The Eagles are signing a safety.
A real safety.
While the team used two former cornerbacks at the safety spots last year, it's bringing in true safety Rodney McLeod on a five-year deal worth $35 million with $17 guaranteed (much more on McLeod's contract here).
NFL Network first reported the deal.
The move can't be official until 4 p.m., when the new league year begins. (UPDATE: The deal has been officially announced.)
The signing of McLeod means the Eagles are moving on from Walter Thurmond, who was with the team on a one-year deal in 2015, but is now a free agent. Thurmond was a converted cornerback.
McLeod, on the other hand, is known for being a big-hitter. He's a more prototypical NFL safety and will now play under new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
NFL
McLeod, 25, joined the Rams as an undrafted free agent out of Virginia in 2012. In 2013, he became a starter and hasn't missed a game since, starting the last 48 games for the Rams. In his three years as a starter, McLeod has five interceptions, 18 passes defensed, seven forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries.
The Eagles would probably prefer to build their secondary through the draft, but the organization has struggled drafting safeties in recent years. The last 10 years have been littered with guys like Nate Allen, Macho Harris, Jaiquawn Jarrett and Earl Wolff.
So again in 2016, the Eagles will have two free-agent pickups in McLeod and Malcolm Jenkins manning the safety positions. They also have invested a lot of money in those two spots; Jenkins got a four-year extension worth $35 million earlier this offseason.
Bringing in McLeod is the second move of the day for the Eagles, who also agreed to terms with backup quarterback Chase Daniel, according to a source (see story).