Eagles Claim S Blake Countess
The Rams waived Blake Countess on Thursday but left the door open to a possible return. That will not happen, at least for the time being.
Countess will instead head east, with the Eagles submitting a successful waiver claim for the fourth-year safety, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. This is interesting, considering the Eagles drafted him in the 2016 sixth round.
Deployed as a reserve safety during his time with the Rams, though he did make two starts over the past two years, the former Day 3 selection will attempt to make a better impression on Doug Pederson‘s staff.
Countess refused to take a pay cut, leading to his Los Angeles exit. It appears he was correct in assessing his value, with the the Eagles set to see if he can stick on their roster in his contract year. The Rams tendered Countess, an RFA, at the original-round level. He will bring a $2.025MM salary onto the Eagles’ payroll.
The Eagles cut Countess after the 2016 preseason, and the Jeff Fisher-led Rams added him to their practice squad. He received more playing time with Sean McVay‘s Rams, suiting up for all of Los Angeles’ 36 games (counting the playoffs) over the past two seasons. The Eagles did not use a draft choice on a safety but did add Andrew Sendejo this offseason. Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod, the latter coming off a season-ending injury that induced a substantial pay cut, as their first-string safeties.
Eagles Sign LB Zach Brown
Zach Brown has found a new home. The linebacker is signing a one-year, $3MM deal with the Eagles, per Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com (Twitter link).
Brown was released by the Redskins back in March, and he’s staying in the NFC East. He’ll now get a chance at revenge against his old team twice a year. Washington tried to shop him in trade talks before cutting him, but they were unable to find a partner. Inside linebacker Jordan Hicks left Philly for Arizona this offseason, and Brown will help replace him in the middle.
Brown received extremely high grades from Pro Football Focus last year, grading out as their third best linebacker overall behind only Bobby Wagner and Luke Kuechly. NFL evaluators evidently weren’t as high on his play. In 16 games and 12 starts last year, Brown racked up 96 tackles, ten for a loss, and one sack with two forced fumbles.
Originally drafted in the second round out of North Carolina back in 2012, Brown spent the first four years of his career with Tennessee. He then signed a one-year deal with Buffalo for 2016. The Redskins re-signed him to a three-year deal worth up to $24MM last March, but he ended up making it just one year into that pact.
Other than a torn pec which cost him most of the 2014 season, Brown has managed to stay pretty healthy during his career, which is good news for the Eagles. Hicks had always been solid, but was plagued by injuries the last couple of seasons.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/2/19
Here are today’s minor moves, which feature several recognizable signal-callers:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: P Ryan Winslow
- Waived: K Cole Murphy
Chicago Bears
- Waived: OL Dejon Allen, Willie Beavers, WR Cyril Grayson
Denver Broncos
- Waived: QB Garrett Grayson, WR Chad Hansen
Detroit Lions
- Signed: NT Darius Kilgo
- Released: RB Kerwynn Williams
- Waived: OL Jarron Jones
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: LB Josh Carraway
New York Giants
- Waived: WR Jawill Davis
New York Jets
- Claimed: QB Luke Falk
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: S Delvon Randall (signed as UDFA with partially-guaranteed contract on May 1)
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/1/19
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: G David Bright
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LB D.J. Alexander
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: T Darrell Williams
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: CB Dee Delaney, QB Luke Falk, DE Jeremiah Valoaga
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: LB Asantay Brown, G Kaleb Johnson, CB Chandon Sullivan
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: S P.J. Locke (undrafted college free agent)
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: OL Marcus Henry
Eagles, Chris Long Adjust Bonus Date
Chris Long still isn’t sure about whether he wants to play in 2019. This week, the defensive end worked with the Eagles to kick the can down the road. 
[RELATED: Eagles Pick Up Carson Wentz’s Option]
Originally, Long was set to earn a $1MM roster bonus on Wednesday. Instead, Long’s bonus date has been moved until the first day veterans report to training camp, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
The 34-year-old had another productive season as an Eagles reserve in 2018, compiling 23 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in 16 games. Still, he has other interests outside of playing football, and this marks at least the second straight year in which Long has considered retirement.
