Look who’s back, back again.
The Philadelphia Eagles re-sign veteran defensive end, Vinny Curry. According to NFL Network Insider, Ian Rapoport, Curry’s new one-year deal guarantees $1.3 million with incentives worth up to $2 million.
A History with The Birds
Coming out of Marshall, Curry was drafted by the Eagles in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft. In the first three years of his four-year contract, number 75 had 50 combined tackles, eight assists, and 13 sacks.
However, the struggle was real in 2015. Defensive coaches moved Curry to outside linebacker, and the experiment failed. He totaled 12 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Despite falling short, Curry signed a new five-year contract worth $47.5 million, with $23 million guaranteed the following season. He made his way back to a 4-3 defense.
His new stint did him right. He had 68 total tackles and 25 assists, more than all his previous seasons with the Eagles combined.
Shortly after an Eagles victory in Super Bowl LII, Curry was released from the team after declining to take a pay cut.
The grass isn’t always greener…except in Philadelphia
As a former defending-champion, he earned a new $23 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2018. After playing in 12 games with seven starts, he was released again after one season.
As an unrestricted free agent, Curry made his way back north for the 2019 season — home of Philly Philly. He signed a one-year deal with the Eagles. Returning to a team he previously excelled with, he secured five sacks, the most since 2014.
Going into 2020, the Philadelphia Eagles desired to keep the team young, leaving many to wonder why Curry, the now 32-year-old, is back.
The Eagles are now two weeks into training camp, and it would seem as if the younger players didn’t prove their readiness. With an already dominant defense consisting of Brandon Graham and Derek Barnett, an equal counterpart only makes sense.
Vinny Curry will join Josh Sweat as a primary rotational player. That being said, it looks as if Joe Ostman, Shareef Miller, and Casey Toohill won’t make the final cut.
A Mutually Beneficial Agreement
With the seemingly DE4 role vacant, Curry is the addition the Eagles need. Coming off a strong season, he’s already familiar with the plays and works well with his fellow defensive competitors. Although speed has never been his strong suit, he provides excellent depth, strong snaps, and versatility.
More importantly, he does that at a low cost this season.
Currently, the Eagles are $86 million over the 2021 season cap, leaving them in a terrible position to make changes this year. Rather than an expensive pass rusher, Philly was able to acquire a veteran for a bargain.
The coronavirus pandemic also plays a significant role in Curry’s return. As the unknown continues to linger, there’s no guarantee that the 53-man roster remains uninfected. Simply put, Curry provides insurance for the defensive line.
For Curry, he gets to be closer to home. From Neptune City, New Jersey, Philly was just more attractive.
Earlier this year, as a guest of The Sports Bash, he was quoted saying, “This is where home is. You’ve got the most passionate fans in the world, ya got to love it.”
It’s been reported that the Cleveland Browns made a more competitive offer, and while money may have been Curry’s previous concern, it seems as if that no longer remains a priority.
Going into the 2020-21. season, the Eagles defense has the potential to be the best in the league, and Curry is undoubtedly an asset to the line.
