Eagles Sign David Molk to Futures Deal
Eagles sign David Molk to a futures deal.
... so you're sayin' there's a chance.
LINK: http://www.csnphilly.com/football-philadelphia-eagles/eagles-sign-center-david-molk-futures-deal
Eagles starting center Jason Kelce (Cincinatti '11) really came into his own this year, establishing himself as one of the NFL's top centers. Very few peope would have complained if Kelce made the Pro Bowl. That said, Kelce missed almost the entire 2012 year with MCL and ACL tears, so it's possible that Molk may have a future with the Eagles. The Eagles current back-up, Julian Vandervelde (Iowa '11), has not shown anything that would indicate his roster spot is completely secure.
January 9th, 2014 at 4:03 PM ^
Really hope this works out for him. Played his ass off while he was here.
January 9th, 2014 at 4:06 PM ^
Looking good, Billy Ray!
January 9th, 2014 at 4:10 PM ^
Feeling good, Lewis!
January 9th, 2014 at 4:06 PM ^
Can't be corn, wheat, or soybeans... gotta be hog bellies.
January 9th, 2014 at 4:13 PM ^
Like you might find in a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich.
January 9th, 2014 at 4:07 PM ^
Pardon my ignorance, what's a futures contract? Is he basically signed for next season, so now he just had to wait for next season to roll around?
January 9th, 2014 at 4:16 PM ^
Basically, when a player is signed to “reserve/futures” contracts means they are being signed for the upcoming season even though that season does not officially begin until the official start of the league’s new year as outlined by the NFL. Only players who were not on any NFL team’s active roster when the previous season ended are eligible for these types of contracts. If they were under contract, then they would remain so until the league’s new year starts. Players who were on practice squads at the end of the season are eligible to sign with any team. Hence the reason that you see many practice squad players being signed by their current team for the upcoming year to a reserve/futures contract. That way the team can continue to work with a player they’re familiar with and hopefully get them ready for an eventual roster spot on game day.
January 9th, 2014 at 4:16 PM ^
The new league year begins on March 11. A futures contract is for a player not currently signed on a team (practice squad player, or UFA) and that contract's term begins at the start of the league year.
Good for Molk!
January 9th, 2014 at 4:10 PM ^
From what I've seen Chip Kelly likes to pull his center and get him in space. It sounds like a role Molk would fit well.
January 9th, 2014 at 4:28 PM ^
He's a stud zone blocking center who can reach and scoop well. In theory it's a good fit.
As a backup interior OL there's the thought that he has to be able to play guard in a pinch too and his size has kept him out of the league thus far I believe.
January 9th, 2014 at 4:39 PM ^
Agreed. Eagles fan here & Molk would be an ideal backup (their current guy is a converted guard who is nothing special). Hope he makes the team
January 9th, 2014 at 4:10 PM ^
Makes a lot of sense for Chip Kelly's offense.
January 9th, 2014 at 4:12 PM ^
Nice signing by Eagles. The center position in their offense requires an athletic player who can pull frequently. Molk should be a very good backup for them.
January 9th, 2014 at 7:41 PM ^
He was signed for depth and there are legit concerns with his game. Molk's foot injury was a bad one, and most NFL centers are bigger. He's an excellent center by college standards, but ALL NFL players are excellent by college standards. All NFL nose tackles are excellent by college standards; NFL centers have to play opposite one every gameday. Mike Martin is a rotational DT FFS, though the Titans (and fans!) have been happy with his contributions.
None of this is to say he can't have an NFL career. But for all the awards he won in college, he needs to prove his doubters he can make it in the NFL. But to prove anything, you need a shot. Well, this is a shot.
If Molk's still got it, though, a shot is all he'll need.
January 9th, 2014 at 4:13 PM ^
Really hope he can succeed there! I never realized he was no longer with the Chargers, so I was hoping that this past Sunday he would have come in when Hardwick got injured. I guess that explains it!
January 9th, 2014 at 5:04 PM ^
Brandon Graham and Jason Avant say "Hi".
January 9th, 2014 at 6:07 PM ^
Here's hoping he still likes to hit people really fucking hard.
January 9th, 2014 at 5:31 PM ^
Great news about Molk - he's an excellent center and there had to be a team that was looking for one, and like others have said, this is probably the best fit for Molk considering what Kelly likes to do on offense.
Per SBNation, the Eagles have actually worked out Molk before - this past season, in fact, before their game with the Chargers, of all teams.
January 9th, 2014 at 5:51 PM ^
January 9th, 2014 at 6:09 PM ^
January 9th, 2014 at 7:52 PM ^
I think the NFL overlooks him because he's short for a center, but he's a thick dude. I don't think he can sustain single-blocking an NFL nose tackle but almost no NFL centers are asked to do that anyway.
He is a scheme center; he's very quick and smart (if a bit verbally abrasive but he's paid to hit people not write speeches FFS) so the right OC would find a use for him -- and not as a gimmick or sympathy job. I mean he's great at reading the traffic around him and getting where he needs to be to give the ball carrier some space. The tough part is finding an NFL OC that can utilize his specialty without re-writing the playbook.
One play that sticks out in my mind is when he followed a play to the edge; for some reason I don't remember he was chasing the play but he sensed backside pursuit so he literally backed into the weakside DE (?) and that got the play past the LoS. That was amazing presence of mind and something you can't really coach.