Eagles DE Derek Barnett Underwent Surgery
Add Derek Barnett to the long list of Eagles players who will be recovering from surgery this offseason. Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com reports that the defensive end underwent sports hernia surgery following his team’s Super Bowl victory.
The reporter notes that the recovery period is only six weeks, and the surgery is intended to make the specific area of the body stronger. In other words, Barnett should already be close to full-health.
Following a productive rookie campaign, the 2017 first-rounder is expected to take on a bigger role with the Eagles in 2018. The Tennessee product finished last season with 21 tackles and five sacks in 15 games. He also scooped up a key Tom Brady fumble during the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl. The 21-year-old may start the season behind Brandon Graham and Michael Bennett on the depth chart, but he’ll serve alongside Chris Long as one of the top rotational defensive ends.
Kempski notes that the Eagles are likely to bring Barnett along slowly this offseason. A number of his teammates will be following a similar path, including quarterback Carson Wentz, offensive tackle Jason Peters, wideout Alshon Jeffery, linebacker Jordan Hicks, defensive end Timmy Jernigan, running back Darren Sproles, and safety Chris Maragos.
Opinion: Upshaw Could Help Eagles
- The Eagles could use a boost in run defense after the departure of Beau Allen and Courtney Upshaw could help in that area, as Zack Rosenblatt of NJ.com writes. In 2015, Upshaw ranked eighth in run defense grade amongst 3-4 outside linebackers, per Pro Football Focus. Upshaw, who didn’t see a lot of playing time for the Falcons last year, auditioned for the Eagles this week. With the ability to play multiple positions in the front seven, he could be an intriguing add for Philly. Meanwhile, the Eagles also have some interest in defensive tackle Terrell McClain and it’s not clear whether both players could be a fit.
Eagles Interested In DT Terrell McClain
The Eagles are interested in defensive tackle Terrell McClain, according to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). Of course, they’re not alone in that regard. 
The Dolphins and 49ers both met with McClain earlier this month. And, on Thursday, the Cowboys will sit down with the 29-year-old (30 in July). The Falcons are also said to have interest in the veteran, though they have yet to schedule a meeting with him.
McClain signed a four-year, $12MM+ deal with the Redskins last year. His $3.25MM base salary was scheduled to become fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2018 league year, but Washington tweaked the deal to make it guaranteed for injury only. With no real financial obligation to McClain, the Redskins released him in late April.
McClain didn’t look great last year, but he had a career year in 2016 with 39 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. He would make an interesting addition for the defending champs since defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan might not be available for the season opener. Haloti Ngata projects to step into his role, but McClain could help provide additional depth off the bench.
Eagles Sign Entire Draft Class
The Eagles have wrapped up their entire draft class, the team announced. The following rookies are now officially under contract with the defending champs: 
- 2-49: Dallas Goedert, TE (South Dakota State)
- 4-125: Avonte Maddox, CB (Pittsburgh)
- 4-130: Josh Sweat, DE (Florida State)
- 6-206: Matt Pryor, T (TCU)
- 7-233: Jordan Mailata, T (Australia)
Goedert was the Eagles’ top pick in this year’s class after they shipped their No. 32 overall pick and a fourth-round choice (No. 132) to the Ravens for a second-rounder (No. 52), fourth-rounder (No. 125) and a second-round pick in 2019. The Ravens used the final pick in the first round on Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Eagles, meanwhile, moved up from No. 52 to No 49 in a deal with the Cowboys to land Goedert.
Goedert was regarded by some as the best tight end in this year’s class, but South Carolina’s Hayden Hurst (No. 25, Ravens) and Penn State’s Mike Gesicki (No. 42, Dolphins), both went ahead of him. The South Dakota State star is now out to prove that he can dominate at a much higher level of competition. Last year, he tallied 92 receptions for 1,293 yards and eleven touchdowns.
Maddox may have a chance to contribute right off the bat following the departure of cornerback Patrick Robinson. Although he is undersized at 5’9″, evaluators say that he plays with the toughness necessary to succeed in the NFL.
Sweat, meanwhile, offers serious potential with a 4.53 second 40-yard-dash time and a track record of serious pass rushing ability. Although he tallied 12.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks last year, some teams were warded off by the injuries that sidelined him in high school and in the 2016 season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/9/18
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: S Harlan Miller, DT Peli Anau
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: G Isaiah Williams
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: G Daronte Bouldin
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: WR Dom Williams
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OT Mike Person
Eagles To Sign RB Matt Jones
The Eagles will sign free agent running back Matt Jones, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Jones worked out alongside two other running backs on Tuesday and won the competition. The Eagles have confirmed the news while disclosing that it is a two-year deal.
