According to Jay Glazer of FOX, the Philadelphia Eagles have acquired middle linebacker Will Witherspoon from the St. Louis Rams for receiver Brandon Gibson and a 2010 draft pick. Adam Schefter of ESPN later reported that the pick is a fifth rounder.
Witherspoon spent his first four seasons with the Carolina Panthers before becoming a member of the Rams, where he has spent the past three years. He is signed through 2011 with a current base salary of $2.5 million, $5 million for 2010, and $5 million for 2011.
After losing Stewart Bradley to injury in the preseason, the Eagles had moved Omar Gaither back inside to middle linebacker. Gaither was adequate but not spectacular before injuring his foot in Sunday’s fiasco in Oakland. Jeremiah Trotter was brought back to the team just last week in order to help on rushing downs. Witherspoon is far more talented than both men and should be a valuable addition to the Birds staff. He can play both the WILL and MIKE positions and rarely comes off the field. Eagles head coach Andy Reid has already indicated that he intends to keep Witherspoon on the field in nickel situations.
I was a big fan of Gibson, but I guess he was never gonna get on the field with Maclin, DJax, Avant being the top 3.
Witherspoon was a guy the Eagles looked at when he was a FA a few years back but the Rams through a ton of money at him.
I think it was a good move, but man…what do they have agaisnt Omar? Is he that bad that they had a trade a coveted 5th rounder (to the Eagles, they HATE dealing picks) to get a guy at a position that really dont value all that much.
Omar’s hurt and will miss several weeks it looks like. Aside from that, they’ve never really liked him that much in the middle. Not to mention, there’s no depth at the position. Something they should have realized long before Bradley went down in preseason. I think it’s a great move for this team.
Now, if only we could get an offensive line together. Seems like we’re paying 5 guys @ an avg of $8 million a season and have better $600k players on the bench.