The big news today is that NJ native, Vinny Curry, will be returning to the Philadelphia Eagles after a one year stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Curry was drafted by the Eagles in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft and would go on to carve a role in numerous defensive schemes. After a career-high 9 sacks in 2014, hopes were high and he played his way to a big-time payday in 2016.
The problem was that the payday was perhaps a little too big. Curry’s production over the course of the next two years didn’t marry up to the cap hit he was tied to and although his career-high 42 tackles played a huge role in the team’s emphatic Super Bowl run, the Birds were left with no choice but to part ways in order to save $5M in cap space.
Curry’s lone season in Tampa Bay was slightly underwhelming, as he posted just 2.5 sacks and 21 tackles, although he suffered a high ankle sprain early on and battled at a level less than his best throughout, as a result.
This is the first big takeaway for the Eagles. If there is anyone out there who knows what Curry brings to the table, it’s Jim Schwartz and a talent evaluation department who spent six years watching Curry evolve. If those numbers truly weren’t representative of his play, then signing him to a one-year, $2.5M contract is not only a bargain, but has the potential to be one of the most impactful signings of the offseason.
If he wasn’t cut one year ago, Curry would have cost the Eagles $11 million. He cost the Bucs $6.5M last year. At $2.5M, this is the cheapest that he’s been available in quite some time and if we were to treat his contractual value like a stock market, it’s all about buying low for the Eagles…and they’re buying into a company they know very well.
In terms of depth, this further ticks a position of need for the Eagles. Losing Michael Bennett hurt and although Malik Jackson can line up in a 5-tech spot, adding a true defensive end was key. Curry has schematic familiarity, (he arguably played his best Football in 2017) and played in over 50% of snaps in his final season with the Eagles. If he was to slot back into that rotation, we can expect a similar role and that would essentially replace what the team are losing in Bennett. Having Graham and Barnett on one side, opposite Curry and potentially Josh Sweat or maybe even a fresher face, it’s encouraging.
I didn’t mention Chris Long because I do think this move could spell an upsetting departure for one of the most selfless guys in the locker room. Long stated that although he restructured his deal, his return will be based on football and not money. Long wants to play as a starter, or see a sufficient amount of snaps and although they rose by nearly 10% last year, they’re likely to fall back down to around the 50% mark. The Eagles could essentially be trading off Long to bring back Curry on a prove-it deal.
All in all, Curry amassed 22 sacks in six seasons with the Eagles and will slot straight back into the locker room of the team he grew up watching. It’s cheap, cheerful, and the Eagles may have capitalized on a down-year through just knowing the type of player he is and the aspects that may have contributed to that drop in production.
Curry’s ability to create windows of opportunity for his teammates is second to none, it was always putting the icing on the cake that was the concern. However, if he can further take weight off the shoulders of Fletcher Cox, continue his progress as a solid run defender and allow a younger defensive end (Sweat/Ostman/???) to develop below him, then this may be the most ‘Howie’ move of all.
Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
