Dennis Dixon: Signing Dual-Threat QB Was No-Brainer for Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles are undoubtedly hoping that Dennis Dixon doesn't play a down next season, but even if he does, it doesn't mean he won't help the team.  

That makes the signing of the 28-year-old a no-brainer for the Eagles.

According to Dave Spadaro of PhiladelphiaEagles.com, the team has inked the quarterback to a two-year deal: 

As you are probably aware, this move will reunite new Eagles head coach Chip Kelly with his former dual-threat quarterback.

Dixon was lighting up the NCAA fields for the Oregon Ducks when Kelly was there as an offensive coordinator. In his final season at Oregon in 2007, the signal-caller was outstanding in Kelly's offense. 

He completed 67.7 percent of his passes for 2,136 yards with 20 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He also rushed for 583 yards and nine touchdowns. That was good enough to have Dixon named as the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year and wind up fifth in Heisman voting. 

However, Dixon—who was selected in the fifth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2008—has not found anywhere near that level of success in the NFL. 

He has barely seen the field during his pro career, and he has not appeared in a game since 2010. 

Still, this remains a good move for the Eagles. 

This signing came on the heels of the announcement that Michael Vick would be returning to the team under a new $10 million contract, and that the starting quarterback position would be an open competition featuring Vick and youngster Nick Foles.

Despite the proclamation of an open competition, the Eagles are undoubtedly hoping that Vick makes the job his. The veteran's mobility makes him an ideal fit for Kelly's spread-option offense. 

This is an offense that Dixon knows. Having his experience in that system will be an asset as Kelly tries to get his other quarterbacks up to speed. 

Should Vick get hurt, the Eagles won't have to change the game plan for Dixon, either. This is where the relatively immobile Nick Foles cannot match up. 

Dixon's presence will be invaluable if the Eagles are forced to make an in-game switch. It will allow the team to continue to roll along with the game plan that was in place all week. 

This is a low-risk move that helps the Eagles improve in multiple ways, even if Dixon never steps foot on the game field.