Eagles add another street veteran for stretch run

Give GM Howie Roseman credit for not standing pat (sorry, poor choice of words!) with an 8-1 record heading into Dallas this weekend. We now have former Giants tackle Will Beatty in the fold to provide depth at left tackle on a very economical half-year contract. I’m not sure how that will play out, as you kinda hope Beatty will never have to play a meaningful down going forward in 2017. It also doesn’t say much for the Eagles’ confidence in Isaac Seumalo, their current backup tackle/guard, or in Taylor Hart, the guy they waived to make room for Beatty…or for Dillon Gordon, the developmental tackle who languishes on the practice squad during all of this and who must be wondering today what the heck he’s gotta do to get back in the “Big-O-5” contest.

But there it is. Beatty was the best of the rest still out on the street, I reckon.

A former second-round pick out of Connecticut, Beatty started 63 games over seven seasons for the Giants, including 10 at left tackle during the Giants’ 2011 Super Bowl season. He only appeared in six games in 2016, however, and has not played at all in 2017. He’s now 32 years old.

Tim McManus of ESPN.com was pragmatic about it:

“There is not much proven depth behind left tackle Hal Vaitai and right tackle Lane Johnson. Swing tackle Isaac Seumalo was unable to hold onto his starting left guard post and has struggled after a promising rookie year.”

There is some prior history to Roseman’s interest in Beatty. The Eagles previously kicked the tires on Beatty last season when right tackle Lane Johnson was suspended 10 games for violating the NFL’s Performance Enhancing Drug policy.

By all accounts Beatty is still capable of providing top-notch pass protection. His zone-blocking skills? Not so much…

In his glory days with the Giants, Beatty got high marks for both pass-pro and run-blocking. For the 2012 NFL season, Pro Football Focus ranked Beatty as the #2 overall LT in the NFC with a 22.3 rating, behind Pro-Bowler Joe Staley.

A litany of crazy injuries kept Beatty out of the national limelight for most of his career. Try this coat of many black-and-blue colors on for size— sprained foot, detached retina, sciatic nerve damage, broken leg, torn pectoral muscle, torn rotator cuff…and Giants fans called this guy “soft”?

I’d like to think if the Eagles ever do need a backup to step in and fill a pass-blocking role, Beatty will keep his quarterback clean and upright for the short term.

He’s a versatile athlete, too. The Giants often used Beatty as a 3rd TE in their jumbo package.

Jeffrey Lurie will love this side of Beatty, too—he graduated with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies and has garnered national attention in the New York Times and New York Daily Record for his ability to sew, cook, clean, draw and play the piano. Malcolm Jenkins will dig this about his new teammate, also—Beatty owns a clothing line, The William Beatty Apparel Company.

Anyway, like I said, I hope we never have to see Beatty play a meaningful down this season—but if you can get past his Giants’ pedigree, we might be grateful he’s on the active roster if the emergency need arises.

BRISUKSEGG Fantasy Football Update:

Week 10 is in the books…