Happy Friday! If you’re just finishing work ready for the weekend, you may have missed some of the Eagles news and rumors to do the rounds today. But fear not, here’s a handy breakdown of all you need to know.
Jason Kelce secures the bag
The Eagles announced yesterday that Jason Kelce would be returning for one more rodeo, much to the delight of the fanbase. It appears that on top of that, the Cincinnati product has earned himself a nice little payday.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported today that Kelce’s new one-year deal is worth $14M, making him the highest-paid center in the NFL, as he absolutely deserves to be,
Kelce’s relentless motor continues to fire at such a veteran age and it’s astounding. His production just does not fall off and he somehow looks more athletic every year. He was named first-team All-Pro for the fourth time since his NFL debut, after allowing only one sack in 17 games and being the lone constant in an offensive line of revolving doors.
As far as cap space goes, this is obviously going to impact the Eagles pretty significantly, but it’s not like Howie hasn’t done this before. If you remember back in 2018, several players were happy to restructure their contracts in order to reward some of the veterans who made the Super Bowl run possible. Jason Kelce is a Philadelphia legend and I think most players would happily do that for such an influential leader.
Fletcher Cox on the block
Cox had his name dangled on the trade block at the NFL trade deadline last year and it’s easy to see why. A hefty cap hit, declining production, and time working against him, all point towards Cox being given a gracious exit in Philadelphia. Howie Roseman reportedly informed Cox of the movements and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the two working together here.
The move would make sense for the Eagles, but it’s conditional. The issue facing interested teams is purely a financial one. If the Eagles trade Cox before June 1st, it will cost the team $40M in dead cap space. Ouch. The Eagles would have to trade Cox after June 1st, or do so with a post 6/1 designation.
For now, the rumors are simply teams doing some window shopping. Don’t expect a move to happen for quite some time, at least without a contract restructure or something first.
Eagles continue to show interest in veteran players
One of the most successful edge rushers in football is on the market, and Philadelphia is ready to take a flier on him, according to Jason Schultz.
Chandler Jones has amassed over 100 career sacks in his 10-year-career. Now 32 and coming off of an explosive season in Arizona, he should still command a pretty large payday. But it would be hard to at least not look into acquiring such a gamechanging talent who can hurt you off the edge with his hand in the dirt, or as a stand-up edge rusher.
A cryptic tweet
As uncertainty swirls around the veterans, it looks as though one Eagles leader could be facing an early exit. Rodney McLeod tweeted something pretty cryptic today, which could be interpreted as the team not yet taking any action to retain his services.
McLeod’s 2021 season was a much stronger one than what we’ve unfortunately become used to, but it doesn’t change the fact that he’s torn two ACL’s in three years and has debatably lost a step in coverage. However, he’s a very vocal leader and someone that’s become a key cog in the Philadelphia Secondary.
If it comes down to choosing between Harris (also a free agent) and McLeod, one makes sense if he’s going to be your starting FS, the other would make sense in a reduced, rotational role where draft assets can be spent on a long-term starter. It’s down to Howie to choose which path.
Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire
