Eagles

Report: Eagles May Release, Trade, or Keep Vinny Curry

By Bob Wankel

Published: Mar 4th, 2018 · 6:10 PM EST

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It’s no secret that the Eagles are currently over the salary cap and desperately need to clear some cap space ahead of this spring’s free agency period. In order to do so, the reality of the situation is that the front office will have to make some painful decisions and say thanks for memories to some noteworthy players that helped the team win its first Lombardi Trophy. That said, it appears the Eagles may be on the verge of cutting defensive end Vinny Curry on the one-month anniversary of their Super Bowl victory, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport:

The #Eagles are expected to release DE Vinny Curry, source said, putting another key pass-rusher on the market. He was due $9M this year. Up against the cap, Philly clears some needed cap space.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 4, 2018

Oh, shit. Really? That’s a bummer. Unless, of course, THEY KEEP HIM:

Update on the #Eagles and DE Vinny Curry after talking with a team official: They are currently in negotiations to try to keep Vinny Curry at a different salary. Teams are also interested in potential trading for him. It sounds like nothing is quite done yet.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 4, 2018

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

Personally, I don’t really appreciate Rapoport making me redo this entire story by dropping the follow-up tweet, but I’d like to see Howie Roseman keep Curry. If the team ultimately decides to release him, it probably shouldn’t be a surprise despite my initial reaction. Kevin Kinkead actually wrote about the possibility of this move late last week:

He’s due $11 million next season, 11 million in 2019, and 12 million in 2020. With Derek Barnett waiting in the wings, and Brandon Graham deserving more money on the other side of the line, it’s hard to justify keeping Curry around at his current price tag. Either the team asks him to take a pay cut or releases him, saving $5 million in the process but running into $6 million in dead money.

In 16 games last season, Curry registered 42 tackles and three sacks. While his numbers didn’t jump off the page, the former second-round pick turned into a valuable edge defender and was a key part of a defense that allowed an NFL-best 79.2 rushing yards per game. Stay tuned.