The Philadelphia Eagles are releasing pass-rusher Trent Cole, who finished second on the team with 6.5 sacks last season. Cole had 85.5 sacks with the Eagles after being drafted in the fifth round out of Cincinnati in 2005. Only seven players -- DeMarcus Ware, Jared Allen, Robert Mathis, Julius Peppers, Mario Williams, John Abraham, Elvis Dumervil -- had more in that span of time, while Ware, Allen, Terrell Suggs and Justin Smith were the only defensive linemen or 3-4 outside linebackers who recorded more tackles than Cole's 436 since being drafted.
The Eagles had wanted Cole to take a pay cut to stay in Philly, but apparently he wasn't interested.
Eagles, Trent Cole divorce, unable to agree on "revised deal." Translation: agent knows there's something better than what Eagles offered.
— Andrew Brandt (@adbrandt) March 3, 2015
For Trent Cole, as it is with Brandon Graham, he'll just get paid more on the market as a 4-3 end than #Eagles were offering as 3-4 OLB.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) March 3, 2015
Cole's transition from 4-3 end to 3-4 outside linebacker wasn't necessarily all that smooth. Cole went from rushing the passer on nearly every down (he rushed 97.5 and 99 percent of the time on passing plays when he was in the game in 2012 and 2013, respectively) to doing so only about three out of every four pass plays (78.3 percent in 2013 and 76.9 percent in 2014).
1. End of yet another era
I think the vibe people dealing with the Eagles are getting is that the Kelly regime is cleaning house.
— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) March 3, 2015
Cole is not the first long-time Eagle -- he spent 10 seasons with the team -- to be cut by head coach and now-lead personnel man Chip Kelly. Kelly famously moved on from wide receiver DeSean Jackson last offseason, while Todd Herremans also saw himself released within the last few days. (UPDATE 7:05 PM EASTERN - OH, AND LESEAN MCCOY WAS JUST TRADED)
2. Offseason plan is under way
Eagles offseason plans, in stick figure form, updated: pic.twitter.com/mEJPwVQDz3
— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) March 3, 2015
Well, yes, the Eagles did name Chip Kelly the head of their personnel department in early January. No. 79 is Herrmans, and he was indeed released. No. 85 is H-Back James Casey, also released. No. 26 is Cary Williams, released as well. No. 59 is DeMeco Ryans, who was not released, but Cole is No. 58 and he was, so we'll give half credit there.
That "sign everyone in free agency" section shows some attractive targets. From left to right, it's Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell, Steelers outside linebacker Jason Worilds, 49ers guard Mike Iupati, Broncos safety Rahim Moore and Eagles receiver Jeremy Maclin.
The Eagles had the NFL's 20th-ranked pass defense by DVOA last season, and Maxwell would help shore up the back end. He was an integral part of Seattle's third-ranked pass defense. He spent the majority of his snaps on the right side of the field, where Seattle was a still-strong eighth in pass defense DVOA.
Worilds ranked 11th among 3-4 outside linebackers with 50 quarterback pressures last season; the only player ahead of him on that list who rushed the passer less often as a percentage of snaps was the Eagles' own Connor Barwin, who rushed 60.5 percent of the time compared to Worilds' 71.4. He also had 24 run stops in 2014, second among 3-4 outside backers.
Iupati, as Pro Football Focus' Steve Polazzolo pointed out, is an interesting case. He's long been one of the best run-blocking guards in the NFL, but he's never been a true asset in the passing game. Given that Philadelphia's offense is based on the ability to run the ball right up the middle -- despite its reputation -- he might be a pretty good fit.
Moore would be another solid addition on the back end of the defense. Despite his gaffe in the 2013 AFC title game, Moore has been a strong defender in the passing game for some time. He's racked up eight interceptions and 20 passes defenses in four seasons with Denver. In 2014, he ranked 12th in cover yards allowed per snap, ninth in cover snaps per reception and third in cover snaps per target among the 90 safeties who played at least one-quarter of their team's snaps, according to PFF.
Maclin had the best season of his career in 2014 after signing a one-year deal to stay with the Eagles post-knee surgery. He had 85 catches for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns. Though he's not Kelly's platonic ideal of a tall receiver, he worked well enough.
3. The money
Releasing Trent Cole will save #Eagles $8.425 mil against salary cap, but they will eat $3.2 mil in dead money. Now approx $41 mil in space.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) March 3, 2015
After cutting Casey, Herremans, Williams, & expected cut of Cole, Eagles will have saved 21,725,000 off 2015 cap: pic.twitter.com/qQaReRirP5
— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) March 3, 2015
4. The market
There have already been a few teams floated as possible destinations.
As you ask about @Pro_Hunt58, yes, would be a fit w/ #Bengals. A 4-3 pass-rushing DE, from Xenia, went to UC. Is 32, but would make sense.
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) March 3, 2015
Can't help but wonder if Trent Cole makes sense for Jets once he's released. Need edge rush. Bowles coached him in Philly. Keep an eye on it
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 3, 2015
Any team in need of a pass-rusher will probably consider him, especially since guys like Jason Pierre-Paul and Justin Houston were taken off the market for the most part due to being hit with the franchise tag. Cole joins Greg Hardy, Pernell McPhee, Jerry Hughes and fellow former Eagle Brandon Graham near the top of the market.
