When Howie Roseman regained control over the Philadelphia Eagles’ football operations following the 2015 season, he had two goals. The first was to find a franchise quarterback. The second was to make sure the Eagles kept their homegrown nucleus. That offseason, he signed seven players to extensions. Four of them — Lane Johnson, Zach Ertz, Vinny Curry and Fletcher Cox — were still under their rookie contracts at the time. As a result, Roseman established a reputation of “taking care of his own.”
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But the Eagles have only extended two homegrown players since — Carson Wentz and Isaac Seumalo — which is probably more of a reflection of below-average drafting than a change in philosophy. This year, there are five players on the roster entering the final seasons of their respective rookie deals who could be considered worthy of extensions before the season starts. In his decade as general manager, Roseman has only signed seven homegrown players to extensions before the final year of their rookie deals.
• DeSean Jackson (2008 draftee): Franchised after the final year of his rookie deal then re-signed to an extension shortly after
• King Dunlap (2008 draftee): Re-signed in free agency
• LeSean McCoy (2009 draftee): Extended in May before the final season of his rookie deal
• Jeremy Maclin (2009 draftee): Re-signed in free agency
• Nate Allen (2010 draftee): Re-signed in free agency
• Riley Cooper (2010 draftee): Re-signed before he was set to hit free agency
• Kurt Coleman (2010 draftee): Let go in free agency
• Brandon Graham (2010 draftee): Re-signed in free agency
• Jason Kelce (2011 draftee): Extended in February before the final season of his rookie deal
• Vinny Curry (2012 draftee): Re-signed before he was set to hit free agency
• Fletcher Cox (2012 draftee): Extended in June before the final season of his rookie deal
• Zach Ertz (2013 draftee): Extended in January before the final season of his rookie deal
• Bennie Logan (2013 draftee): Let go in free agency
• Lane Johnson (2013 draftee): Extended in January two years before his rookie deal was set to expire
• Jordan Matthews (2014 draftee): Traded before the final season of his rookie deal
• Beau Allen (2014 draftee): Let go in free agency
• Jordan Hicks (2015 draftee): Let go in free agency
• Nelson Agholor (2015 draftee): Picked up fifth-year option then let go in free agency
• Isaac Seumalo (2016 draftee): Extended in March before the final season of his rookie deal
• Halapoulivaati Vaitai (2016 draftee): Let go in free agency
• Carson Wentz (2016 draftee): Extended in June two years before his rookie deal was set to expire
As for the five players in question, let’s take a closer look at the dynamics at play, with Zach weighing in on what he would do.
Dallas Goedert
Why the Eagles would sign him now: Easy. Zach Ertz’s days with the Eagles are numbered and Goedert, an ascending 26-year-old who is adept as a receiver and blocker, seems primed to take over as the No. 1 tight end.
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Why it would make sense to wait: There’s still some guesswork in counting on Goedert to excel in a role he’s never played full time. He has also missed six games because of injuries over the past two seasons.
Why he would sign now: Goedert spoke Wednesday and acknowledged his agent and the Eagles have had discussions about a potential extension. Asked whether he’d prefer to get a deal before the season or hit free agency next offseason, he sounded like someone eager to take the sure thing.
“That’s always a tough situation,” he said. “For me, if I can get the contract extension, I would love to be in Philly forever. Having that second contract is the ultimate goal, so the sooner you can get to it, I feel like it’s the better (option).”
Then again, he also said, “Everybody out here wants to get as much money as they can.”
Complicating factors: In addition to the awkward dynamic of the Eagles refusing to pay Ertz and then paying Goedert, the complication here is the deflated tight end market league-wide. According to Over The Cap, the projected franchise-tag value for tight ends next offseason is just $11.3 million, the lowest of any non-specialist position group. The market has picked up a bit of late following George Kittle’s extension and the two free-agent deals signed by the Patriots this offseason (Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry, both for $12.5 million per year). If you’re Goedert’s agent, why would you take a deal now for less money than what Smith and Henry got when your client is set to be the primary tight end for the first time in his career? And if you’re the Eagles, why would you lock Goedert in at a price higher than the franchise tag when you could just franchise him in the offseason?
