Philadelphia Eagles Resign DT Antonio Dixon to 1-Year Tender; Trade OT Winston Justice to Colts

Along with resigning defensive end Trent Cole, the Philadelphia Eagles made a couple of low-key moves this morning. They resigned defensive tackle Antonio Dixon to a one-year tender, and they traded offensive tackle Winston Justice and a sixth round draft pick to the Indianapolis Colts for a higher sixth round draft pick.

The Dixon signing brings back a player who graded as the 15th best defensive tackle in the 2010 season, according to Pro Football Focus, before he missed almost all of 2011 with a torn triceps injury. He won’t start next season (that will be Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson), but the big run-stuffer will easily be in the rotation. Look for him to play about 40 to 60 percent of the snaps, like he did in 2010.

The Justice trade doesn’t really help in terms of the draft picks (Eagles move up 14 spots in the sixth round) but it does free up $4 million cap room for the Eagles. It’s also the first, and probably not the last, move between new Indianapolis Colts GM Ryan Grigson and his old team.

Justice’s departure doesn’t surprise anyone, as he recovered from knee surgery last season. He also lost his starting job to Todd Herremans. Justice played in just 84 plays last season after starting for all of the 2010 season. The Eagles’ second round draft pick in 2006, it’s safe to say that Justice was a little bit of a disappointment during his six years in Philadelphia.