When a head coach goes from one team to the next, he not only brings some coaches and assistants with him, he can also have an impact on players following him to his new organization. One of the names floated after the San Francisco 49ers signed Chip Kelly was tight end Zach Ertz, though he was recently given a sizable contract extension so he is off the list.
There are a lot of rumors about Kelly as a coach and how he interacted with the players. There were plenty of rumors that suggested he wasn't well-liked for various reasons but I personally can't vouch for the credibility of those rumors and am not reporting them myself. I don't know if Kelly has the pull to make San Francisco an attractive place for players he coached with the Philadelphia Eagles, but there are some interesting names set to hit the open market this offseason.
Below, I'll list the pending free agents for the Eagles:
QB Sam Bradford
DE Vinny Curry
CB Nolan Carroll
S Walter Thurmond
DE Cedric Thornton
LB Najee Goode
CB E.J. Biggers
WR Seyi Ajirotutu
C David Molk (RFA)
OG Matt Tobin (RFA)
The scary name on that list is obviously Bradford. He didn't do much with the Eagles, same as he didn't do much with the St. Louis Rams. But I wonder if Kelly still thinks he has something to offer. What's even more worrisome is that the market on Bradford is supposed to be strong, so if Kelly has pull in acquiring Bradford, and really wants him, it could cost the 49ers some significant dollars.
I'm just not interested in Bradford as an option, even a little bit.
Molk is an interesting player and a good center, the big problem is the fact that he's a restricted free agent and likely has a future with the Eagles so he'll be locked up there. Vinny Curry could be the best player on that list, though the Eagles are switching to a new defensive scheme that suits Curry's strengths and the team has already made him a contract offer.
Carroll is an interesting player, with all the skills to be a starting cornerback in the NFL. He is a solid starter in most defensive schemes, but he has an injury history and sustained a broken ankle last season. The Eagles really liked what they saw out of him in training camp, and Carroll soundly beat second-round pick Eric Rowe for a starting job before suffering his injury.
If I had to guess, Carroll is the most likely guy. Kelly is a fan of his, though obviously his future is uncertain given his injury. Are there any names that jump out on that list for you guys? Interested to hear some thoughts.