Further complicating matters is the glut of “young” tight ends set to hit free agency alongside Goedert, including Mark Andrews, Evan Engram, O.J. Howard, Hayden Hurst and Mike Gesicki.
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Comparable situation: The closest recent example is probably Henry, who played alongside Antonio Gates at the start of his career then was beset by injuries. He was still considered a high-upside player, but one with question marks. The Chargers gave him the franchise tag for one season then let him walk in free agency. But Goedert is more proven and well-rounded.
Zach Berman, if you were Howie Roseman, would you push to make this happen? This would be my priority. Goedert fits the sweet spot of age, production, future projection and position need. Similar to Ertz in 2016, there’s reason to be optimistic he’ll be more productive during his second contract than his rookie deal. The Eagles wouldn’t move on from Ertz if they weren’t ready to commit to Goedert. They have done so much in recent years to find ways to fit Goedert in the offense — it was a driving factor in the 12-personnel push — that it would only make sense to double down on Goedert’s upside. And it’s not as if the Eagles have a pipeline at the position that makes Goedert expendable. Considering the tight ends due for new contracts, my guess is this market won’t stagnate anytime soon.
Of course, this logic was the impetus for signing Carson Wentz to a contract extension when the Eagles did. I would argue the problem with Wentz wasn’t the contract as much as the human dynamics of the situation.
So the Eagles should be aggressive early and strike a deal with Goedert. They might not get a discount, but I’d be confident that they’ll get what they pay for with Goedert.
Jordan Mailata
Why the Eagles would sign him now: To lock in a good deal. Mailata was probably the single brightest spot of an otherwise dour 2020 Eagles season as he emerged as a starting-caliber left tackle as a then-23-year-old who had never played in a non-preseason football game in his life. If the team believes Mailata has the upside to be a top-10 left tackle, it would make sense to pay him now before the price skyrockets.
Why it would make sense to wait: If competition is the modus operandi under Nick Sirianni, signing Mailata to an extension now would be seen as a preemptive declaration of victory in his battle for the starting job against former first-round pick Andre Dillard. It would also theoretically bump Dillard’s trade value a few notches lower. Mailata’s history of back trouble is also a worthwhile concern from the outside looking in, though the Eagles will have a better handle on that situation.
Why he would sign now: Imagine telling yourself or Mailata a year ago that he would be on the verge of a long-term deal worth something like $15 million per year. Given Mailata’s roots, his long-shot journey here and the back injury, he could certainly see value in the security of signing a long-term deal now.
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Unlike Goedert, Mailata downplayed any potential extension talks with the Eagles when speaking to reporters via Zoom on Thursday.
“I don’t worry about those things as of right now,” he said. “It’s not really what I’m focused on. I’ve still got to win a spot, you know? So, I’m not really focused on any contract negotiations. I’m still trying to get down my left tackle spot.”
Complicating factor: The looming competition with Dillard could create a situation where the two sides agree to general terms dependent on Mailata winning the job in training camp and then signing an extension closer to the start of the season. But the real complicating factor is just how unprecedented Mailata’s path has been. There’s no history of someone so young with such little experience becoming a starting-caliber left tackle and hitting the market. Alejandro Villanueva comes to mind, but he was 27 by the time the Steelers moved him to left tackle and they controlled his rights for several seasons before signing him to a new deal. The closest example might be when Jason Peters moved from tight end to tackle as a 22-year-old with the Bills all the way back in 2004.
Committing to Mailata now would require a real leap of faith by the Eagles. Waiting could also cost them a lot of money.
