DeMeco Ryans, Eagles Agree to New Contract: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to a new contract with inside linebacker DeMeco Ryans, keeping him with the team through 2016.

The Eagles announced Ryans' deal through their official Twitter account. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer added more details:

Ryans, 30, was entering the final season of a six-year, $46.8 million deal, according to Spotrac, before agreeing to adjusted terms with Philadelphia on Monday.

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Since the Eagles traded for Kiko Alonso and spent elsewhere in the linebacker corps to keep Connor Barwin and Brandon Graham in the fold, there was a chance Ryans could be a salary-cap casualty.

That was especially true since Ryans played just eight games in 2014 due to a torn Achilles in early November. Eagles coach Chip Kelly hinted at the intangibles Ryans brings to the defense when he went down, via CSNPhilly.com's Geoff Mosher:

As active as Kelly has been in his first offseason with final say on personnel decisions, he evidently thinks a lot of Ryans.

Former Eagles safety Brian Dawkins is pleased to hear Ryans will be sticking around:

Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com wonders what Ryans' fresh deal means for Mychal Kendricks, who's entering a contract year:

Kelly hasn't been shy about acquiring players coming off injuries. Alonso is coming off a torn ACL, and the same is true for prospective starting quarterback Sam Bradford.

If both Ryans and Alonso can play as they're capable of in 2015, Philadelphia's defense should experience significant improvement. Although such a notion seems dubious at the moment, Kelly's bold moves may help the Eagles wrest back the NFC East crown after missing the playoffs last year.

At the very least, Ryans is a veteran leader who can contribute plenty to a positive locker room and organizational culture, should his best football be behind him.