Instant analysis of Eagles signing DE Chris Long
The Philadelphia Eagles announced on Tuesday that they have agreed to a two-year contract with defensive end Chris Long. Terms of the deal have not been announced.
Long is a former No. 2 overall pick by the then St. Louis Rams in the 2008 NFL Draft. The 32-year-old defensive end played in all 16 games for the New England Patriots last season after signing a one-year deal.
He posted four sacks in 2016, which was his highest total in the last three years. Long has played both right and left defensive end in his career. He will likely line up at the right defensive end spot, which is a much-needed position for the Eagles.
Long joins defensive ends Marcus Smith II, Steven Means, Brandon Graham and Vinny Curry on the Eagles. Although the Eagles now have four defensive ends with NFL experience, selecting a defensive end in the 2017 NFL Draft would not be out of the question, even with the No. 14 overall pick.
Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett would be an ideal pick if he is on the board when Philadelphia is on the clock in the first round. Having a veteran such as Long will be an ideal situation for the Eagles if they decide to select a defensive end.
Long has endured a productive career that has lasted almost a full decade. He clearly knows how to prepare for the rigorous NFL season, as shown by his participation in 16 games in seven of his nine seasons.
If selected in 2017, a young defensive end can learn a lot from Long just from an observational standpoint. Younger players benefit from having a veteran that leads by example.
Having started seven games and getting four sacks for the Super Bowl LI champion Patriots, Long still has some production left in the tank. His blue-collar mindset will win over Eagles fans.
