Eagles land five free agents as signing period begins
In a flurry of moves that won't invite any "Dream Team" labels, the Philadelphia Eagles added five veterans on relatively short-term contracts Tuesday, including safety Patrick Chung, tight end James Casey and defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga.
All three signed three-year deals. Casey, 28, and Chung, 25, bring the type of athleticism first-year coach Chip Kelly values on a roster where conditioning will be a mandate.
Cornerback Bradley Fletcher and linebacker Jason Phillips signed two-year deals. Fletcher was an underrated man coverage defender for the Rams but wasn't a fulltime starter last season.
Chung was a second-round pick in 2009 from Oregon, when Kelly was the Ducks' offensive coordinator. He has 30 career starts but has been dogged by injuries the past two seasons.
Casey could be a versatile weapon in the passing game. He was a hybrid tight end and fullback for the Texans, but wasn't placed in a primary role. That didn't hurt his value in free agency. The Houston Chronicle reported 14 teams inquired about Casey's availability. With Brent Celek and Clay Harbor on the roster, Casey might have his work cut out for him in crafting a bigger niche than he leaves in Houston.
Sopoaga signed a three-year, $12 million deal and can play nose tackle or defensive end in the 3-4 defense the Eagles are likely to favor next season.
