Reactions To DeMarco Murray Joining Eagles
Earlier today, the Eagles reached agreement on a deal with the 2014’s rushing leader, DeMarco Murray. The Eagles have been aggressively revamping their roster over the last week and the addition of Murray gives them major star power in their backfield after dealing LeSean McCoy to the Bills. Here’s a look at some of the reactions and fallout from the Murray deal..
- Murray was offered a deal very heavy on incentives that would have maxed out at an average of $8MM per year from another team, so it’ll be interesting to see what kind of incentives he got in Philly, Albert Breer of NFL.com tweets.
- Meanwhile, the fate of Ryan Mathews lingers. The Raiders and 49ers are the teams to watch when it comes to the former Bolts back, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network tweets.
- The Eagles’ deal with Murray was considerably head of the Cowboys offer in terms of average, guarantee, incentives, and more, Ed Werder of ESPN.com tweets.
- One source told Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com (on Twitter) that it was the Eagles who asked if Murray could talk with coach Chip Kelly on Wednesday. That helped to bump up an already strong offer that was in place. It was widely reported that Murray was doing most of the campaigning to make a union between him and the Eagles happen.
- With Murray out of the picture, Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com cautions Cowboys fans not to expect Adrian Peterson to walk through the door.
Contract Details: Maxwell, Murray, McPhee
Here are some key details on some of the notable contracts agreed to or signed around the NFL this week:
NFC deals:
- Byron Maxwell, CB (Eagles): Six years, $63MM base value. $25MM fully guaranteed. $6MM signing bonus (Twitter links via Tom Pelissero of USA Today and Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun).
- DeMarco Murray, RB (Eagles): Five years, $40MM base value. $42MM max value. $18MM fully guaranteed (Twitter link via Albert Breer of the NFL Network).
- Pernell McPhee, OLB (Bears): Five years, $38.75MM base value. $8.675MM fully guaranteed (Twitter link via Pelissero).
- Antrel Rolle, S (Bears): Three years, $11.25MM base value. $4.9MM guaranteed. $3.9MM roster bonus in 2015 (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Tom Johnson, DT (Vikings): Three years, $7MM base value. $2.75MM guaranteed. $1.5MM roster bonus in 2015 (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Matt Prater, K (Lions): Two years, $4.55MM base value. Third-year team option for 2017 (Twitter link via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).
AFC deals:
- Davon House, CB (Jaguars): Four years, $24.5MM. $10MM fully guaranteed (Twitter link via Pelissero).
- James Carpenter, G (Jets): Four years, $19.1MM base value. $5MM fully guaranteed (Twitter link via Pelissero).
- Owen Daniels, TE (Broncos): Three years, $12.25MM base value. $3MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Pelissero).
- Mike Adams, S (Colts): Two years, $4.25MM base value. $1.2MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Wilson).
Eagles Working To Trade Evan Mathis
1:48pm: The Patriots have also expressed interest in Mathis, reports Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (via Twitter). Meanwhile, Jim Thomas tweets that the Rams have denied having interest, though he rightly points out that the team adamantly denied that they had any interest in trading Sam Bradford.
1:29pm: Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com adds the Bills and Vikings to the list of teams “sniffing around” on Mathis, and says the Saints may be involved as well (Twitter link).
1:23pm: The Dolphins have been in touch with the Eagles about Mathis, reports Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). The Rams are also believed to be in the mix, per Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter).
1:11pm: The Eagles are working to trade guard Evan Mathis, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (via Twitter). Dealing Mathis would be just the latest move in what has been a wild offseason for the Eagles.
Finding a marker for Mathis shouldn’t be too difficult considering his performance last season. Even though he only saw time in nine games, Mathis’ overall score of 25.8 (per Pro Football Focus, subscription required) ranked him as the second-best offensive guard in the NFL last season. The year prior, Mathis graded out as the very best guard in the NFL.
Mathis’ deal calls for him to earn a $5.5MM base with $1MM prorated in 2015, good for a total of $6.5MM. With an extra $500K in his base salary in 2016, that number jumps slightly to $7MM. Mathis is 33, but guards tend to age a little bit better than most other positions.
