Defensive end Vinny Curry will no longer have the chance to explore free agency as the Philadelphia Eagles made sure he stays by agreeing to a five-year deal worth $47.25 million, with a guaranteed $23 million.
According to ESPN, Curry is now the fourth player the Eagles have signed to a deal following tackle Lane Johnson and tight ends Brent Celek and Zach Ertz.
The report added that the amount of contracts for these four players total to $165.75 million, as Philadelphia is expected to sign defensive lineman Fletcher Cox next.
ESPN also mentioned in its report that signing these players is credited to Eagles executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman, who is known for inking players to pacts before free agency strikes.
Curry is set to become a free agent this March, but his new contract will make him stay with the Eagles until 2020.
This season, Curry again played a full season like he did in 2014, but his productions had a minor dip.
Last season, the 27-year-old defensive end had 19 tackles and a career-best nine sacks; this season he only recorded 12 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
However, all that may change in the upcoming season since Chip Kelly was fired as head coach, with the Eagles missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
Kelly was using a 3–4 defensive scheme that will be altered to a 4–3 scheme under new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz which might make Curry more comfortable, ESPN also reported.
The Eagles struggled in the season but found themselves competing for a playoff spot late, falling short and ending up second in the National Football Conference (NFC) East with a 7–9 record.
Doug Pederson, who is a former Super Bowl winner as a player, is returning to the Eagles as the team's new head coach following Kelly.
Pederson worked for Philadelphia from 2009 to 2012 as an offensive quality control coach and later was promoted to quarterbacks coach before serving the Kansas City Chiefs as an offensive coordinator from 2013 to 2015 and now coming back to the Eagles.
