching backs if needed.
For Eagles fans who aren’t familiar with McLeod, check out this hit he laid on Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders.
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McLeod was an under the radar player in free agency, but his play in 2016 for the Eagles will show just how big of a signing this truly was.