Matt

Tobin

Tobin made one start this season, playing a total of 101 snaps between left and right tackle. He was beat by Redskins OLB Ryan Kerrigan on the play that ended the Eagles’ chances late in the fourth quarter in Week 14.

Tobin had been slated to make $1.67 million under a restricted free agent tender. The new deal likely kicks a little guaranteed money his way while locking up his rights for 2017. Tobin started 13 games at right guard last season, but will open 2016 as a reserve.

Seattle is scrambling for tackle options after losing George Fant. Tobin started at right guard for the 2015 Eagles, showing promise as a run blocker but getting destroyed in pass protection. He was demoted into a deep reserve role last season. Tobin should only be viewed as depth for the Seahawks.

The Seahawks acquired Tobin from Philadelphia after losing George Fant to a season-ending knee injury. Odhiambo will start Friday’s preseason game against Kansas City with Tobin coming off the bench. The rest of Seattle’s O line is mostly set with Luke Joeckel at left guard, Justin Britt at center, Germain Ifedi at right tackle and Mark Glowinski and Oday Aboushi competing at right guard.

With Allen Barbre switching to left guard following the release of Evan Mathis, the Eagles have a huge hole at right guard and very little talent to fill it. A 2013 UDFA out of Iowa who struggled in seven starts last season, Tobin’s claim to the starting job has more to do with a lack of competition than his individual talent. Philadelphia should be scouring the waiver wire for help during training camp.

He’s getting the nod over Dennis Kelly. Tobin opened camp as the right guard, but got beat out by Gardner. The third-year UDFA out of Iowa made seven starts last season, receiving extremely poor marks from Pro Football Focus as a pass blocker. The Eagles like his ability to get to the second level in the run game.

If the Eagles had just kept Evan Mathis, they’d be set with him at left guard and Allen Barbre at right guard. Instead, they are staging a four-way competition for a starting spot and Mathis is on the street wishing he hadn’t complained about his $5.5 million contract. Andrew Gardner, Julian Vandervelde and John Moffitt are all getting chances to push Tobin.

Tobin entered the league as an UDFA, so the Eagles would get nothing in return if another team signs him to an offer sheet and they decline to match. Ex-coach Chip Kelly seemed to like Tobin, but he struggled badly when on the field.

A restricted free agent, Tobin was offered an original-round tender prior to free agency. Tobin started 13 games at right guard last season, but he will return to a reserve role after the Eagles added Brandon Brooks and Stefen Wisniewski in free agency.

Nate Solder’s departure leaves the Patriots with an opening at left tackle, hence their interest in Tobin. The Iowa alum has 21 starts on his NFL resume but was only on the field for 81 snaps last year while backing up Rees Odhiambo and Duane Brown on Russell Wilson’s blind side.