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Eagles, DeVonta Smith Agree To Extension

April 15th, 2024 at 10:06pm CST by Adam La Rose

A recent report indicated the Eagles were nearing an agreement with DeVonta Smith, and the parties have indeed worked out an extension. The fourth-year receiver has a lucrative second contract in place.

Smith has landed a three-year, $75MM extension, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. He adds that the pact – which the team has since announced – includes $51MM guaranteed. Smith will now be under contract through 2028 as a result of this agreement, the first agreed to with a former first-rounder still under team control for two more years.

This deal includes $38.1MM guaranteed at signing, with Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio indicating the Eagles are giving Smith a $20.4MM signing bonus and guaranteeing his 2024 and ’25 base salaries ($1.1MM, $1.2MM). A 2025 option bonus worth $11.4MM represents the other chunk of the at-signing sum. The Eagles are also sweetening the pot via a year-out guarantee for 2026. Smith’s 2026 base ($13.3MM) becomes fully guaranteed in March 2025, per Florio, giving the slender wideout a practical guarantee of $51.4MM.

The 25-year-old’s fifth-year option (valued at $15.59MM) has been exercised, Rapoport notes. That comes as no surprise, but the fact that decision would have left the Eagles with plenty of time to negotiate meant the team did not face much urgency with respect to hammering out an agreement. In spite of that, optimism was high as of last week that a pact could be worked out in short order. That has proven to be the case, and a key member of Philadelphia’s offense is now on the books for the foreseeable future.

The Eagles, of course, have a number of lucrative deals already in place on offense. That group (which features the likes of quarterback Jalen Hurts, guard Landon Dickerson and left tackle Jordan Mailata) also includes wideout A.J. Brown. The latter has operated as Philadelphia’s No. 1 wideout since his arrival, which was accompanied by a four-year, $100MM deal. Smith’s extension carries an identical annual average value – and, when factoring in the fifth-year option, he is in line to receive just over $90MM from 2025-28.

While Smith has not matched Brown’s production to date, the former Heisman winner has been a key cog in the Eagles’ passing attack. He also profiles as one of the ascending receivers due to land massive extensions in the immediate future, and Philadelphia has gotten ahead of teams like the Vikings (Justin Jefferson), Cowboys (CeeDee Lamb), Bengals (Tee Higgins) and 49ers (Brandon Aiyuk) in working out the next big-money deal at the position. For now, Smith will move into a tie for fourth in the league in terms of AAV amongst receivers. Each of the other four pass-catchers are due new deals soon, though, and they could surpass that figure as the cap continues to rise.

Smith had a strong season as a rookie, recording 916 yards and five touchdowns. Brown’s arrival did not lead to a drop-off in production for the Alabama product; rather, Smith has taken a step forward with 95- and 81-catch campaigns over the past two years. He has posted over 1,000 yards in both cases, scoring seven touchdowns each time. After facing concerns about his frame entering the league, Smith has missed just one game to date.

The 2024 season will see Kellen Moore take over as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator. Philadelphia’s offense took a step back during the team’s late-season collapse, and a rebound in efficiency would help avoid a repeat of those struggles. Smith will be a central figure in that effort, and his ability to remain a productive complement to Brown will go a long way in determining the effectiveness of this lucrative commitment.

Latest On Eagles’ First-Round Options

April 14th, 2024 at 8:47pm CST by Ely Allen

The Eagles were able to avoid the hangover that has often haunted past Super Bowl runner ups, making the playoffs last year after an 11-6 regular season before falling in the Wild Card round to the Buccaneers. As a result, they hold the 22nd pick of the 2024 NFL Draft and will now be tasked with finding a player at that value to help them get back to the big game.

So, the question becomes: where on the roster could the Eagles use the most improvement? Cornerback has been a common position people have pointed to in Philadelphia, one of those people being Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports, and this year’s crop of draft prospects is well-suited to fill that need.

The team’s starters, Darius Slay (33) and James Bradberry (31), are aging and struggled in 2023, as did oft-injured veteran Avonte Maddox. Slay missed the final four games of the regular season and didn’t perform well in his playoff return. Bradberry rebounded horribly from his 2022 second-team All-Pro selection. After grading out as the league’s 27th best cornerback in 2022, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Bradberry ranked 100th of 127 graded corners in 2023.

