So Long, Chris Long

The Philadelphia Eagles today announced on their twitter feed that they’d signed former Patriots defensive end Chris Long.

Roster Move: #Eagles agree to terms with DE Chris Long on a two-year deal.#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/sZLN8w6fxB

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) March 28, 2017

Long made some big plays for the Patriots in his one season in Foxboro. The biggest being drawing this holding call against Jake Matthews of the Falcons to push them out of field goal range.

What it Means for the Patriots?

The Patriots had already filled Long’s spot in the lineup with the addition of Kony Ealy and Lawrence Guy. But the biggest impact for the Patriots will be in the 2018 draft. The way the NFL’s free agent compensation system works, you cancel out free agents.

So the Patriots signed free agent Stephon Gilmore, and lost Logan Ryan. Those two cancel each other out.

They also signed Lawrence Guy and Rex Burkhead. They were cancelled out previously by Martellus Bennett and Barkevious Mingo.

Long signing with the Eagles means that he now cancels out Burkhead, and the Patriots should get another compensation pick (having already been on track to get one for losing Jabaal Sheard to the Colts.)

According to OverTheCap.com, this would set the Patriots up for another 5th round pick.

And they could get still another if Malcolm Floyd signs elsewhere.

Chris Long Career Statistics