Eagles Expected To Sign DeMarco Murray
12:44pm: If and when it becomes official, Murray’s deal with the Eagles is expected to be worth $42MM over five years, with $21MM guaranteed, according to Schefter and Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Schefter adds (via Twitter) that $18MM of that guarantee is for both skill and injury.
12:04pm: There’s a lot of guaranteed money in the Eagles’ offer to Murray, and significantly more than the Cowboys are offering, according to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports and Todd Archer of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Schrager adds (via Twitter) that Philadelphia is prepared to pay Murray like a top-five running back.
11:21am: Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link) also expects the Eagles to get a deal done with Murray, adding that it will likely come in around $6MM per year.
11:16am: Murray, en route to Philadelphia, is expected to sign with the Eagles, tweets Schefter. While nothing is official yet, the Cowboys are calling around for other running backs in anticipation of Murray signing with the Eagles, Schefter adds (via Twitter).
8:54am: The meeting between the Eagles and Murray will take place early this afternoon and will include Chip Kelly, who isn’t at Oregon’s Pro Day, tweets Peter Schrager of FOX Sports. Meanwhile, John Middlekauff of 95.7 The Game tweets that the Raiders wanted Murray and were “very aggressive financially,” but still appear to be on the outside looking in
8:05am: Free agent running back DeMarco Murray is visiting Philadelphia today, and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com says the NFL’s leading rusher intends to sign with the Eagles. That doesn’t mean it’s a done deal yet. Schefter notes that Murray would consider a final, last-minute offer from the Cowboys, so there’s a chance this is a negotiating tactic. However, it looks like Murray is prepared to jump from one NFC East team to another if Dallas doesn’t make a satisfactory offer.
The Raiders and Jaguars have also been frequently mentioned as potential Murray suitors, but at the moment it appears that the running back’s top two choices are the Cowboys and Eagles, in some order. As Schefter notes, part of the reason Murray is interested in Philadelphia is because of his belief in the team’s chances to win — Oakland and Jacksonville are a little further away from contention.
Based on yesterday’s round of Murray rumors, it sounds as if the Cowboys’ most recent offer to their running back was in the $5MM per year range. Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports confirms today (via Twitter) that Dallas would like to keep Murray at around that price, so if the Eagles are willing to go to $6MM per year or higher, there will be pressure on Jerry Jones and company to increase that offer.
One interesting wrinkle that affects the Murray situation is the status of Ryan Mathews. The former Chargers back reportedly agreed to terms with the Eagles yesterday, but has yet to officially sign his contract. It would be surprising if the team backed out of an agreement with Mathews if there was one in place, but it’s still worth monitoring as Murray heads to Philadelphia.
Latest On Ryan Mathews
After dealing LeSean McCoy to the Bills, the Eagles appeared set to try and replace his production with the addition of Ryan Mathews. Well, after already agreeing to a deal with one notable back and having it fall apart, nothing is a sure thing in Philly until it’s signed. The Eagles are now talking with DeMarco Murray, and some can’t help but wonder if that will put their deal with Mathews in flux.
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) says it’s worth noting that the Raiders have always been high on the Chargers free agent. However, John Middlekauff of 95.7 The Game (on Twitter) says that the Eagles trying to sign Murray has no impact on Mathews. Coach Chip Kelly, he hears, wants them both. Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego (on Twitter) notes that if If Murray joins Philly, it could affect tone of Mathews’ contract. Any playing time, performance incentives built into Mathews’ deal would more difficult to earn with a presumably reduced workload.
Mathews rushed for a career-high 1,255 yards in 2013 but was unable to stay healthy in 2014, playing just eight games for San Diego due to injuries. He could have a chance to turn things around in the Eagles’ revamped offense, but we won’t know for sure until he puts pen to paper.
Murray Decision Not Expected Tonight, Will Visit Eagles Thursday
Following a day full of rumors, it sounds like there will be no resolution on the DeMarco Murray front. According to ProFootballTalk (on Twitter), the running back will not finalize a deal tonight. PFT notes that Murray will likely “take a visit” to his potential landing spots, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirms (on Twitter) that Murray will meet with Eagles officials on Thursday.
