Brad Jones to Eagles: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

The Philadelphia Eagles announced Monday that they have signed former Green Bay Packers inside linebacker Brad Jones.   

Jimmy Kempski of the Philly Voice and ESPN's Rob Demovsky reported the financial details of the deal:

"

New Eagles ILB Brad Jones will average a base salary of $1.45M, with some upside based on playing time. $500K signing bonus.

— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) March 3, 2015"

This marks the first substantial move made by Eagles head coach Chip Kelly, who seized complete control over personnel decisions this offseason.  

Green Bay released Jones on Feb. 20, and general manager Ted Thompson provided a brief statement on the 28-year-old's time with the team.

"We thank Brad for his contributions and dedication to the Packers over the past six years," said Thompson, via the Packers' official website. "We wish him all the best."

Aaron Nagler of Sports Illustrated shared his thoughts on Philadelphia's signing of Jones:

The Philadelphia Daily News' Les Bowen alludes to the uncertain future of linebacker DeMeco Ryans in analyzing Jones' arrival in Philly:

With just one year remaining on his contract and a $6.9 million cap figure (h/t Spotrac.com), it's possible Ryans may not even be on the Week 1 roster. Jones is an athletic linebacker who could at least contribute on special teams, if not plug in as a potential starter or frequent contributor on defense.   

Kelly's uptempo offensive system lends to a lot of quick scores, which can put his own defense in a position to be fatigued.

Adding an experienced veteran in Jones, who started 36 games for Green Bay, at least provides some healthy competition as the Eagles try to figure out how to upgrade their weaker side of the ball.

Since it's just a two-year deal, Jones will have to prove himself before a longer future in Philadelphia is in the cards. The contract covers just one season beyond Ryans' prospective tenure. Jones has never been a steady NFL starter, so Kelly may still emphasize the inside linebacker position moving forward.