Maddox had been released and re-signed after an injury-riddled 2022 season then only appeared in four games in 2023. The Eagles have young prospects in Kelee Ringo, Eli Ricks, and Josh Jobe who show promise, but none seem ready to take on a full-time role.

There are about four cornerbacks expected to go in the first round, and thanks to likely early runs at offensive positions, a number of them should still be around by the time Philadelphia selects. Top cornerback prospects like Alabama’s Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry, Clemson’s Nate Wiggins, Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell, and Iowa’s Cooper DeJean all stand a decent chance at becoming the Eagles’ first cornerback taken in the first round since Lito Sheppard in 2002.

ESPN’s Matt Miller offered up another possibility if Philadelphia opts not to draft a cornerback. Although not necessarily a position of need, Miler suggests that offensive tackle may be a target for the Eagles, pointing specifically to Oklahoma tackle Tyler Guyton, who has been training with Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson, a fellow Sooner. Philadelphia boasted an impressive bookend with Jordan Mailata and Johnson ranking as the league’s third- and 13th-best tackle in the league, per PFF. So why would they draft a tackle?

Miller points to the teams handling of Jason Kelce, whose eventual retirement seemed to loom every offseason. They attempted to stay ahead of the decision, drafting Nebraska center Cam Jurgens with the 2022 second-round pick. Miller see them potentially doing the same with Johnson, who turns 34 years old shortly after the draft. Guyton may be able to come in and essentially redshirt until a job opens up for him to take over.

NFL Draft Rumors: Bowers, Giants, McKinstry

April 13th, 2024 at 4:17pm CST by Ely Allen

Two Georgia Bulldogs expected to be first-round picks later this month were unable to perform in their school’s pro day last month. Tight end Brock Bowers and offensive tackle Amarius Mims both hosted a private workout that saw a few teams in attendance, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Neither player really performed usual pro day activities, forgoing the 40-yard dash or any jumping or agility testing. Mims didn’t even weigh in. In reality, the day saw the two go through a few position drills with Bowers running routes and Mims attempting some line drills.

Both players had tightrope surgeries during the college season to repair high-ankle sprains. They should be able to heal in time for their rookie seasons, but the recovery has kept them from participating in pre-draft activities. It doesn’t appear that the work outs did much to affect either player’s draft stock.

Tight ends coaches for the Giants, Jets, and Broncos were reportedly on hand to watch Bowers, according to Breer and Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.com. ESPN’s Matt Miller tells us that the Colts are reportedly very interested in Bowers, as well. One of his sources claims that Indianapolis would “run the card in” if Bowers is still available by the 15th pick of the draft.

Here are a few other rumors surrounding the 2024 NFL Draft:

  • One of the teams on hand to view Bowers, the Giants could be viewing the tight end as a backup plan. Many have pegged New York as a team that could potentially attempt to move up from their No. 6 overall pick to draft a quarterback in the top four picks. As we move closer to the decisive day, though, it’s looking less and less likely. According to Miller at ESPN, the Giants are expected to stay at sixth overall (a perfect place to find Bowers) and attempt to draft a passer with their No. 47 overall pick in the second round. At that point of the draft, they expect that options like Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and Oregon’s Bo Nix may still be available. The team still claims to be committed to starting quarterback Daniel Jones, but the veteran’s inability to stay on the field has led New York to explore options to replace him, according to Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports.
  • Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, born Ga’Quincy, has had a busy spring full of pre-draft visits. Since earlier reported visits with the Jaguars, Buccaneers, Lions, and Packers, we’ve seen reported visits with four more teams. Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com tells us that McKinstry visited the Titans on Tuesday, and Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report informs us of visits with the Eagles, Giants, and Falcons, as well. McKinstry and his teammate, Terrion Arnold, have been extremely popular with the several teams who view cornerback as a position of need in 2024. McKinstry’s recovery from surgery on a foot fracture continues to heal nicely as he stays on track to return in time for his rookie season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Eagles Sign TE C.J. Uzomah

April 11th, 2024 at 1:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

C.J. Uzomah will land in an intriguing spot. Released by the Jets earlier this offseason, Uzomah will move to a darker shade of green — save for throwback occasions. He is expected to sign with the Eagles, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report.