Based on today’s news, it sounds like four teams are in the running for Murray’s services: the Cowboys, Eagles, Raiders and Jaguars. In fact, Philly wasn’t even involved with the bidding until Murray and coach Chip Kelly spoke on the phone this afternoon. There were also whispers that the running back’s college roommate, recently-acquired quarterback Sam Bradford, was trying to recruit Murray to Philadelphia.
Besides the Eagles, it sounds like the running back is seriously considering the Cowboy offers. The team reportedly made him an offer of $5MM annually, and it was noted that Dallas had an advantage over Philadelphia. At least one team involved in the bidding was under the impression that Murray would return to Dallas.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Raiders are willing to offer the most money, and those same reports indicate that the Jaguars offer was too low for Murray’s liking.
DeMarco Murray Rumors: Wednesday
As perhaps the most noteworthy free agent still on the board this week, DeMarco Murray will be receiving plenty of attention today, as potential suitors vie for his services. Until the longtime Cowboys running back reaches an agreement with a new club, or at least starts closing in on a deal, we’ll track today’s Murray updates right here, with any new items added to the top of the list throughout the day:
- ESPN’s Ed Werder says the Cowboys, Eagles and Raiders are “getting very competitive” for Murray’s service (Twitter link).
- One of the teams pursuing Murray is under the impression that the running back will return to the Cowboys, according to ProFootballTalk (on Twitter).
- Newly-signed Raiders linebacker Curtis Lofton said he’s trying to recruit Murray to Oakland, according to Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune (via Twitter). The duo were both standouts for the Oklahoma Sooners.
Earlier updates:
- Albert Breer of the NFL Network says (on Twitter) that Murray understands where the Cowboys and Jaguars are with their offers, but the running back is still seeking more money. Despite Murray’s demands for about $8MM annually, Breer says that market isn’t there yet.
- Ed Werder of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears that the Eagles weren’t even interested in Murray until he called them today. Philly has already signed Ryan Mathews for $5MM guaranteed and they have Darren Sproles in the mix, so they don’t have a major need for Murray.
- Werder (on Twitter) senses that Murray’s decision could come soon. The Jaguars are not actively involved, the Raiders are offering the most money, and the Cowboys have the advantage right now over the Eagles.
- Things are heating up on the Murray front, and the situation will likely come to a head later today, tweets Pro Football Talk.
- The Eagles appear to be Murray’s top choice besides Dallas, according to Robinson (Twitter link). The Raiders and Jaguars trail Philadelphia, and one league source doesn’t believe Jacksonville will make a significant offer.
- Mutual interest between the Eagles and Murray was renewed after a personal phone call between the running back and head coach Chip Kelly, says Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com, who notes (via Twitter) that Murray was Sam Bradford‘s roommate at Oklahoma. However remains to be seen how much the Eagles would be willing to offer Murray, since Kelly stressed today he won’t overpay for anyone, tweets Mortensen. For his part Bradford said today that he’s been trying to recruit his old college teammate (Twitter link).
- A source tells Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link) that, before Murray removed mention of the Cowboys from his Twitter account earlier this week, the team made him an offer worth $5MM annually.
- Despite reaching an agreement with Ryan Mathews (as noted below), the Eagles remain very much in the mix for Murray, according to multiple reporters, including Adam Schefter and Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Per Peter Schrager of FOX Sports (Twitter link), it could ultimately come down to the Eagles and Cowboys.
- Jaguars GM David Caldwell said he spoke to Murray’s agent last night, but there’s no movement right now, tweets Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com.
- A source with knowledge of Murray’s situation tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that the idea of the back signing with the Jaguars is currently “not likely.” That could change if the Jags up their offer, or if the NFL’s leading rusher agrees to take less money than he wants, says Florio.
- As we heard last night, the Raiders maintain interest in Murray despite signing Roy Helu, tweets Ed Werder of ESPN.com. According to Werder, multiple teams have made offers to Murray.
