The Eagles and Jeremy Maclin have reached an agreement on a one-year, $5.5MM contract, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). It’s the latest in a series of new deals for Eagles players, on the heels of multiyear contracts for offensive linemen Jason Peters and Jason Kelce and wide reciever Riley Cooper. 
The team has confirmed the agreement, which could be worth up to $6MM, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports 1 (Twitter link). $3.5MM of that figure is guaranteed, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
“Jeremy is an ideal player for our scheme with his combination of size, speed, strength and route-running ability, in addition to his dynamic playmaking talent,” Eagles GM Howie Roseman said in a statement. “We’re happy to see him rehabbing well and to get him under contract for the 2014 season.”
When the Eagles re-signed Cooper, a report suggested that a new deal for Maclin was expected as well. However, we heard yesterday that Maclin was seeking a one-year, make-good contract, while the team preferred a multiyear pact. By the looks of it, the Eagles relented, which will allow the former first-round pick to hit the open market a year from now, if he so chooses.
Maclin, 25, grabbed between 56 and 70 balls for the Eagles in each of his first four seasons, with 26 total touchdowns. However, he suffered a torn ACL in training camp in 2013, sidelining him for the season and derailing his chances of putting up big numbers in a contract year. By inking a one-year deal, Maclin, who should be healthy for the 2014 season, will get a chance to be a part of Chip Kelly‘s explosive offense — a return to his usual form could result in more lucrative multiyear offers for Maclin next winter.
The Eagles’ agreement with Maclin takes another top-tier receiver off the 2014 market. The Jets and Broncos were among the teams prepared to make a run at the Missouri alum, according to Schefter (Twitter link). Now, those clubs will have to look elsewhere in a free agent class that could feature Eric Decker, Julian Edelman, Hakeem Nicks, Golden Tate, and Emmanuel Sanders, among others.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Gonna be the best deal of the entire offseason.