WHAT'S NEXT: Philadelphia Eagles

Michael Ginnitti
Michael Ginnitti, Managing Editor & NFL/MLB ExpertFebruary 12, 2023
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The Eagles enter the offseason with a huge to-do list in front of them, starting of course with what is expected to be an historic contract extension for QB Jalen Hurts. Then comes the business of understanding how some of the long-time fixtures plan to handle their futures, most notably Jason Kelce, Fletcher Cox, & Brandon Graham. Toss in a few sure to be expensive pending free agents (Garnder-Johnson, Edwards, Sanders), and it won’t be boring to follow Philadelphia, who project to about $5M of Top 51 cap space currently, this March. Oh and by the way, they hold the #10 pick in the draft thanks to New Orleans.


RELATED:
2023 Eagles Salary Cap
2023 Eagles Free Agents

Extension Candidates

Notable Free Agents

The Quarterback Room

Jalen Hurts enters a contract year in 2023, set to earn $4.4M thanks to a proven performance bonus. The Eagles are going to sweeten that pot immensely, likely to the tune of $50M per year, $200M guaranteed. A 6 year, $300M extension is probably about right here.

Behind him, Gardner Minshew is headed to free agency, while 4th rounder Ian Book holds a 2 year, $1.9M deal - non-guaranteed. Do the Eagles value Minshew enough to bring him back at a healthy price? He’ll have some offers to compete for snaps elsewhere.

The Running Back Room

Miles Sanders is slated for unrestricted free agency, completing a 4 year, $5.3M rookie deal. He’ll hit the market just shy of 26 years old, and could demand around $7.25M per year based on recent production.

27-year-old Boston Scott is also set to hit the open market this March, after his usage dipped quite a bit in 2022. There’s probably not much more than a minimum contract in his future.

Youngsters Kenneth Gainwell (2 years, $1.9M), & Trey Sermon (2 years, $2.4M) could conceivably take over this position going forward.

The Wide Receiver Room

A.J. Brown enters Year 2 of a 5 year, $fa104M deal, set to earn $12M against an $8.3M cap hit. He’ll be fully guaranteed through 2024 as of March 17th and appears to be worth every penny thus far.

DeVonta Smith enters Year 3 of his rookie deal that carries 2 years, $5.9M (guaranteed) plus an option for 2025. He hit career highs across the board this season, and is locked into the WR1A role alongside Brown. Smith becomes extension-eligible for the first time after 2023.

Quez Watkins enters a contract year in 2023, set to earn $2.7M thanks to a proven performance escalator. Despite finding the end zone a career-high 3 times, he was utilized much less this year with the addition of Brown. There’s a path to him scoring a Zay Jones-type deal on the open market with an increased role elsewhere. $22M over 3 years might get it done.

The Tight End Room

Dallas Goedert enters Year 3 of a 5 year, $58M deal, set to earn $14.25M against a $6.6M cap. He’s fully guaranteed through 2023 currently, and $6M of 2024 compensation locks in this March.

Behind him, UDFA Jack Stoll enters a contract year on a near minimum $947,500 cap, and is eligible for restricted free agency after 2023.

The Offensive Line

Here’s where things start to get dicey. Left tackle Jordan Mailata enters Year 3 of a 5 year, $64M deal, set to earn $15M against a $7.6M cap hit. He’s fully guaranteed through this year, but his deal contains fairly easy outs thereafter.

2021 2nd rounder Landon Dickerson was a fixture at left guard this season, matching his rookie campaign from a production standpoint. His contract carries a non-guaranteed $3.28M over the next two seasons, which should represent decent value for Philly.

35-year-old center Jason Kelce has a placeholder salary in place for 2023 in the event that he retires. The kicker? A $2.75M roster bonus is already fully guaranteed, at least minimally incentivizing him to restructure and re-sign with Philly. If he hangs them up, a Post 6/1 retirement means $6.925M of dead cap for Philly in 2023, with another $11.4M for 2024. Behind him, 2022 2nd round center Cam Jurgens is primed and ready to try to fill Kelce’s shoes - if and when.

Right Guard Isaac Seumalo is slated for free agency, with $7.53M of dead cap set to hit the Eagles’ cap due to void years. He posted maybe his most consistent season of a 7 year career, and should be a strong candidate to return if the price is right. According to our system that price hovers around $12M per year.

Lane Johnson cap hit jumps from $11M this past season to $24.1M next year. His contract has already been restructured 3 times, and another full base conversion would reduce the hit by $10.4M. He remains the best right tackle in all of football when healthy. Restructure, rinse and repeat.