Comparable situation: Again, it’s hard to find anything close, but Garrett Bolles’ case is instructive. A first-round pick in 2017, Bolles was considered one of the worst starting left tackles in the league early in his career. He was bad enough through his first three seasons that the Broncos declined his fifth-year option. Then, in 2020, Bolles improved enough to be thought of as an above-average tackle. In December, he signed an extension worth an average of $17 million per year with $21 million guaranteed. That was the price before market for a player with one good season who will be 29 in the first year of his new deal. It’s hard to imagine Mailata primed to hit the market as a 25-year-old with a solid 2021 behind him going for less.
Zach Berman, if you were Howie Roseman, would you push to make this happen? The question I’m asking my front office and coaches is this: Would you rather gamble on Mailata or Dillard? If the answer is Mailata, race to sign him now. If you wait and see, you might have waited too long. Should Mailata continue on this trajectory, it would be difficult to overstate what a 24-year-old starting left tackle (25 for the 2022 season) would command on the free-agent market in March. Those players don’t become available for a reason. Look at the Orlando Brown Jr. trade — and the contract he’s likely to command.
Similar to Goedert, I wouldn’t be concerned about overpaying. The question here isn’t valuation; it’s evaluation. A contract extension would indicate you think he’s the left tackle of the present and future, and he should be compensated accordingly. If you evaluate correctly, that price is only rising. If the Eagles believe Dillard should be the left tackle, then Mailata is a swing tackle this year and is likely signing for starter’s money elsewhere next season, barring injury. Of those two, I’ve seen more to be intrigued by Mailata to invest in him.
Derek Barnett and Josh Sweat
Why the Eagles would sign one now: For the Eagles, it’s impossible to separate Barnett and Sweat from each other from a decision-making standpoint. Given the cost of young pass rushers, it’s hard to envision the Eagles being able to keep both, especially with Brandon Graham likely coming back in 2022. There’s a case to be made for choosing either over the other. Barnett’s production has seemed underwhelming to some given the first-round pedigree, but 19.5 sacks in his first four seasons put him in fine company among pass rushers over the last decade.
Player | Sacks | Draft Rd. | Result | APY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
24.5 | 2nd | Left in FA | $13 million | |
23.5 | 2nd | Franchised/re-signed | $21 million | |
23 | 2nd | Left in FA | $5.5 million | |
22 | 1st | Left in FA | $9.3 million | |
21.5 | UDFA | Extended | $10.4 million | |
21.5 | 1st | Extended | $12 million | |
21 | 4th | Left in FA | $18 million | |
20.5 | 3rd | Re-signed | $3.8 million | |
20 | 1st | Franchised/traded | $15 million | |
20 | 1st | Franchised/left in FA | $16.5 million | |
20 | 3rd | Left in FA | $15 million | |
20 | 4th | Left in FA | $15 million | |
19.5 | 1st | ? | ? | |
19 | 2nd | Left in FA | $3.8 million | |
19 | 2nd | Left in FA | $7.5 million | |
18.5 | 1st | Left in FA | $10 million | |
18.5 | 4th | Left in FA | $16.5 million | |
18 | 2nd | Left in FA | $7.5 million | |
17.5 | 1st | Franchised/traded | $17 million | |
16.5 | 1st | Franchised/re-signed | $16 million | |
16.5 | 1st | Left in FA | $10 million |
Sweat, meanwhile, might have higher upside and would probably come more cheaply, if signed now, than Barnett.
Why it would make sense to wait: If you accept that you’ll only be able to bring one of the two back, why decide now before getting to see who produces better this season in a new defensive scheme?
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Why either would sign now: For Sweat, the injury history could make him more willing to take the security of a long-term deal after playing on a fourth-round contract for three seasons. For Barnett, it’s hard to believe his agent would be willing to give any discounts with free agency in sight.
Complicating factor: Barnett and Sweat will play this season at 25 and 24, respectively, and it’s hard to believe a team so bereft of young talent will have to part with at least one young, productive player at a premium position. That the two players are likely to rotate with each other at right defensive end exacerbates what is likely to be an odd dynamic all year long as they both try to excel in a contract year.
