Doug Pederson promised at the combine that the Eagles would beef up their offensive line through free agency, and the Eagles backed up his claim by agreeing to terms with former Texans guard Brandon Brooks on a five-year, $40 million contract, a source confirmed to CSNPhilly.com's Dave Zangaro on Wednesday. The deal includes $21 million guaranteed.
The deal was first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Brooks, a 6-foot-5, 345-pound giant, immediately projects to one of the Eagles’ two starting guard vacancies.
After Chip Kelly released Todd Herremans and Evan Mathis, the Eagles tried to get by last year with Andrew Gardner, Matt Tobin and Allen Barbre at guard. All struggled.
Pederson conceded at the combine “We have holes” on the offensive line, and the Eagles moved strongly on Day 1 of free agency to sign one of the top free agent guards on the market.
Brooks, like safety Rodney McLeod, signed to a five-year, $35 million deal (details on that here) earlier in the day, is coming off his initial four-year rookie contract. Brooks is 26 and turns 27 this summer.
Back when the Eagles had success in free agency under Joe Banner and Andy Reid, they used this same methodology — signing younger free agents going into their fifth NFL season instead of older free agents who would hit the down-side of their career while still under contract.
NFL
Brooks, initially a third-round pick of the Texans in 2012, started 44 of a possible 48 games over the last three seasons.
Curiously, the Texans drafted Brooks with the 76th pick in 2012 — a pick acquired by the Texans from the Eagles in the DeMeco Ryans trade.
Brooks has played both right and left guard and also some tackle.
According to the Houston Chronicle, the Texans made it an offseason priority to re-sign Brooks. But the Eagles’ out-bid the Texans for the Miami of Ohio product, who was regarded as one of the top five guard prospects available in free agency despite something of a down year in 2015.
The Eagles now appear set at four spots on the offensive line, with Jason Peters and Lane Johnson at tackle, Jason Kelce at center and Brooks at one of the guard spots.
As of late afternoon Wednesday, the Eagles had traded DeMarco Murray to the Titans, shipped Byron Maxwell and Kiko Alsono to the Dolphins and agreed to contract terms with quarterback Chase Daniel, cornerback Leodis McKelvin, safety Rodney McLeod and Brooks.