Like a lot of junior high-aged boys, when Kris Wilson started getting into football, his interest gravitated to the pro football team nearest his home.

Since he grew up in Lancaster, he naturally started watching the Philadelphia Eagles.

"Watching Randall Cunningham, watching Fred Barnett, watching Keith Byars. Those were guys I looked up to; those were guys that I aspired to play on a level with," Wilson said at a press conference Wednesday in Philadelphia.

Now, Wilson gets to wear the uniform of his favorite team.

The former McCaskey High School and University of Pittsburgh tight end signed a three-year contract with the Eagles Wednesday. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Wilson, a free agent after playing four seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs, visited the Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before coming to terms with the Eagles.

Why Philadelphia?

"Number one is the winning tradition," he said. "I definitely wanted to go somewhere where we're going to win games. Everybody knows that in this business, winning is everything. Also, being in a good offense, a balanced attack that can kill you with the run and kill you with the pass."

Wilson's signing seems a bit curious in that the Eagles have three other tight ends under contract. L.J. Smith was recently fitted with the Eagles' franchise tag. Then there's also seven-year pro Matt Schobel and Brent Celek, a fifth-round draft choice last year.

Wilson (6-foot-2, 250 pounds) showed his versatility by playing several different offensive positions and contributing on special teams for the Chiefs. But he said the Eagles signed him to play tight end.

"I expect to compete (for a spot), he said. "In competing, that's the goal. Just for a spot in the room and to be in there and contribute and help Philly win a championship."

In four seasons with the Chiefs, Wilson, 26, caught 42 passes for 345 yards and four touchdowns. Besides playing tight end, he lined up as an H-back and fullback. Last season he had a career-high 24 receptions for 180 yards and one TD.

"My strengths are stretching the field, catching the ball, beating defenders one-on-one, mixing it up and blocking guys, a lot of the all-around things that tight ends do," he said. "I think, at the tight end position, you have to be a jack of all trades. I think that I can mix it up and do a number of things on the field."

Wilson's playing time at tight end in Kansas City was curtailed because he had to play behind Tony Gonzalez, one of the top tight ends in the game.

"Some difficulty arises when you're playing behind someone of the caliber of Tony Gonzalez," he said. "Out in Kansas City, they were looking for ways to get me on the field. The opportunity arose at fullback, so we took advantage of it."

Playing in Gonzalez's shadow had its benefits, however.

"Professionalism, most of all," Wilson said. "Knowing how to come to work and kind of leaving everything else behind. Do your job. Like (Chiefs head coach) Herm Edwards says, 'Know your role and do your job.' Tony knows how to get it done."

Wilson is the fifth free agent to sign with the Eagles this offseason, joining CB Asante Samuel, DE Chris Clemons, FB Dan Klecko and LB Rocky Boiman.

Wilson was honored recently for his community work at the 10th Annual Spring Celebration for the Second Mile. He started The Kris Wilson Foundation last month, a nonprofit organization aimed at improving the literacy rates of Lancaster youths aged 12-24.

E-mail: kfreeman@lnpnews.com