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Philadelphia Eagles: Biggest Week in Franchise History? Part One

By Andrew Goldwasser

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Wow.

Where to begin?

With a disclaimer: If the most recent massive moves made by the Philadelphia Eagles aren’t covered in this article it’s because I can’t type as fast as Chip Kelly can overhaul an NFL franchise.

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A couple weeks ago, I wrote that Chip Kelly was going to take NFL fans on a wild ride this off-season. In that article, I suggested that Chip Kelly might part ways with LeSean McCoy. That he might trade away Nick Foles. That he might be conservative and just try to shore up the secondary.

I had no idea he’d do it all. And so much more. I was right about one thing: “…no one knows what Chip will do.”

And after the wildest and, perhaps, the most important week in Philadelphia Eagles history… We still don’t.

And while it’s pretty clear that he’s not done doing whatever it is he’s gonna do, we can certainly take a look at what he’s done:

The move to turn Nick Foles into Sam Bradford is much less risky than a lot of people seem to believe. Mark Sanchez is signed on for two more years and he was nearly Nick Foles’ production-doppelgänger in 2014. So if Bradford’s ACL were to explode, like a land mine, on contact… the Eagles would be in roughly the same spot at QB in 2015 as they were in 2014.

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“But what about the picks they lost?!”

Yeah. What about them? They traded their 4th this year for the Rams’ 5th. If you honestly want to argue that the (roughly) 115th player selected in the draft is always going to beat the (roughly) 135th guy taken… fine. Argue that. But it’s not the case. In fact, by that point in the draft, it’s likely that the player you’re targeting at 115 will still be around at 135.

And, yes, they gave up a 2nd rounder in 2016. That is the second most troubling aspect of this trade for the Eagles (I’ll get to the more troubling one in a moment.) But if Sam Bradford isn’t the Eagles’ full-time quarterback in 2015 they get a 4th rounder back from the Rams. And if he doesn’t even make to week one (because of injury or anything else) the Eagles get a 3rd back.

Aug 23, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford (8) against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

In other words: They only give up a 2nd if Sam Bradford is their quarterback in 2015. Otherwise, they merely swap a 2nd for a 3rd or a 4th. Not good. But far from tragic.

And if Sam Bradford is their quarterback? If Sam Bradford is healthy? It’s a massive upgrade. Bradford is a fast-thinking fast-releasing quarterback with a history of running an up-tempo spread style offense going all the way back to college at Oregon.

Oh, sorry, no. Oklahoma. Honest mistake.

He was the #1 overall selection in 2010 for good reasons. And he’s shown flashes of those reasons in between horrific injuries.

Perhaps, most importantly, he’s a quarterback that Chip Kelly sought out. He’s a guy Chip has identified as being able to run what Chip wants to call. He’s not a hand-me-down from Andy Reid or a best-available on the free agent market. He’s a guy that Kelly targeted, paid for, and got.

That, alone, ought to give Eagles’ fans reason to be optimistic that if Sam Bradford can stay under center… he can do wonderful things in this offense.

It’s a mighty big if.

But no bigger than if Nick Foles could ever have been the guy Chip needed in his offense.

So what was the most troubling aspect of the trade for Bradford? The money. Foles was being paid $1.5 million to play ball in 2015. Bradford will make $13 million. For now. I expect the Eagles and Bradford to work out an extension/restructure of that deal to make it more cap friendly and incentive-based for the Eagles.

The loss of Jeremy Maclin didn’t go over well with many Eagles’ fans. Sorry many Eagles’ fans: It was the right move. Much in the same way the Cowboys played it smart by letting DeMarco Murray walk away for more money (more on that later) the Eagles did the smart thing deciding not to overpay Maclin.

Maclin is a good receiver.

Maclin’s numbers looked like those of a great receiver.

Chip Kelly did that.

Just as he did that for the numbers of DeSean Jackson in 2013. For LeSean McCoy in 2013 and 2014. For Nick Foles in 2013 and for Mark Sanchez in 2014. For Riley Cooper in 2013.

It’s not a coincidence that nearly every skill-position player that steps into this offense immediately sees career-best numbers.

Nov 27, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews (81) celebrates scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

And Jeremy Maclin understood this. At the end of the 2013 season (a season which he missed with an ACL tear) Maclin had the chance to sign a long-term extension with the Eagles. But he elected to bet on himself.