The veteran tight end visited the Eagles on Thursday and passed a physical. He is expected to sign a one-year deal to join the Eagles. After seven seasons in Cincinnati, Uzomah could not live up to his contract in New York. Then again, Jets pass catchers have not enjoyed too much to work with in recent years. This deal is now official.

[RELATED: Eagles Re-Sign TE Albert Okwuegbunam]

Now 31, Uzomah will not have a path to the starting tight end role in Philly. Dallas Goedert remains one of the NFL’s best all-around tight ends. While injury trouble has interrupted Goedert over the past two seasons, he is still tied to a through-2025 contract. The Eagles did not carry much TE depth behind their starter last season; Uzomah would stand to provide more help in a TE2 role. He is poised to replace Jack Stoll, who signed with the Giants last month.

The Bengals rostered Uzomah as a Tyler Eifert backup to start his career, with Tyler Kroft also on that depth chart at the time. Gradually working his way into playing time (due to frequent Eifert injuries), Uzomah posted two 400-plus-yard receiving seasons. He delivered his best slate in 2021, helping the Bengals to their first Super Bowl in 33 years. Uzomah caught 49 passes for 493 yards and five touchdowns.

That season certainly featured prime circumstances for the former fifth-round pick, with Joe Burrow throwing him passes and the Bengals rolling out a Ja’Marr Chase–Tee Higgins–Tyler Boyd trio for the first time. Uzomah tallied back-to-back 60-plus-yard playoff performances — against the Raiders and Titans — before suffering an MCL sprain in the AFC championship game. While Uzomah returned for Super Bowl LVI, he caught two passes for 11 yards.

With the Jets, the 6-foot-5 pass catcher’s numbers cratered. The Jets gave Uzomah a three-year, $24MM deal ($15MM fully guaranteed) in 2022 but did not see him flash much of his Bengals form. Uzomah totaled just 290 receiving yards as a Jet, losing time to fellow free agent pickup Tyler Conklin. As the Zach Wilson era wound down in New York, Uzomah finished the season on IR. He sustained damage to his MCL and meniscus and a plateau fracture of his tibia early into a Week 12 loss to the Falcons.

Uzomah, who also has an Achilles tear on his medical sheet (from 2020), provides value in the run game as well. In his 240-snap season, Uzomah graded fourth among tight ends in run blocking (per Pro Football Focus) last season. After helping Joe Mixon in Cincinnati as well, Uzomah — provided he completes his latest rehab effort — stands to see time helping Saquon Barkley find running room for an Eagles team that has deployed one of the NFL’s top rushing attacks for years.

Eagles, DeVonta Smith Discussing Extension

April 10th, 2024 at 10:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Extending A.J. Brown upon trading for him during the 2022 draft, the Eagles paired that contract with DeVonta Smith‘s rookie deal for two seasons. Philadelphia now appears prepared to have two highly paid receivers.

The Eagles have begun extension discussions with Smith, ESPN.com’s Tim McManus reports. This could be challenging, as the team has Jalen Hurts on a top-market QB deal as well. The team also recently re-upped Landon Dickerson on a guard-record pact and reached a third contract agreement with Jordan Mailata, pairing with Lane Johnson‘s deal — one that leads the right tackle market.

But Smith has become a key performer for an Eagles team that had struggled with homegrown receiver investments prior to the 2021 draft, helping lead to the Brown trade. While the Eagles have time with Smith — thanks to the fifth-year option — they have been proactive with other players on the extension front. Optimism exists a deal will be completed in the near future, McManus adds.

Philly’s cap sheet makes Smith extension talks fascinating. The team has been good at managing its payroll, with restructures and void years regularly coming into play to help Howie Roseman‘s club afford some of the high-priced talent brought in. But this many upper-crust deals on one offense would be an interesting NFL roster-building chapter.

Even with their bevy of high-end contracts on offense — Dallas Goedert‘s and Saquon Barkley‘s included — the Eagles sit fourth in the NFL in cap space, holding just more than $30MM. The team packed in seven void years on Hurts’ deal, keeping the cap hits at a manageable level in the near future. The QB is only attached to $13.5MM and $21.7MM cap numbers in 2024 and ’25. That stands to help the Eagles afford some of their recent extensions. But teams do not make a habit of rolling out two big-ticket receiver deals, and what the Eagles would be aiming to do would surpass where the Chargers and Buccaneers have gone recently. A Smith extension now would also break new ground due to the terms of his rookie contract.

