Eagles Kick the Tires on a Pair of Players
PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - Many thought the Eagles would invest in another running back in the NFL Draft but with just five picks to work with when it was all said and done, Howie Roseman and Joe Douglas never did get around to addressing the position.
They did after the draft with a priority undrafted signing in former Notre Dame star Josh Adams but the team is still looking at other avenues to improve and hosted veteran Terrance West on a free-agent visit, according to the Baltimore Sun.
West, 27, was originally a third-round pick of Cleveland out of Towson in 2014 and has spent time with the Browns, Tennessee Titans, and Baltimore Ravens, topping out with 774 yards for his hometown Ravens in 2016. His walk year in Baltimore was not an effective one, however, as West was limited to five games due to a calf injury, finishing with 138 yards on 39 attempts, a 3.5 average.
A big back at 5-foot-10 and 225 pounds, West would add to a crowded RB room which already includes Jay Ajayi, Darren Sproles, Corey Clement, Wendell Smallwood, Donnel Pumphrey, and Adams.
Philadelphia also brought in a versatile player for a look in the wake of the Tim Jernigan surgery by discussing things with former Baltimore and Atlanta defensive lineman Courtney Upshaw.
Upshaw, a former second-round pick in Baltimore back in 2012 when Eagles' personnel chief Joe Douglas was still in the Charm City, started his career as an edge player but has bulked up a bit and was a spot player on the interior of Atlanta's defense last season, playing in 197 defensive snaps over 13 games.
Philadelphia may be in the market for some insurance inside because of Tim Jernigan's recent back surgery, which will have the Florida State product sidelined for four to six months. In that scenario, Upshaw, 28, would be competing with young players like Destiny Vaeao and Elijah Qualls behind Fletcher Cox and free-agent pickup Haloti Ngata at defensive tackle.
As of Tuesday, however, the Eagles had just $1,114,404 in salary-cap space and have not yet signed any of their draft picks.
-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen