Philadelphia Eagles: The value Vinny Curry brings is a bargain

Bringing Vinny Curry back at a bargain rate was a no-brainer for the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Philadelphia Eagles announced almost a week ago the re-signing of veteran edge rusher Vinny Curry. The two agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth up to $2 million. Bringing Curry back for defensive end depth was necessary for the team, and landing his production at a low-budget rate is another victory in itself.

Many times we catch ourselves falling for name value when it comes to players. Curry has never been a star for the Eagles and hardly a starter. But his production in a limited pass-rush role is well worth the minimal investment.

Curry is coming off his most productive season as a pass rusher in 2019, where he received a career-high pass-rushing grade of 79.8 by Pro Football Focus. There’s another statistic that reinforces the impact Curry made rushing the passer last season.

After having the fifth-best win rate percentage in the NFL, facing two-plus blockers, Curry shows precisely why there’s so much value in his bargain contract. The Eagles needed proven edge depth behind the likes of Brandon Graham and Derek Barnett. Bringing Curry back was always one of the likelier moves, but it’s also completely justified.

Curry will be the 64th highest-paid defensive end in the NFL in 2020. He’s coming off a season, his most productive as a pass rusher, where he finished in the top-five rushing the passer facing multiple blockers. While the Eagles still figure out what they have in their former top-15 draft pick in Barnett, they continue to get a better pass rusher in Curry at a wildly discounted rate.

Philadelphia passed on the likes of Jadeveon Clowney and Everson Griffen, which didn’t sit well with a lot of fans, but may ultimately be the correct decision. Griffen sat on the open market until training camp when the Dallas Cowboys swooped him up for one-year $6 million. Griffen’s production tailed off towards the end of the season, so maybe teams were cautious about the tread on the tires.

Clowney still hasn’t been signed, while his camp is expecting a hefty salary. The Eagles needed Curry’s proven production at the rate they plan to play him, unlike the roles or price tags Clowney and Griffen would demand coming to Philadelphia. Familiarity with the team and system also has to be considered given the impact of COVID-19 for new arrivals.

Yes, Curry also sat on the open market until training camp started. But the edge rusher cited the loss of his brother to coronavirus as the reason for a delayed decision. The Cleveland Browns were the other reported suitor looking to add Curry’s services.

Curry isn’t the flashy signing, and he doesn’t possess name value. But he’s thriving in his pass rush role in Philadelphia. The Eagles had every right to continue bringing that presence back to their defensive line at a low cost, given Curry’s last season production. Despite the fans not loving the name, the Philadelphia Eagles got the right player.