Philadelphia Eagles Extend ILB DeMeco Ryans
The Philadelphia Eagles extended Inside Linebacker DeMeco Ryan’s contract through the 2016 season. Ryan’s carried a $6.9 million cap hit this season after tearing his Achilles tendon during the 2014 season. The deal is expected to create extra cap space for the team throughout this offseason and next. Jeff McClain of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported the financial terms of the deal.
DeMeco Ryans' two-year deal is for $7.5M worth up to $10.5M with $6.25M guaranteed, per NFL source.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) March 30, 2015
DeMeco Ryans got a $2.5 million signing bonus and his 2015 salary is $2M, so his cap number is around $3M. There are incentives, too.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) March 30, 2015
Mufasa Returns: #Eagles agree to terms with LB DeMeco Ryans on a one-year extension, here through the 2016 season. pic.twitter.com/PAr4mHjoSb
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) March 30, 2015
Eagles
Eagles Head Coach Chip Kelly has labeled DeMeco Ryans the “mufasa” of the Philadelphia Eagles after Ryans tore his achillies against his former team, the Houston Texans, in early November. This is the second time he has suffered this injury since being drafted in 2006.
Ryans was a critical component of the Eagles transition from a 4-3 to a 3-4 when Chip Kelly was named Head Coach in 2012. Houston traded Ryans for a 2012 2nd and 4th round pick, as well as a swap of each teams 3rd round pick in that draft. The 30-year-old Ryans has recorded 390 tackles, five sacks, four interceptions, six passes defensed and one fumble recovery since joining the Eagles in 2012. He spent the first six years of his career with the Texans, where he was named the Defensive Rookie of they Year in 2006 coming out of Alabama and has earned two Pro Bowl selections (2007 and 2009).
The Eagles now enter the 2015 season with arguably the best linebacking corp in the league. They acquired Kiko Alonso from the Buffalo Bills to go along with the blossoming young star, Mychal Kendricks. The team also brought back Brandon Graham on a free agent contract, as well as former Green Bay Packer Brad Jones. Last years first round pick Marcus Smith also remains on the team. The team continues its exhilarating offseason by inviting former Cowboys and Browns receiver Miles Austin in for a meeting with team officials. It is expected that Austin will take a physical with the team.