Recapping Day 1 of Eagles Free Agency/Trades in One Fell Swoop

Whew. The first day of free agency 2015 was a whirlwind in Philadelphia. Here’s a recap of the moves that have been made – some that finally became official on Tuesday and some that took us by surprise less than 24 hours ago.

Reports From Philadelphia Eagles

LB Kiko Alonso Acquired from Bills for LeSean McCoy

The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed on a trade that will send running back LeSean McCoy to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for linebacker Kiko Alonso.

Originally a second-round selection (46th overall) of the Bills in the 2013 NFL Draft, Alonso (6-3, 238) burst onto the scene in his rookie season, starting all 16 games and collaring 159 tackles, two sacks and four interceptions en route to Pro Football Writers Association Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. His 159 tackles ranked third in the NFL and was also the third-highest total by an NFL rookie since 2000.

Alonso, 24, missed the duration of the 2014 season after suffering a torn ACL prior to the start of Training Camp. He starred collegiately at the University of Oregon under Eagles Head Coach Chip Kelly, notching 143 tackles, 21 tackles for a loss, six interceptions and 3.5 sacks during his career with the Ducks.

The all-time leading rusher in Eagles history, McCoy (5-11, 208) tallied 6,792 rushing yards and 44 rushing touchdowns during his six-year tenure in Philadelphia. A second-round draft choice (53rd overall) of the Eagles in 2009, McCoy leads the NFL in rushing since 2010 with 6,155 yards and also ranks second in the league in yards from scrimmage (8,129) over the span.

A three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro selection, McCoy, 26, set the Eagles franchise record for single-season rushing yards and earned the NFL rushing title in 2013, as he accumulated 1,607 yards and nine touchdowns on 314 carries (5.1 avg.).

Eagles Trade Nick Foles to Rams for QB Sam Bradford

The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to terms on a trade that will send quarterback Nick Foles, a fourth-round draft pick in 2015 and a second-round pick in 2016 to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for quarterbackSam Bradford and the Rams’ fifth-round pick in 2015.

The first overall selection by the St. Louis Rams in the 2010 NFL Draft, Bradford (6-4, 224) has started 49 career games, throwing for 11,065 yards on 58.6 percent passing with 59 touchdowns and 38 interceptions over his five-year career.

Bradford, 27, was named the 2010 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press after setting rookie records in completions (354) and attempts (590), while ranking second in league history among rookies in passing yards (3,512). Under the tutelage of former Rams offensive coordinator and current Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, Bradford led the Rams to a six-win improvement in his first season in the league and became just the fourth rookie quarterback in NFL history to take all of his team’s snaps over a 16-game season. During a midseason stretch, he set an NFL rookie record with 174 consecutive attempts without an interception.

After sustaining an ACL tear in August of 2014, Bradford was placed on Injured Reserve and missed the entirety of the 2014 season.

A native of Oklahoma City, OK, Bradford started seven games for the Rams in 2013, completing 60.7 percent of his passes for 1,687 yards and 14 touchdowns to just four interceptions before suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 7 at Car. (10/12/13). He set career highs in passing yards (3,702), touchdown passes (21) and passer rating (82.5) during the 2012 season.

As a sophomore at the University of Oklahoma, Bradford became just the second underclassman in NCAA history to receive the Heisman Trophy as he led the Sooners to the 2009 BCS National Title Game. During his collegiate career, Bradford started 31 games, completing 67.6 percent of his passes for 8,403 yards and 88 touchdowns.

A third-round draft choice of the Eagles in 2012, Foles started 24 games during his three-year career, posting 6,753 yards and 46 touchdowns on 61.6 percent passing. Foles earned Pro Bowl honors following the 2013 season after leading the league with a 119.2 quarterback rating, the third-best mark in NFL history, on the back of 27 touchdowns and two interceptions.

A native of Austin, TX, Foles appeared in eight games for the Eagles in 2014, completing 59.8 percent of his passes for 2,163 yards before suffering a season-ending collarbone injury in Week 9.

Eagles Sign CB Byron Maxwell from Seahawks

The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to terms on a six-year contract with cornerback Byron Maxwell.

Originally a sixth-round draft choice of the Seattle Seahawks in 2011, Maxwell (6-1, 207) recorded two interceptions and a team-high 12 passes defensed in 2014 while helping the Seahawks reach the Super Bowl for the second-consecutive season.

Maxwell appeared in 47 games (17 starts) for the Seahawks during his four-year tenure with the team, totaling 70 tackles, six interceptions, 26 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

As part of Seattle’s Super Bowl XLVIII championship team, Maxwell notched 25 tackles, four interceptions, 12 passes defensed and one forced fumble in 16 games for the team. Maxwell forced a fumble of Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas that was recovered by Seahawks linebackeer Malcolm Smith in Super Bowl XLVIII to help secure a victory for the Seahawks.

A native of Charleston, SC, Maxwell starred collegiately at Clemson, where he recorded 165 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions, 20 pass breakups and six forced fumbles in 53 games for the Tigers.

Eagles Resign Mark Sanchez; Add Former Seattle/NY Giants CB Walter Thurmond

The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to terms with CB Walter Thurmond III on a one-year contract and signed quarterback Mark Sanchez to a two-year contract.

A fourth-round draft choice of Seattle in the 2010 NFL Draft, Thurmond (5-11, 190) has appeared in 36 career games (nine starts) for the Seahawks (2010-13) and the New York Giants (2014) over his five-year career. After signing with the Giants during the 2014 offseason, Thurmond saw action in two games before being placed on Injured Reserve after tearing his pectoral in a Week 2 loss vs. Arizona (9/14).

Thurmond, 27, has collared 84 tackles, one interception, 16 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in his five seasons in the NFL. He was a valuable member of the Super Bowl XLVIII Champion Seahawks in 2013.

A collegiate standout at Oregon, Thurmond played in 41 games, recording 254 tackles, 12 interceptions and five touchdowns, while also serving as the team’s kickoff and punt returner. He hails from West Covina, CA.

Originally acquired by the Eagles as a free agent during the 2014 offseason, Sanchez, (6-2, 225) appeared in nine games in his first season in Philadelphia, completing 198-of-309 passes for 2,418 yards and 14 touchdowns while setting an Eagles single-season franchise record with a career-high 64.1% completion percentage.

Sanchez, 28, became just the fourth Eagles quarterback in team history to throw for 300-plus yards in three-straight games (vs. Carolina, at Green Bay and vs. Tennessee) while also setting a franchise record with 37 completions in a single contest at Washington (12/20).

A former first-round draft choice (fifth overall) of the New York Jets in 2009, Sanchez has appeared in 71 career games with 70 starts over his six-year NFL career, totaling 14,510 yards and 82 touchdowns on 56.3 percent passing.  During his tenure in New York, he led the Jets to the AFC Championship Game in each of his first two seasons (2009, 10) and also orchestrated 10 comeback wins in the fourth-quarter-or-later with the team.

A native of Mission Viejo, CA, Sanchez starred collegiately at Southern Cal, where he was an All-Pac-10 selection as a junior in 2008.