The extensions just keep on comin’. The latest one has been inked by Vinny Curry, who now has a new deal worth $47.25MM with the Eagles, as Albert Breer of NFL.com tweets. In total, the deal includes $23MM in guaranteed cash. Curry also gets $10MM immediately upon signing, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The new deal means that Curry will be under contract through 2020.
The defensive end’s overall numbers took a hit in 2015 — after recording nine sacks and four forced fumbles in 2014, he had 3.5 and zero, respectively, this past season. Still, Pro Football Focus graded him 10th among interior defensive linemen as a pass-rusher, so he was putting pressure on quarterbacks even if he wasn’t bringing them down.
Having been selected in the second round of the 2012 draft, Curry’s old rookie contract was set to expire this winter without a fifth-year option. Now, instead of hitting the the open market in March, Curry is slated to remain in Eagles green for a long time. The rival Giants were among the clubs believed to be eyeing him, but they’ll now have to shift their focus elsewhere.
Curry came to the Eagles in a rather notable draft-day trade in 2012 The Eagles selected defensive lineman Jerel Worthy at No. 51 overall for the Packers and, in return, they got Curry (No. 59) and cornerback Brandon Boykin. Former coach Chip Kelly jettisoned Boykin from Philadelphia prior to the 2015 season, but the Eagles refused to let Curry go anywhere else.
Curry’s deal is not unlike the one given to Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen. Griffen, a former third-round pick out of USC, got a five-year deal worth $42.5MM with $20MM guaranteed roughly eleven months ago. After getting this monster deal, Curry is now cemented as a starter and a key fixture in the Eagles’ front seven. Curry is expected to serve as an edge rusher in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz‘s 4-3 scheme which should be a much better fit for him that the club’s previous 3-4 set.
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