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The Philadelphia Eagles have, according to my tally, 42 players playing in the last year of their contract. Obviously, some of these players are more important than others. Here, we’re going to put those 42 future free agents into various compartments and analyze which of them the Eagles should be interested in keeping in Philadelphia, long term.
Long-term potential coins at premium positions
The Eagles have three young players in top positions, which would make sense for long-term contract extensions.
- LT Jordan Mailata (24)
- BY Josh Sweat (24)
- BY Derek Barnett (25)
In LT, the Eagles tried to find Jason Peters’ long-term successor in the 2019 draft when they traded to Andre Dillard. While Dillard has failed so far, Mailata, a seventh-round pick in 2018, has become a starting-caliber left tackle who still hasn’t hit his cap. Mailata has had a great training camp after an encouraging 2020 season. If Mailata continues to improve in the 2021 season, the Eagles should instead consider seeing him as Peters’ long-term successor.
At DE, Brandon Graham is now 33 and Ryan Kerrigan will be 33 next week. Barnett had a somewhat disappointing start to his career, at least for a former 14th pick overall. If he can stay healthy and have a productive season, the Eagles will try to get a contract extension with him, as they did in the past offseason, to no avail.
Sweat, meanwhile, like Mailata, has had an exceptional training camp, and after a half-breakthrough season in 2020 in which he had six sacks and three forced fumbles, he could be set for a big year in 2021.
Long-term potential parts at non-premium positions
Players in the above category will receive premium dollars if they were to strike a deal mid-season, as they play in premium positions. The Eagles should also be interested in expanding non-premium positional players, but only at reasonable costs and suitable for the squad.
- TE Dallas Goedert (26)
Goedert is a well-rounded tight end, but he’s yet to have a great season as a receiver, at least statistically. He admitted that the team had engaged with him in the talks about extending the contract.
If the Eagles could strike a deal with Goedert sooner rather than later, based on his production over the past three years, it could be smart play, as he has the potential to be much more productive.
Recent acquisitions for their next contract
All three of these players hit the open market in the last offseason and have likely been disappointed with the interest they’ve generated in the league. They signed one-year “prove it” contracts with the Eagles.
- LB Eric Wilson (26)
- Anthony Harris (29)
- CB Steve Nelson (28)
In 2017, Alshon Jeffery signed a one-year ‘prove it’ contract at a discount rate, got off to a good start to the season and received an in-season contract extension. I think that could be on the table for any of Wilson, Harris and Nelson if they turn out to be valuable players.
Helpful actors who may be worth extending for another year
That bucket is made up of players who never risk breaking the bank in free agency, but the team love them and theoretically would like to have them a little longer.
- CB Craig James (25)
James is a good special teams player who was playing the final year of his contract last year, when he signed a small one-year contract extension in September that included guaranteed money. It could happen again this year, assuming he makes the team (which is no guarantee).
Year after year
In this compartment, you have a group of players who are very unlikely to justify a contract extension during the season, and their status within the team will be reassessed at the end of the season.
- CB Avonte Maddox (25)
- Rodney McLeod (31)
- LB Genard Avery (26)
- DT Hassan Ridgeway (26)
- TE Richard Rodgers (29)
- OL Le’Raven Clark (28)
I had a hard time figuring out where to put Maddox, but I went with this group.
One-year plasters
The Eagles felt like they needed these guys to fill their roster, but at their age they’re not meant for a long term stay.
- QB Joe Flacco (36)
- BY Ryan Kerrigan (32)
I would say Kerrigan’s chances for a second year in Philly are better than Flacco’s.
I’m just trying to stay in the league
List bubble players:
- QB Nick Mullens (26)
- RB Jordan Howard (26)
- RB Kerryon Johnson (24)
- CB Kevon Seymour (27)
- Andrew Adams (28)
- DT TY McGill (28)
Of this group, I like Johnson’s chances the most in terms of making the team.
Restricted free agents worthy of tender, based on 2021 production
RFA are players with only three accumulated seasons with expiring contracts. If the team offers them, they will get a modest raise for a season, before becoming unrestricted free agents.
- LB Alex Singleton (27)
- LB TJ Edwards (24)
- OL Nate Herbig (23)
- WR Travis Fulgham (25)
- WR Greg Ward (26)
- RB Boston Scott (26)
The above six players should justify at least one bidding discussion at the end of the season, but they are not candidates for long-term contract extensions.
Restricted free agents, unlikely to be tendered
Specifically, these guys are unlikely to be part of the squad.
- S Obi Melifonwu (27)
- OL Ross Pierschbaher (26)
Exclusive rights-free agents
ERFAs are players with only two cumulative seasons with expiring contracts. The team can choose to keep them for an additional year at the end of the season, and continue to pay them peanuts.
- OG Sua Opeta (24)
- CB Michael Jacquet (24)
- Luc Juriga (24)
- Elijah Riley (23)
- OT Brett Toth (24)
- DT Raequan Williams (24)
- S Grayland Arnold (23)
- OT Casey Tucker (25)
- TE Caleb Wilson (25)
- WR Michael Walker (24)
- WR André Patton (27)
These guys aren’t even eligible for a long term contract extension.
Bait trade
We continue to wait.
- TE Zach Ertz (30)
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