Chip Kelly

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly before a game against the Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Sunday, November 17, 2013. . Martin Griff / The Times of Trenton

The names are flying fast and furious as free agency, or at least the unofficial start of it, is set to get underway on Saturday.

Byron Maxwell. Devin McCourty. Jason Woirlds.

The Eagles are reportedly in on all of them, and with roughly $46 million to spend, it is possible they end up with all three. Considering the holes they have, they might not have a choice but to spend big.

Signing a flurry of free agents to fill need has never traditionally been thought of as a winning formula in the NFL. Those opposed to it will point out the team's famous spending spree in 2011.

That summer, the Eagles signed and spent big money on, among others, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, defensive end Jason Babin, defensive lineman Cullin Jenkins. By the time backup quarterback Vince Young was added, the group was titled the "dream team." Expectations were through the roof.

After going 12-20 in two seasons without a single playoff victory, however, that self-given title is now used to mock the group, and by extension, the idea of signing big-money free agents.

As the Eagles embark upon their 2015 offseason, however, it is important to point out the key differences between now and then.

In 2011, the Eagles were a sinking ship from the jump. Head coach Andy Reid was on his last legs with the team, and would be fired one season later. The team also invested big money into defensive free agents, then handed them over to Juan Castillo, who was in his first season as defensive coordinator after coaching the offensive line his entire career.

The structure, or culture, if you will, wasn't there. Had the team spent zero dollars in free agency, the result likely would have been the same.

That is not the case with the 2015 Eagles.

RUMORS:

Latest on who the Eagles might sign

Unlike Reid's last two seasons with the team, there is no question about the future of the team's current head coach, Chip Kelly. Kelly is implementing his culture into the NovaCare Complex, and the foundation of the team is much more solid than it was in 2012.

You can debate if "culture wins football", like Kelly says it does. It might not make Chris Polk be able to replace LeSean McCoy, or help ease the loss of DeSean Jackson. But there is little debate that having a strong and focused culture helps to integrate free agents into your team.

The circumstances around the signings are much different as well.

In 2011, the Eagles signed Asomugha even though they already had Asante Samuel and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie at cornerback. The signing was excessive, not needed. The other "big name" signings were at backup quarterback in Young, and backup running back in Ronnie Brown.

In fact, the only "need" the Eagles filled that summer with a big signing was Jason Babin at defensive end — and he had 18 sacks that season.

This season, the Eagles will be spending money to fill legitimate holes, not just trying to add talent.

If they sign Byron Maxwell away from Seattle, he won't have two starting-caliber cornerbacks waiting there to block him. If they sign Devin McCourty away from New England, he will be the unquestioned starter from the first snap of training camp.

Making any spending the Eagles do this offseason much different than the checks they cut back in 2011.

Eliot Shorr-Parks may be reached at eshorrpa@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @EliotShorrParks. Find NJ.com Sports on Facebook.