10:11am: The Eagles have formally signed Wisniewski to a one-year deal, the team announced today (via Twitter). The club also confirmed that offensive lineman Matt Tobin has signed his low-end RFA tender, officially taking him off the free agent market.
7:29am: The Eagles are set to sign veteran offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski, reports Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter links). According to Garafolo, Wisniewski will be getting a one-year deal from Philadelphia after visiting the team last week.
Wisniewski, 27, was a second-round pick back in 2011, drafted 48th overall by the Raiders. After starting all but three regular season games during his four years in Oakland, the Penn State alum – and Pennsylvania native – signed with Jacksonville last season, where he started all 16 games at center for the Jaguars.
Although Wisniewski isn’t one of the NFL’s elite offensive linemen, he has been fairly consistent and reliable since entering the league. In 2015, Pro Football Focus viewed him as a middle-of-the-pack center, ranking him 19th out of 39 qualified players and assigning him an especially strong grade as a pass blocker.
In Philadelphia, Wisniewski likely won’t get an opportunity to play his usual center position, barring an injury to Jason Kelce. Wisniewski figures to compete for playing time at guard, where newly-signed Brandon Brooks is penciled in for one starting spot while the other is still up for grabs. Allen Barbre is among the players in the mix for that spot, so Wisniewski will have to beat out him and others to earn a starting job.
Earlier in free agency, Wisniewski also visited the Steelers, and was said to have received interest from the Browns and Jaguars as well.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Let’s go Eagles! Build up that O line!