If there was any doubt that Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Vinny Curry will have a big role during the Doug Pederson era, that was erased Tuesday night when Curry signed a five-year extension with the team, worth $47.25 million, with $23 million guaranteed, according to NFL.com's Albert Breer. It will keep Curry in midnight green through 2020.
Eagles DE Vinny Curry has agreed to a five-year deal worth $47.25 million. $23 million guaranteed.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) February 2, 2016
The team has not yet announced the move, but Curry himself addressed the deal on social media.
Just how badly did the Eagles want to keep Curry from testing the free agents waters and potentially leaving? $10 million of that $23 million guaranteed is paid to him immediately, according to Breer's NFL Network colleague, Ian Rapoport.
Curry, 27, is entering his prime NFL years just as the Eagles made an extremely favorable scheme change from a two-gap 3-4 to an attacking 4-3 under new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
Curry, drafted in the second-round in 2012 thanks to his elite burst off the line, was miscast as a defensive end in former coordinator Billy Davis' scheme. That's not necessarily Davis' fault - Curry is too big and lacks the agility to play outside linebacker in a 3-4, so the team really had no choice but to try and bulk Curry up and, when he proved too light for a fulltime gig on the line, make use of his pass-rushing talents in a niche third-down role.
Curry played limited snaps as a result, but still managed 16.5 sacks over the past three seasons.
As a true defensive end in Schwartz's 4-3, the expectation is clearly that Curry will better be able to make use of his pass-rushing talents and provide an immediate and significant contribution to the new era of Eagle football.
Curry's deal marks the fourth significant contract handed out to a homegrown Eagles player since Chip Kelly was fired earlier this season. Tight ends Zach Ertz and Brent Celek and tackle Lane Johnson already have new deals of their own, and Curry's defensive linemate, Fletcher Cox, is expected to sign a mammoth extension of his own in the near future.