Comparable situation: For Barnett, Bud Dupree is worth considering. Dupree had 20 sacks through his first four seasons and was thought of as something of a disappointment by Steelers fans before he broke out with 11.5 sacks in his fifth season. That earned him the franchise tag entering the 2020 season. The 2022 franchise tag for defensive ends is projected to be $20.2 million, according to Over The Cap, which would be a spicy pill to swallow for the Eagles.
For Sweat, Romeo Okwara is a telling baseline. Okwara initially broke out with the Lions in 2018 with 7.5 sacks, then had a down year in 2019. In 2020, set to become a free agent, he recorded a career-high 10.5 sacks and ended up re-signing with the Lions on a three-year deal for $12.3 million per year with $20 million guaranteed.
Zach Berman, if you were Howie Roseman, would you push to make one of these happen? The tricky dynamic here is Sweat’s long-term health. Sweat’s combination of age, production, body type and skills are hard to find and could allow him to blossom into a top-of-the-roster player. The question is whether the Eagles believe his health will hold up with more snaps and more years. This is a medical projection — not a football evaluation. In a vacuum, Sweat is at least worth the type of contract that Okwara signed in Detroit.
If there’s skepticism that Sweat can withstand a significant uptick in snaps per game or that the clock is ticking on his health, then the Eagles should prioritize Barnett and/or let this year play out. Barnett has a higher floor and he’s still young enough — and so technically sound — to believe that his best football is ahead of him. It’s reasonable to close your eyes and see years 6-10 for Barnett as comparable to those of Brandon Graham’s.
Of the two, I’d feel safer extending Barnett. There’s more of a chance of getting burned in letting Sweat walk. I’d probably let this year play out unless I had a strong enough conviction in Sweat’s health or Barnett’s upside to guarantee what will be required to re-sign either one. They’d pay a higher price in March, but they would make a more informed investment.
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Avonte Maddox
Why the Eagles would sign him now: Avonte tough, now. Kid loves ball, now.
Maddox may have disappointed as a starting outside corner in 2020, but look around the secondary. The projected starters include Darius Slay (30), Rodney McLeod (31 in the final guaranteed year of his deal) and Anthony Harris (30 in October and on a one-year deal). Even if we don’t know what Maddox’s best position is, it could make sense for the Eagles to sign him long-term as the only young player in the secondary they know can start somewhere.
Why it would make sense to wait: It’s not like Maddox will command a significant salary on the open market and there’s a possibility someone like fourth-round pick Zech McPhearson outpaces him as a young stalwart in the secondary. Unless the price of an extension is exceedingly team-friendly, there’s little harm in waiting.
Why he would sign now: How else will he afford to buy the house next to Goedert after his roommate signs an extension?
Complicating factor: There’s a big-picture dynamic with the Eagles that applies to everyone in consideration for an extension. Everything they’ve done this offseason has been to set the table for having maximum flexibility next offseason, from both a salary-cap and draft-pick standpoint. It’s not necessarily as if a Maddox extension would preclude them from being able to fit “veteran quarterback X” onto the roster if that’s the route they go, but there’s also little impetus to commit to Maddox now without knowing the clearer picture of what both he and the team look like come March.
Comparable situation: Jalen Mills started 34 games at corner for the Eagles during his first four seasons as a seventh-round pick. Like Maddox, he was considered a passable, unspectacular starter with versatility. The Eagles opted to let him become a free agent and then re-signed him to a one-year deal to play safety.
Zach Berman, if you were Howie Roseman, would you push to make this happen? The Eagles giving Maddox a contract extension at this point would take a page from the early-2000s Eagles playbook and trust that they know their personnel and the upside of the player. That’s because Maddox’s performance hasn’t yet merited a long-term contract. Maddox is a fine player who can become a solid starter for the team, but I’d wait and see how he plays this season. If he deserves a big deal next offseason, they can pay Maddox — or a comparable player — accordingly. I’m assuming next April will be a big defensive back draft for the Eagles. So I’m only pushing for a contract extension if it’s a decidedly team-friendly one.
(Top photo of Dallas Goedert: Matt Slocum / AP / Pool)