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In a move that’s both surprising and not at the same time, the Philadelphia Eagles appear to be on the cusp of signing free agent guard John Moffitt. Provided the signing goes through as expected, Moffitt will be fighting for a spot on an offensive line that is anything but deep, where backup spots are entirely up for grabs.
Trying to make complete sense of this move is a bit of a task. On the one hand, it’s pretty clear Chip Kelly wants to build up the competition for roster spots on the line. Moffitt, in theory, is a great option for that, because he does come with some pedigree as a former third-round pick. And he also has experience playing as a starter, which is a definite plus for him. This isn’t some random player who’s bounced around practice squads his entire career; Moffitt has a bit of a resume to him. There are definitely worse options out there than him.
But on the other hand, I’m a bit surprised that Kelly thinks Moffitt is a fit for what he asks out of his linemen. Reading over the scouting reports, Moffitt is a brutally dominating run blocker, but he lacks athleticism and doesn’t play well in space. His pass blocking skills also seem to be a bit lackluster. Eagles fans know all too well by now how much Kelly loves athleticism in his players, and the ability for his linemen to block effectively in the second level is a huge factor. I’m forced to assume that Moffitt’s athleticism has been underrated; I doubt Kelly would change his standards just to bring in one projected backup lineman.
Ultimately, in the end I’m rooting for Moffitt to make the roster. The guy’s been injured and he’s had to battle his demons that made him retire from the game two years ago. From the sound of it, Moffitt’s hustled his tail off to get back into the league, and it’s entirely possible the Eagles are getting a more developed and well-rounded player. That kind of drive could wind up netting Moffitt another job in the NFL, maybe even a starting role if Matt Tobin struggles.
Needless to say, this will be an interesting story to watch in training camp. Going from out of football to starting lineman in the league in a few short months is a classic underdog story. Where better for a story like that to happen than in Philadelphia?
Doug Green is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com covering the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL. Follow him on Twitter @DGreenNFL.