Jones, a former third-round pick of the Redskins, was Washington’s lead rusher for a time and showed promise in short bursts. However, he slipped down the depth chart over time and was jettisoned from the roster last year. The 25-year-old moved between the Colts’ active roster and practice squad last year but averaged less than three yards per carry in his limited time with the varsity squad.
Jones will now fight to make the cut with the defending champs. The Eagles will head into the season with Jay Ajayi as their primary ball carrier while Corey Clement, Darren Sproles, Wendell Smallwood, D.J. Pumphrey, and Jones vie for supporting roles.
Before signing Jones, the Eagles also auditioned former Ravens running back Terrance West.
Eagles Meet With Courtney Upshaw
Free agent defensive lineman Courtney Upshaw visited the Eagles, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Upshaw spent 2017 with the Falcons and saw time on on the interior and has played defensive end and linebacker in the past. 
Upshaw joined the Falcons on a one-year, $1.25MM deal in 2016. In his first year with Atlanta, he recorded 23 tackles, one forced fumble, and a half-sack in 13 appearances (five starts). Last year, Upshaw had nine total tackles and one sack and played on just 226 snaps.
The Eagles already boast an impressive front four of Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, Timmy Jernigan, and Michael Bennett. Haloti Ngata figures to fill in for the injured Jernigan to start the year and Derek Barnett and Chris Long are also among those in reserve. Upshaw could compete for time on the D-Line depth chart and also help out at linebacker, though the LB group was strengthened with free agents Corey Nelson and Paul Worrilow plus rookie Josh Sweat this offseason.
Eagles Meet With RB Terrance West
Free agent running back Terrance West took a free agent visit with the Eagles on Tuesday, a source tells Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). West, a former third-round pick of the Browns, has spent the last two-and-a-half seasons with the Ravens. 
The 2016 season marked West’s first campaign in Baltimore and he led the team’s ball carriers in attempts (193), yards (774) and touchdowns (five) in that campaign. Last year, he had 39 carries until a calf injury in October took him out of the equation. Wets averaged just 3.5 yards per tote in 2017 after a respectable 4.0 yards-per-carry average in the previous year.
The Eagles seem fairly set at running back with Jay Ajayi as their main carrier and Corey Clement, Darren Sproles, Wendell Smallwood, and D.J. Pumphrey in support. However, Sproles is looking to return from a a torn ACL and his status for the start of the season is unclear.
There hasn’t been much buzz around West this offseason, but he could see an uptick in interest this week along with other low-priority unrestricted free agents. Per league rules, UFAs no longer count against the compensatory pick formula once the second Tuesday after the NFL draft arrives.
Bills Meet With RB Kenjon Barner
Former Eagles running back Kenjon Barner will visit with the Bills on Tuesday, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Barner could be a fit for Buffalo as a depth piece on the running back depth chart who can also offer help in the return game. 
Barner, a 2013 sixth-round pick by the Panthers, spent the last three seasons with the Eagles. In 2015 and 2016, he was productive despite limited snaps, compiling 253 rushing yards on only 55 carries (4.6 yards per attempt). Last offseason, he signed a one-year free agent deal with the Chargers but returned to Philly after he missed the Bolts’ final 53-man cut. He saw less time at running back than ever in 2017, but he did average a respectable 8.9 yards per punt return. That could make him a candidate to replace Brandon Tate as the Bills’ primary returner.
The Bills already have Chris Ivory, Travaris Cadet, Taiwan Jones, Marcus Murphy, and Aaron Green at running back to support starter LeSean McCoy, but Barner would have a real chance at making the roster if signed. A deal would reunite Barner and McCoy, who played together in Philly in 2014.
Eagles Sign QB Joe Callahan
Joe Callahan has found a new job. The quarterback signed a two-year deal with the Eagles today. The 24-year-old was waived by the Packers last week.
The 2016 undrafted free agent out of Wesley has bounced around the league over the past two seasons, spending time with the Saints, Browns, and Packers (two stints). With Aaron Rodgers injured, Callahan went on to make his NFL debut this past season, completing five of his seven attempts for 11 yards.
The signal-caller was predictably a lot more productive during his collegiate career, highlighted by a senior season when he completed 58.4-percent of his passes for 3,599 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions.
While Callahan inked a two-year deal with Philly, he might not necessarily be a lock to make the roster. He’ll presumably compete with Nate Sudfeld to be the Eagles’ third-string quarterback behind Carson Wentz and Nick Foles.