The Importance Of Eagles Signing Veteran Like Chris Long

On Tuesday the Eagles announced the signing Defensive Lineman Chris Long to a two year deal after spending last year with the New England Patriots.  At 32 Years Old, Long played just under two-thirds of the defensive snaps last season and fits well into the 4-3 Defense System with rotating defensive lineman that Jim Schwartz utilizes.  Long, who was the 2nd Overall Pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, has 58.5 Career Sacks in Nine NFL seasons and is the son of Pro Football Hall Of Fame Defensive Lineman Howie Long.

USA Today Eagles Wire Reporter Turron Davenport joined Mike Gill on Wednesday and discussed what Long brings to the Eagles for 2017 season:

"When you look at Chris Long, I think that he is a good replacement for Barwin....He is better suited to be on that right side and that's what the Eagles need that desperately.  They need a guy that will go up against Left Tackles and hold their own week in and week out.  And that's what they lack right now and I'm not saying Chris Long is that guy that could do that but he could give you spurts of doing it....He has past experience playing Right Defensive End....He's a Pro that understands the importance of preparing for the NFL, the importance as a Defensive Lineman doing what you have to do to get yourself ready....It's important to have that veteran guy that can come in and really show your younger guys the right way to do things and that's what you get with Chris Long."

Checkout what Davenport had to say about who the Eagles should target in the NFL Draft, how the Free Agent moves this offseason effect the Draft and 2017 season, along with his reactions to what Jeff Lurie and Howie Roseman said to the media on Tuesday