Even though the Eagles have just started their OTA program, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t still looking to save cap space…at least if a report from Jason Fitzgerald of overthecap is to be believed.
The #Eagles created about $2.4 million in cap room by converting $3.225M of Rodney McLeod's salary to a bonus https://t.co/eKGS9DfqMf
— Jason_OTC (@Jason_OTC) May 27, 2017
The report suggests that the team have converted $3.255M of McLeod’s base salary for this year to a guaranteed bonus. In doing so, the Eagles have freed up just under $2.5M in cap space. The move doesn’t necessarily mean that McLeod will take a pay cut, it’s just a means of moving the money around in order to open more immediate breathing room.
With 83 tackles, 3 interceptions and a forced fumble, McLeod was simply outstanding in 2016. Hard hits, true leadership and consistency that hasn’t been seen in years from an Eagles safety, were all staples in McLeod’s style of play last year. Without Jenkins, McLeod was at times left to carry the rear of the secondary on his own..and he very rarely faltered.
The former Rams Safety who signed a five-year contract with the team last year isn’t the only player to see some of his salary move around. Ron Brooks, Brent Celek, and Zach Ertz have all either accepted pay cuts, or had some of their salary moved into a different avenue of the contract.
The Eagles currently have around $5M of cap space, but are notably still yet to sign first-round pick Derek Barnett to his rookie contract…which may explain the decision.
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
