Bring on more competition!
It's what the Eagles have in mind with the addition of veteran offensive lineman Dennis Kelly, a 10-year NFL veteran who began his career in the league as an Eagles' 2012 fifth-round draft pick. Kelly has had a whirlwind, and very successful, career, playing 130 games with 54 starts on four teams. Kelly signed a one-year deal on Tuesday as players reported to the NovaCare Complex for the start of Training Camp. There was an open spot for Kelly after the Eagles placed defensive end Matt Leo on the Reserve/Retired list.
He's big, strong, and versatile, having taken more than 100 snaps at four different positions in his career – more than 2,500 snaps at right tackle, 650-plus snaps at left tackle, over 400 snaps at right guard, and 128 snaps at left guard since his college days at Purdue. Kelly played for three seasons with the Eagles and then was traded to Tennessee in 2016.
Kelly played with the Titans from 2016-20 and then moved to Green Bay for the 2021 season, where he played in 10 games, with four starts. In the 2022 campaign, Kelly played with Indianapolis, playing in 16 games with three starts.
Now, in a demonstration that the NFL is at times a full-circle business, Kelly is back with the team that used the 153rd overall selection in the 2012 NFL Draft on him. Kelly is 6-foot-8, 321 pounds and he obviously has the experience to compete for a roster spot in a loaded offensive line room that will always look for more talent and depth.
Kelly, who started in 10 games with the Eagles in his 2012 rookie season – he was part of an outstanding Eagles' draft class that produced, among others, defensive tackle Fletcher Cox – knows what to expect from Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator Jeff Stoutland and, of course, Stoutland knows what to expect from Kelly. Stoutland joined the Eagles' coaching staff in 2013, so he worked with Kelly for three seasons as the young offensive lineman at that time started five games.
The goal for the Eagles is to have competition up and down the roster and, for sure, adding Kelly intensifies the picture up front offensively. He's experienced, he knows the system, and is versatile enough to give the Eagles more options as they continue to add to one of the strongest position groups in the NFL.
