The Philadelphia Eagles got the trade that
was reported earlier on
Friday officially completed Friday evening.
The team announced that they have acquired LT Jason Peters from the Buffalo
Bills in exchange for a first round draft pick (28th overall) in 2009, a fourth
round draft pick (121st overall) in 2009, and an undisclosed late round draft
pick in 2010. The team also announced they have signed the 6-4, 340-pound Peters
to a six-year contract that will keep him in Philadelphia through 2014. Peters had two years left on his last contract, so Philadelphia has essentially torn up the last two seasons and given him a new contract.
The acquisition of Peters completes a 2008 draft day trade with Carolina in
which they sent a 1st round draft pick (OT Jeff Otah) to the Panthers in
exchange for a 1st round draft pick in 2009 (traded to Buffalo for Peters), a
2nd round pick (later traded to Minnesota for draft picks that netted DT
Trevor Laws and S Quintin Demps), and a 4th round pick (G Mike
McGlynn).
“Jason Peters is the best left tackle in football,” said head coach Andy
Reid. “He is a powerful and athletic tackle and I have admired his play over
the last few years on film. I have always believed that success in the National
Football League is derived from the strong play of the offensive and defensive
lines. This offseason we have added two young, top-flight offensive linemen in
Jason and Stacy Andrews.”
Peters will be introduced to the media at a press conference on Sunday at 11 am
at the NovaCare Complex.
The 27-year-old Peters garnered back-to-back Pro Bowl and Associated Press All
Pro honors following the 2007 and 2008 campaigns. In 2008, Peters played in 13
games and was part of an offensive line that helped pave the way for 1,092
rushing yards (136.5 per game) in the second half of the season. In addition,
the Bills amassed 100-or-more rushing yards in eight of his 13 starts.
Originally a rookie free agent signing of the Bills in 2004, Peters entered the
NFL as a tight end after playing that position at Arkansas. Noticing his unique
combination of athleticism and size, the Bills began grooming Peters for the
offensive line while using him as a blocking tight end. After being promoted
from the practice squad midway through his rookie campaign, Peters appeared in
five games, recording six special teams tackles and one blocked punt, which he
recovered in the end zone for his first career touchdown at Cincinnati on
December 19.
After being used in a similar capacity in the first half of the 2005 season,
Peters emerged as the starting right tackle in the team’s final nine games. That
year, he also caught his first touchdown pass in the season opener vs. Houston.
Peters started in all 16 games on the offensive line in 2006, switching to left
tackle for the final nine contests. For his efforts, he earned a spot on Sports
Illustrated’s All Pro team. The following year in 2007, Peters was selected to
his first Pro Bowl after anchoring an offensive line that allowed the fewest
sacks (26) in team history. Peters has started 55 of the 65 games he has played
in during his five-year career.