Chip Kelly is all-in, for better or worse

Chip Kelly is not afraid to take chances in this NFL football version of high-stakes poker. The Philadelphia Eagles head coach, and personnel decision-maker, traded All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy on Tuesday night to the Buffalo Bills, getting inside linebacker Kiko Alonso in return.

Alonso, who starred in 2013 as a rookie, tore his ACL and missed all of 2014. McCoy was busy racking up another 1,000-yard season, giving him the most rushing yards of any NFL player in the last five years. The trade was stunning and considered a win by many for the Bills, while the Eagles’ main objectives were achieved in the sense of creating more cap space and improving the defense.

Philadelphia now has $48.6 million in cap space entering free agency which begins March 10. Only the Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns and New York Jets have more.

On the surface, it seems like the Eagles are primed to make a major run in 2015. Don’t hold your breath.

Philadelphia fans seem to have shockingly forgotten how disastrous this type of plan was only four years ago. The Eagles built what famously became known as the “Dream Team” after signing a litany of high-priced free agents including Nnamdi Asomugha, Steve Smith, Ronnie Brown, Vince Young, Ryan Harris, Cullen Jenkins and Jason Babin. Philadelphia also dealt quarterback Kevin Kolb for cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

The group was an overwhelming favorite to reach the Super Bowl. They went 8-8.

Kelly is setting up Philadelphia to make massive waves in free agency. The Eagles appear to be letting receiver Jeremy Maclin walk, but are reportedly interested in bringing in corner Byron Maxwell, running back Mark Ingram, outside linebacker Jason Worilds, safety Rahim Moore and defensive end Greg Hardy, among others. The prevailing though is Kelly wants to fill team needs through free agency, allowing him to go full-throttle in a draft-day trade to land Marcus Mariota.

If this is the plan, Kelly is being arrogant and short-sighted. Fans are always in love with the grass on the other side of the fence, the almighty cap space and the possibilities that come with it. What Eagles supporters must realize is the team, as currently stands, is mediocre at best. If Maclin walks, this is an offense constructed of Brent Celek, Jordan Matthews, Riley Cooper, Nick Foles and Darren Sproles at the skill positions. All respectable players, but none that are keeping opponents awake at night.

The defense is even more questionable, with a putrid secondary and the loss of Trent Cole looming. Of course, many of these spots will be shored up via free agency, but history says teams are much better off keeping their own players and drafting to fill needs. Draft picks are less expensive and have a longer shelf life than free agents, giving teams a chance to sustain excellence.

If you look at the history of Super Bowl champions, not one was built through free agency.

Kelly is betting big that he is the smartest guy in the room. It’s an all-in call of enormous proportions, one which if history is any guide, will have him leaving the table empty-handed in short order.

About Matt Verderame

Matt Verderame, 26, is a New Yorker who went to school at the frozen tundra of SUNY Oswego. After graduating, Verderame has worked for Gannett and SB Nation among other ventures.

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