DeMeco Ryans will be back in the middle of it all.

In a somewhat surprising move, the Eagles acquired the two-time Pro Bowler from the Texans on Tuesday night for a fourth-round pick in the upcoming draft; the teams will also swap third-round selections, allowing the Texans to move up from 89th overall to 77th.

"DeMeco is a proven Pro Bowl linebacker in this league and we're excited to be able to plug him into the middle of our defense," Eagles HC Andy Reid said in a statement. "He's been the signal caller and a leader on a very good Texans defense for the last several years. He's a tough, instinctive football player and he'll be a great fit for our team."

The 2006 defensive rookie of the year, Ryans, a team captain most of his career, leaves Houston as the Texans' career leader in tackles (636). However he comes off what was easily his least productive season statistically in 2011 after new DC Wade Phillips switched from a 4-3 to a 3-4 alignment. The defense flourished, allowing the fourth-fewest points and second-fewest yards in the league, easily the best showings in franchise history. But Ryans finished with just 64 tackles, 48 fewer than any other year he played a full regular season.

A torn Achilles' cost him the final 10 games of the 2010 season. Prior to that, he averaged 130 tackles over his first four seasons.

Texans GM Rick Smith issued the following statement: "DeMeco Ryans contributed significantly toward helping us build the foundation we hope will bring a world championship to the city of Houston. His professionalism and leadership cannot be over-exaggerated. This move was mutually beneficial for the Texans immediate and long-term goals, DeMeco's career, and the Philadelphia Eagles. We appreciate all the hard work and effort DeMeco invested in our organization and wish him only the best moving forward. He is a class act."

Ryans (6-1, 247 pounds) should fit snugly into the Eagles' 4-3 base scheme featuring its Wide 9 pass rush. Philadelphia hasn't had a reliable middle linebacker since Jeremiah Trotter was in his prime and often struggled against the run in 2011, especially given the gaping lanes the Wide 9 often created.