Cross-State Switch For Seumalo

Another major piece of the Eagles’ run to the Super Bowl won’t be back for the defending NFC Champions.

Right guard Isaac Seumalo, a five-year starter and free agent, has reportedly agreed to sign a three-year deal with the cross-state Pittsburgh Steelers, according to theScore.

Breaking: FA guard Isaac Seumalo has agreed to a 3-year deal with the #Steelers, source tells @theScore. One of the best guards in free agency, revered as a smart and tough player.

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 19, 2023

The deal is for $33 million, per the 33rd Team:

Terms: #Steelers are signing former #Eagles G Isaac Seumalo to a 3-year, $24M contract, per source.

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 19, 2023

Seumalo, a 2016 third-round pick from Oregon State, never made a Pro Bowl but entered free agency as one of the top interior offensive linemen on the market. Several teams had Seuamlo ranked as their top guard or tackle, sources told Inside The Birds.

But Seumalo’s injury history probably kept him from signing earlier in the free-agent period. Seumalo, 29, missed 14 games in 2021 and seven in 2020. Only twice in his seven-year career has he played a full season.

The Eagles already have an in-house replacement at right guard, assuming that 2022 second-round pick Cam Jurgens can make the adjustment. Jurgens played center at Nebraska and was drafted to be the eventual successor to All-Pro center Jason Kelce but Kelce has already announced his return for 2023.

Jurgens took reps at right guard last year in training camp until an elbow injury thrust him into center until Kelce returned in time to start the regular season. Jack Driscoll, a 2020 fourth-round pick, has played guard and tackle and could compete with Jurgens – and any other candidates – for the job this summer.

Seumalo was one of a small handful of Eagles who were on the Eagles’ roster for their 2017 Super Bowl win and their 2022 return. In 2017, Seumalo opened the season as the starter but struggled and was benched in favor of veteran journeyman Stefen Wisniewski for the rest of the season.

Seumalo stepped back into the left guard spot in 2018 and started there until this past season, when he moved to right guard as the team settled on second-year pro Landon Dickerson at left guard.

Seumalo should be a major boost for a Steelers offensive line that’s struggled over the past few years, especially in the run game. New Steelers assistant general manger Andy Weidl, formerly the Eagles’ vice president of player personnel, already had familiarity with Seumalo from his days in the Eagles’ front office.

– Geoff Mosher (@geoffmoshernfl) is co-host of the “Inside the Birds” podcast and staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.

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