He had just watched Chip Kelly’s system boost Jackson, Cooper, and McCoy’s production and understood that if he came back in 2014, thrived in that same system, and put up ridiculous numbers… he’d be able to make a heck of a lot more than he would make agreeing to a deal while rehabbing his knee.

He was smart.

And right.

And the Chiefs paid him for his production (and then some) at $11 million a year.

He’s simply not worth that kind of pay-day. Especially not on a team where almost anyone tabbed as the primary receiving target is going to be wildly productive.

Kelly knew that.

Kelly also knows this:

“… we think in terms of our model that it’s a really good draft for wide receivers.”

It’s a terrific draft at the receiver position. There will be field-ready talent for the Eagles should the opt for a receiver in the first or the second round. And those new guys won’t cost but a small fraction of what Maclin would.

“Field-ready? That doesn’t sound like a Maclin replacement.”

True, but Kelly also knows that the Eagles took advantage of last year’s strong receiver draft:

“We also have a lot of confidence in some of the guys we have — Jordan Matthews had an outstanding year for us as a rookie, he’s going into Year 2. Josh Huff, we got a lot of high expectations for Josh, we’re excited about him.”

The Eagles have invested heavily in young receivers and seem to plan to do the same again this year. When teams do that? It’s usually time to say goodbye to high priced veterans. Goodbye, Jeremy Maclin.

Another thing that Chip Kelly had to do this offseason was to revamp the porous Eagles’ secondary: He’s made major strides.

Dec 21, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell (41) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the Cardinals 35-6. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Eagles made quick work of signing free agency’s top corner, Byron Maxwell, to a very rich (too rich, really) contract at $10.5 million a year for six years. It was a must. And the Eagles did what they needed to do to make it happen.

They also added cornerback and former Oregon Duck (at some point the phrases ‘former Oregon Duck’ and ‘current Philadelphia Eagle’ will simply be interchangeable, no?) Walter Thurmond on a one year deal.

And, in news many Eagles’ supporters wished to hear last year as they watched Bradley Fletcher run aimlessly in the general vicinity of opponents’ receivers, Chip Kelly recently suggested that productive nickel corner, Brandon Boykin, would be given an opportunity to compete on the outside this year.

The Eagles, like many other teams, did strike out on Devin McCourty, who opted to return to Patriots for less money. The safety spot opposite Malcolm Jenkins is still wide open. The 2015 draft is shallow at the position. The free agency pool is pretty dried up. The Eagles are likely to be no better at safety in 2015. But, after watching the 2014 version, it’s even less likely that they’ll be worse. I’m not even sure what that would look like.

Like every other team, there are still areas for improvement.

But the additions in the secondary, the acquisition of inside linebacker Kiko Alonso in the McCoy deal, and the re-signing of pass rushing linebacker Brandon Graham certainly point to an improved Eagles’ defense in 2015.

None of this has been happening quietly, mind you. The Eagles have been trending on every website where things can trend. They have been the talking point on every sports show on which people talk about points.

The media has had a field day with Chip Kelly’s seeming disregard for convention. Some folks, like Doug Farrar of SI.com, insist he’s got a plan.

Others, like CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora, contest that Chip’s methods are more irresponsible than they are maverick.

I think it’s a question of trust and that the Eagles are doing exactly what they should: For better. Or worse.

Two years ago, owner Jeffery Lurie and his staff set out to find the person they felt had the mind and the ability to lead this team. They met Chip Kelly and knew, immediately, that he was that person. They were relentless in pursuing him to be Andy Reid’s replacement.

They got him.

Since that time, he’s taken a team that was 4-12 in it’s last season under Reid and has gone 20-12. Won a division title. Made the playoffs. Crafted an offense that is now being discussed in every defensive film room and front office in the NFL.

But that’s not the point. Chip’s impressive (but meaningless) accomplishments thus far have not earned him unchecked authority.

So why give it to him?

Because that’s why he’s here: He’s not a mere manager. Never has been. He’s an innovator. An instigator. A genius, some say.

Does that mean he’ll be right in the long run? Of course not. Or that he’ll bring a Lombardi Trophy to Philadelphia? Even of course-er not.

But it means that Chip Kelly, if he does win, isn’t going to do it like anyone else we’ve seen.

So let’s stop judging it against what we think it looks like: Maybe… it looks just like this.

Oh.

I almost forgot… there were some moves made at running back, too. More on that tomorrow in “The Biggest Week in Franchise History (Part Two.)

Next: Did the Eagles get Swindled?

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