NFL Free Agency: Philadelphia Eagles sign familiar faces

The NFL free agency period began on Thursday at 4 p.m. and the Philadelphia Eagles made a big splash.

The Eagles nabbed the top wide receiver off the market in Alshon Jeffery. They also signed wide receiver Torrey Smith and offensive lineman Chance Warmack.

All three of these guys have something in common—they all have ties to the Eagles’ coaches or scouting department.

Eagles wide receivers coach Mike Groh was Jeffery’s wide receivers coach with the Chicago Bears from 2013-15. Jeffery put up the best numbers of his career under Groh.

Jeffery eclipsed 1,100 receiving yards and 85 receptions in back-to-back seasons in 2013 and 2014. He also racked up a combined 17 touchdowns in that two-year stretch.

Jeffery signed a one-year deal worth $14 million on Thursday.

Groh also has connections with Smith. He tried to recruit Smith to the University of Virginia when he was one of the assistant coaches.

Next: Eagles sign Stefen Wisniewski to 3-year deal

Vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas and assistant director of player personnel Andy Weidle were with the Baltimore Ravens‘ scouting department when they drafted Smith in 2011.

The Eagles reportedly attempted to acquire Smith in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers last year. The 49ers wanted a third-rounder, but the Eagles were only willing to offer a fifth-round pick.

Smith signed a 3-year, $15 million contract with the Eagles on Thursday. The contract includes up to $5 million in guaranteed money. According USA Today’s Tom Pelissero, the contract has a pair of $5 million options with a $500,000 signing bonus. So it’s basically a one-year prove it deal for the 28-year old.

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Smith offers speed to stretch the field on the outside that the Eagles desperately needed.

After a down year of catching 20 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns with the 49ers, Smith hopes to return to his days with the Ravens.

Smith had a career year with the Ravens in 2013 when he hauled in 65 catches for 1,128 yards and four touchdowns. He’s averages 17.0 yards per reception in his six year NFL career.

Warmack will reunite with his former position coach Jeff Stoutland with the Eagles. Stoutland was the University of Alabama’s offensive line coach from 2011-12 while Warmack was there.

Warmack’s one-year deal is worth $1.51 million with a $500,000 signing bonus, according to Pelissero of USA Today. He can also earn $1.25 million in incentives.

Warmack, 25, was selected with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft by the Tennesse Titans. He started every game for the Titans in the first two years of his career, but has dealt with injuries the past two years.

Warmack missed two games in 2015 with a knee sprain. He also only played two games in 2016 after having surgery to repair a torn tendon is his hand.

Warmack, at 6-foot-2, 323 pounds, provides some depth on the offensive line for the Eagles. He could possibly play a role similar to what Stefen Wisniewski did last season.

Of course, there’s also a chance Warmack could challenge Allen Barbre at the starting left guard spot in training camp.

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