With two Super Bowl rings already on his hand, it’s possible that Long could call it a career before camp gets underway this summer.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/30/19
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: TE Marcus Baugh (AAF), TE Cole Hunt (AAF)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Claimed off waivers from 49ers: LB James Onwualu
New York Giants
- Waived: T Jylan Ware
Oakland Raiders
- Waived: RB James Butler, LB Cayson Collins, WR Rashard Davis, G/C Cameron Hunt, WR De’Mornay Pierson-El
Philadelphia Eagles
- Claimed off waivers from 49ers: S Godwin Igwebuike
Washington Redskins
- Waived: DB Alex Carter, G Kyle Fuller, T Darius James, WR Tre McBride, DB Harlan Miller, OL Salesi Uhatafe
Eagles Pick Up Carson Wentz’s Option
No surprise here. On Monday, the Eagles exercised Carson Wentz‘s fifth-year option, per a team announcement. 
This was a no-brainer call for the Eagles, who have committed to Wentz as their quarterback of the future. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft is now set to earn $22.783MM in 2020, the season after the initial four years on his contract come to a close.
Wentz, of course, was sidelined for the Eagles’ postseason run following the 2017 campaign, paving the way for Nick Foles to take the wheel and lead the franchise to its first ever Super Bowl victory. Last year, the injury bug bit Wentz once again. He missed a good chunk of the year with back troubles, but Foles was there once again to pinch hit. Unfortunately, the magic ran out for Philly last year, and the Eagles no longer have Foles as a safety net.
Should Wentz’s back issues reemerge to the point where his performance is compromised, he’ll be protected per the rules of the fifth-year option, which is guaranteed for injury. For any non-health issues, the Eagles retain the right to cut him loose without being on the hook for nearly $23MM in 2020.
Wentz looked the part of franchise quarterback when he was healthy in 2018. He finished the campaign with 3,074 yards and 21 touchdowns with a 69.6 completion percentage in 11 games.
Colts Trade Hassan Ridgeway To Eagles
The end of this draft has not featured many trades, but the Colts found a way to snare an extra draft pick without sacrificing 2019 or 2020 draft capital.
Indianapolis instead traded defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway to the Eagles for the No. 246 overall pick, Jeff McLane of Philly.com tweets.
This marks the second straight year the Colts have traded a contract-year defensive lineman for a seventh-round pick. They shipped Henry Anderson to the Jets last year. Like Anderson, Ridgeway arrived during the Ryan Grigson regime and did so during the Colts’ years using a 3-4 scheme. A six-game starter during three Colts seasons, Ridgeway — a 2016 fourth-round selection — will head to the Eagles.
A 305-pound interior defender out of Texas, Ridgeway has 4.5 career sacks — all from 2016-17 — and played 103 snaps last season with the Colts. He will attempt to raise his pre-free agency stock in another city, as Anderson did.
The Colts now have two picks remaining — Nos. 240 and 246.
Eagles Send No. 163 To Patriots
The Patriots had their eyes on some fifth-round performers, trading up for the second time in five picks. This time, a punter will be headed to New England.
For giving up the No. 163 pick, the Eagles will receive the Pats’ No. 167 and No. 246 overall choices.
Stanford punter Jake Bailey will add to the Patriots’ specialists crew. New England re-signed longtime punter (and Super Bowl LIII standout) Ryan Allen in March but did so on a one-year deal. The six-season incumbent now has competition.
Bailey averaged north of 44 yards per punt in his final two seasons with the Cardinal, concluding his college career as the school’s all-time punting average leader (43.8 yards). He finished as a three-time All-Pac-12 selection. Bailey is this draft’s second punter taken, following the 49ers’ fourth-round selection of Mitch Wishnowsky.
Eagles Acquire No. 22 Pick From Ravens
The Eagles have acquired the No. 22 pick from the Ravens, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Baltimore will pick up No. 25, No. 127, and No. 197, tweets Field Yates of ESPN.com.
Philadelphia will use the selection to draft Washington State Andre Dillard. Given that the offensive-line needy Texans were sitting at No. 23, the Eagles made the move up the board to find a left tackle of the future.
Dillard, whom many observers ranked as the best pass-blocking tackle in the draft, will now become the long-term replacement for blinside protector Jason Peters. Until Peters hangs up his cleats, Dillard will slide in either as a swing tackle or guard.