- Earlier today, a report indicated that Ryan Mathews is expected to sign with the Eagles, pending a visit with the team. It’s not clear how that would affect the team’s interest in Murray, but I can’t imagine Philadelphia would pursue him too aggressively if Mathews was under contract.
North Rumors: Bradford, Browns, Johnson
Earlier today, Eagles coach Chip Kelly told reporters that he got offered a first-round pick for newly-acquired quarterback Sam Bradford. Speculation immediately began to bubble that the Browns were that mystery team, but Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com isn’t so sure that Cleveland’s talks with the Rams went very far. One source with knowledge of the Browns’ offseason quarterback plans said St. Louis never felt Cleveland was serious about a Bradford trade. While there were few calls back and forth, there was never much of a push because the Browns weren’t overly aggressive. There was correspondence, but the Browns probably could have had Bradford if they were willing to part with at least one second-round pick for him. Here’s more from the AFC and NFC North..
- A source close to defensive end Michael Johnson said it’s early in the process but there’s a good chance the Vikings will be in the running him, according to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. “Mike Zimmer’s his guy,’’ said the source, referring to the Vikings coach. “He almost went (to Minnesota) last year.’’ Johnson was waived by the Bucs on Wednesday afternoon.
- New Lions defensive tackle Haloti Ngata says he’s open to an extension, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com tweets. “Definitely. We’re open to anything,” Ngata said. The Ravens were talking with the veteran for some time about an extension but weren’t able to get far.
- Bears GM Ryan Pace made it clear that he is looking at safeties and wide receivers in free agency, but he refused to name names, Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times tweets.
- The Lions are hosting quarterback Alex Carder on a visit today, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets. Carder was signed as a UDFA in 2013 by Detroit and has bounced around a bit in other football leagues ever since. He recently spent some time with the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League.
NFC Rumors: Graham, Saints, Orakpo
Speaking to reporters today, Brandon Graham said he felt like there was only ever a “10% chance” that he’d sign with a team besides the Eagles (Twitter link). The Giants and Titans were known to be in the running for the free agent edge defender. More out of the NFC..
- The Saints had some concerns about Jimmy Graham’s long-term health, and wanted to fortify their offensive line to keep Drew Brees upright, which resulted in their willingness to send the star tight end to the Seahawks, says Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link).
- Brian Orakpo hasn’t completely closed the door on returning to Washington, but he’s prepared to “face the reality” that he could sign with another team this week, he tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (TwitLonger link). Visits with the Titans and Cardinals are up first for the free agent edge defender.
- ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter has learned from O’Brien Schofield‘s agent that four teams are trying to sign him, according to Terry Blount of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Schofield, coming off of a solid year with the Seahawks, has been connected to the Falcons thanks to his connection with new head coach Dan Quinn.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Eagles To Sign Walter Thurmond
1:21pm: Thurmond’s one-year deal with the Eagles is worth $3.25MM, including a $2MM signing bonus, and could hit $4MM through incentives, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.
7:07am: A day after formally signing one former Seahawks cornerback, as they finalized their deal with Byron Maxwell, the Eagles have reached an agreement with another. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Philadelphia has agreed to sign free agent corner Walter Thurmond. The team has since confirmed the deal, announcing that it’s for one year (via Twitter).
Thurmond, 27, spent the 2014 season with the Giants, but was one of about two dozen of the club’s players to ultimately land on injured reserve. The Oregon product, who appeared in just two regular season contests in New York before going down with a pectoral injury, spent most of his NFL career in Seattle, playing 34 games (eight starts) for the team from 2010 to 2013.
Although he never played a significant role in Seattle, Thurmond was effective in part-time action for the Seahawks in 2013, recording a +4.8 grade in 480 defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Per PFF, he limited opposing quarterbacks to a passer rating of 67.5, with no touchdowns, on 53 passes thrown into his coverage that season.
We heard prior to the market officially opening that the Eagles were seriously considering adding multiple cornerbacks and a safety in free agency. Having brought Maxwell and Thurmond aboard, the club is now two-thirds of the way there.