:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/9644949/20130108_ter_sj7_110.0.jpg)
ESPN's Dan Graziano is reporting that the Eagles are looking into the offensive tackle market and will explore Bengals RT Andre Smith as well as Patriots RT Sebastian Vollmer.
Sources already confirmed a previous report that the Eagles had discussed pursuing Jake Long, but that is reportedly "unlikely" now. Long will take a physical in St. Louis today and could be Ram before sundown.
Vollmer would seem to be a natural fit as a guy who already showed that he's athletic enough to play in Chip Kelly's up tempo offense since he did it in New England. Injuries are an issue with him as he missed 10 games in 2011, but he did stay relatively healthy last season missing just one game.
Andre Smith is a little more curious. After looking like a bust of a first round pick over the first couple years of his career, Smith has really started to figure it out and last season played quite well. The Bengals have money to spend and want him back, but the mere fact that he's on the open market is a good sign that his expectations in terms of money are pretty high.
More: Browns blog reacts to interest in Smith
And there's a question as to whether he's really a fit for what the Eagles want to do. He's a great run blocker, but not a great pass protector and not super athletic. Could he keep up in an up tempo offense that runs a lot of plays? Certainly the new run first attitude here would fit him, but Smith is not seen as a particularly high character type guy as it is and it would be risky to trust him to get himself in shape enough to work in Kelly's system.
More Eagles free agency news
Eagles talking with Connor Barwin, Victor Butler
Eagles sign 5 on opening day of free agency