The Eagles just lassoed away one of the best players from the archrival Dallas Cowboys and one of the NFL’s top superstars to add yet another chapter to one of the most bizarre offseasons in team history.
Looking to replace LeSean McCoy, whom they dealt to Buffalo last week, the Eagles capitalized on a rare opportunity to sign a Pro Bowl free-agent running back by inking DeMarco Murray to a five-year deal worth a reported $42 million with $21 million guaranteed.
ESPN's Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen first reported the signing and contract terms.
The 27-year-old Murray’s deal is worth more total money over the length of the contract than McCoy’s. McCoy signed an extension with Buffalo worth $40 million over five years but picked up $26.5 million in guaranteed money.
The Eagles, who begun the free-agent signing period with nearly $50 million in cap space, are now looking to restructure or extend new QB Sam Bradford's deal, according to ESPN's Andrew Brandt. He is entering the final year of his contract, which counts $12.95 million against the cap.
On Wednesday, Bradford, a former college teammate of Murray’s, said he had been lobbying Murray into a reunion in Philly.
Murray led the NFL last season in rushing attempts (392), yards (1,845) and touchdowns (13). He made the Pro Bowl for the second time in his career. His 4.8 career yards-per-carry average is tied for third-highest among active NFL running backs.
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Even with a track record of injuries, Murray stayed healthy in 2014 despite the heavy workload and helped lead Dallas to an NFC East title and into the second round of the playoffs.
The Cowboys are now scrambling to find Murray’s replacement while the Eagles have found their first franchise halfback to replace McCoy, the franchise’s all-time leading rusher who led the NFL in rushing one year before Murray did.
The Eagles also have Darren Sproles and are expected to retain restricted free agent Chris Polk on a one-year, low-level tender.
Murray’s signing briefly clouded the future of Ryan Mathews, the former Chargers running back who had agreed to a three-year deal with the Eagles on Wednesday, but the Eagles are keeping him too.
The Eagles probably wouldn’t have pursued Murray if they weren’t first spurned by Frank Gore, the former 49ers Pro Bowl running back who backed out of an agreement with the Eagles and eventually signed with the Colts.
Fortunately for Murray, a 2011 third-round pick out of Oklahoma, he doesn’t have to face the Eagles' defense anymore. Only three teams last season held Murray under 100 yards. The Eagles were one, and they did it each of the two times they faced him.
Two of Murray’s three lowest yards-per-carry efforts last season came against the Eagles. Murray averaged 3.01 yards per carry against them last season and 4.96 against everyone else. In his five career games against the Eagles, he’s never gained more than 83 yards.
Murray rushed for 4,526 yards on 943 carries and scored 28 rushing touchdowns in his four seasons with Dallas. He also had 171 receptions for 1,196 yards and one touchdown.
He’s a strong, power runner who’s tough to corral between the tackles and can also stretch the edges, making him an ideal fit for Chip Kelly’s zone running schemes, the backbone of the Eagles’ offense since Kelly became head coach in 2013.
The key for Murray is staying healthy. Although he’s managed to play 30 of 32 regular-season games the past two years, he played just 17 of 32 games in his first two seasons, battling numerous injuries.
Murray becomes the latest newcomer to hop aboard as Kelly, who has general manager-type powers, continues to rebuild the roster from the ground up.
He joins Mathews, Bradford and cornerbacks Byron Maxwell and Walter Thurmond as Kelly’s other handpicked reinforcements.