Defensive end Chris Long signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday. His new contract will pay him $2.4 million in 2017. Long spent last season with the New England Patriots.
Roster Move: #Eagles agree to terms with DE Chris Long on a two-year deal.#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/sZLN8w6fxB
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) March 28, 2017
It's a 1-year deal similar to the $2.4M he made last year with #Patriots. Smart locker room signing https://t.co/vCqBIui4Cp
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 28, 2017
Chris Long Agrees to Terms With Philadelphia Eagles
The 2016 season was Long’s first with the Patriots, having spent the first eight years of his career with the Los Angeles Rams organization. After an injury-marred 2014 and 2015 campaigns, Long managed to suit up for all 16 of the Patriots’ regular season games in 2016 (as well as all three playoff contests). However, despite a return to health, Long’s statistical output in 2016 was fairly modest. The 4.0 sacks that Long registered represents a sharp drop off from the nearly 8.5 sacks per season he averaged from 2008-2013.
After being the definition of consistency and reliability for the first six seasons with the Rams, Long struggled through two injury-plagued seasons. After missing 14 games during those two seasons, the Rams decided to release him. The decision to release him made sense from a financial and performance standpoint. Long simply was not producing enough on the field to warrant a $14 million cap hit.
Long was the second overall pick of the 2008 draft, after an All-American career at the University of Virginia. The son of Hall of Famer Howie Long, Chris would serve as a stalwart along the Rams’ defensive front for nearly a decade. Long played in every Rams game from 2008-2013. His most productive seasons would come in 2011 and 2012, in which Long racked up 13.0 and 11.5 sacks, respectively.
Long’s 58.5 career sacks place him 24th among active players. While his days of accumulating double-digit sack seasons are likely far behind him, Long still can provide some value as a situational pass rusher and a strong veteran locker room voice.