The Defensive Line

32-year-old Fletcher Cox holds a ($1.5M) placeholder salary in 2023, with $10M of dead cap pushed up against it. With questions surrounding his future, the Eagles left themselves a way to control this voiding dead cap should Cox decide to retire after the Super Bowl. Philly can wait to process such a move until June 2nd, splitting up the dead cap into $2.5M for 2023, $7.5M in 2024. Despite continual timely production, Cox’s overall stat lines have dipped in the past two seasons, keeping him right at his current $14M price point heading toward March.

30-year-old Javon Hargrave posted a career high 11 sacks and 37 solo tackles this past season, as he heads to the open market. He’s completing a 3 year, $39M contract in Philly, with a $20M+ valuation now attached to his name. It’s very reasonable to consider that Hargrave priced away from the Eagles this March.

DE Brandon Graham just completed his 4 year, $45M deal in Philly and is also slated for free agency this March. The almost 35-year-old followed up an injury-plagued 2021 with a career-high 11 sack season in 2022, finishing the campaign as a Top 5 edge defender according to PFF. Graham played out 2022 on a restructured $7.5M salary. Will he agree to similar compensation if he chooses to continue his career? If he hangs up the cleats, Philly will carry his $9.6M cap hit until June 1st before processing his retirement, taking on dead cap hits of $8.1M in 2023, $10.1M in 2024.

DE Josh Sweat enters Year 3 of a 4 year, $41M deal, set to earn $12M against a $6M cap hit next season, including a guaranteed $10.67M option bonus. Sweat has 18.5 sacks & 93 tackles in the past two seasons, offering huge value at a $13.3M AAV.

DE Derek Barnett tore his ACL in early September, putting his future in Philly in question. He holds a very tenable $3.1M cap hit next season ($8.5M cash to be earned) due to an option bonus, and reduced per game active salary with the time missed this season.

2022 1st rounder Jordan Davis enters Year 2 of his fully guaranteed rookie deal, and should be asked to step in full-time for either Cox or Hargrave next season.

The Linebackers

EDGE Haason Reddick stole the show this season, posting 16 sacks, 49 tackles and a whopping 5 forced fumbles in his first full season with Philly. He enters Year 2 of a 3 year, $45M deal, set to earn $15.25M against a $6.7M cap hit next season. He’s fully guaranteed through 2023, and could be eyeing a sizable extension this time next year.

OLB Kyzir White made the most of his 1 year, $3M deal, playing on 82% of the team’s snaps this season. The pending free agent could find himself near the $8.5M per year mark in the right situation this offseason.

UDFA ILB T.J. Edwards just keeps getting better and better and better, culminating with a 159 tackle season in 2022. The 26-year-old projects to a 4 year, $48M contract in our system as he heads to the open market. Will the Eagles consider him too valuable to let walk, or will 2022 3rd rounder Nakobe Dean be thrust into a starting role next season?

The Secondary

32-year-old Darius Slay continues to thwart father time, proving yet again he’s been worth every penny of his 4 year, $60.5M contract. He’s set to earn $17.5M in his contract year, against a problematic $26.1M cap hit next season. Will the Eagles restructure and leave him on the expiring deal, or extend their CB1? If we take age out of the equation, Slay is a $21.5M cornerback in our system.

29-year-old James Bradberry signed a 1 year, $7.25M “showcase” contract after being released from the Giants last May. He’ll look to nearly double that on the open market this offseason, though if he finds himself in a CB2 role again, that price might trend more toward $12M per year. Avonte Maddox should be back in the fold on a friendly $4M cap hit next season, and will likely see his role increased.

Chauncey Gardner-Johnson was acquired from the Saints for a 5th & 6th round pick last August. He stole 6 passes out of the air in just 12 games played, amassing 67 tackles during that time frame. The 25-year-old is slated for free agency this March, but it seems likely that these two sides find a way to continue together. He projects to a 5 year, $66M contract in our system.

UDFA Reed Blankenship soared into a full-time role this season, and has continually shown he belongs there. The 23-year-old holds minimum salaries through 2024, with restricted free agency available thereafter.

The Special Teams

Kicker Jake Elliott enters Year 5 of a 6 year, $20M contract in Philly. He made 87% of his attempted field goals, 96% of his PATs, putting him in line to be back in the fold for 2023. Another base salary conversion can open up $2.2M of space for the Eagles.

Punter Arryn Siposs carries a minimum salary in 2023, with restricted free agency available thereafter, while long snapper Rick Lovato holds a non-guaranteed $1.2M cap & cash figure next in the final season of his contract.


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