The Eagles are bringing one of the region’s top college products from a few years ago back to the area.
Late Thursday night, the team agreed to a one-year deal with Arnold Ebiketie, who played at Temple before transferring to Penn State.
The deal could net $7.3 million with incentives, but it guarantees $4.3 million.
The move becomes the second that seems likely to cancel out a compensatory pick for the Eagles.
If it does end up cancelling out a pick, it would seem likely to cancel out the pick the team would get for Jahan Dotson’s departure at this point, the lowest pick the Eagles currently figure to receive.
Ebiketie has been an effective rotational pass rusher in Atlanta, which has not really had many established pass rushers over the past few seasons. This is his first contract after completing his rookie contract.
On a one-year deal, he’ll get the opportunity to prove what he can do with a couple of dominant interior defensive tackles playing next to him.
Vic Fangio will look to maximize his talents and parlay this year into either a big compensatory pick next offseason or a potential extension candidate.
Ebiketie had his lowest sack total in a season last year at two, but had six sacks in each of the prior two seasons. He also has six deflections, 129 tackles, and four forced fumbles over the last four years as a mostly rotational player.
If he can recreate those stats or take a step forward, he could become a piece that the Eagles were desperately missing for the first half of last season.