Since the 2011 CBA introduced the fifth-year option, 10 offseasons have brought May deadlines attached to first-rounders’ contracts. In that span, no team has authorized an extension for a rookie-deal wide receiver with two seasons of club control remaining. Through the option, the Eagles can keep Smith on his rookie contract through 2025. That buys them some time, leverage-wise, and the likes of Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb played four seasons on their rookie deals. Because Jefferson and Lamb did so, the receiver market looks set for another spike.

Both players are going into their fifth-year option seasons, and each is in position to break Tyreek Hill‘s receiver AAV record ($30MM). Each could do so by a notable margin as well. With Ja’Marr Chase ticketed for a record-setting deal in 2025 (in all likelihood), the Eagles — who have been early on extensions for O-linemen and QBs, with Carson Wentz being re-upped ahead of Year 4 back in 2019, under Roseman — may be motivated to strike early here.

Smith, 25, does not have a case to land a record-setting contract. Although the slender Eagles pass catcher has put together back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, he is not the No. 1 receiver on his own team. Brown broke a longstanding Eagles single-season receiving yards record in 2022; he is attached to a $25MM-per-year extension. The Brown-Smith tandem has crossed the 1,000-1,000 barrier in each of its two seasons together.

With the salary cap ballooning at a record rate this year, though, players are cashing in. This represents good news for this wideout crop, though it will be interesting to see where the Eagles are comfortable going for the 2020 Heisman winner.

Traded NFL Draft Picks For 2024

April 10th, 2024 at 10:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the 2024 draft nears, numerous picks have already changed hands. A handful of picks have already been moved twice, with a few being traded three times. Multiple deals from 2021 impact this draft. Here are the 2024 picks to have been traded thus far:

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Draft Notes: Sweat, Seahawks, Titans, Bears, Patriots, Packers, Mims, Eagles, Broncos

April 9th, 2024 at 10:06am CST by Sam Robinson

Ranked as the No. 3 defensive tackle on Mel Kiper Jr.’s ESPN.com big board, T’Vondre Sweat has an off-field issue to navigate ahead of the draft. The Texas alum was arrested on a DWI charge over the weekend. Sweat was involved a two-car accident, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg, who indicates the DT’s SUV collided with a sedan shortly before 5am on Sunday. The Seahawks and Titans are among the teams performing some due diligence on Sweat, with NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero indicating the ex-Longhorns D-lineman met with the Titans on Monday and will fly to Seattle for a “30” visit later this week. Sweat posted a $3K bond following his arrest.

Here is the latest from the draft ranks:

  • Widely expected to begin the draft by taking Caleb Williams first overall, the Bears still hold another top-10 pick. Pertaining to the latter draft slot, the team is hosting Alabama tackle JC Latham on a two-day visit that runs through Tuesday, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. Latham has already met with the Cardinals and Titans. One of this draft’s supply of intriguing tackle prospects, Latham is on track to be a first-round pick. Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board ranks the first-team All-SEC blocker 18th overall, while ESPN slots him 12th. The Bears have Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright, their 2023 first-round pick, as their starting tackles. A recent report indicated Chicago is unlikely to trade its No. 9 pick.
  • Another of the Round 1-level tackle prospects in this draft pool, Tyler Guyton visited the Patriots recently, ESPN’s Mike Reiss notes. Ranked 23rd on Jeremiah’s big board, Guyton stands 6-foot-8 and is more projection than proven talent. Only garnering honorable mention All-Big 12 acclaim last season, Guyton made just 15 college starts. Five of those came at TCU in 2022 before transferring. The Patriots re-signed Michael Onwenu with the intention of keeping him at right tackle, but with Trent Brown leaving for Cincinnati, New England still has a need at left tackle. Barring a trade out of No. 3 — certainly a possibility — the Pats would need to address this issue after the first round.
  • This draft class features another raw tackle talent drawing first-round consideration. Amarius Mims has Guyton beat, starting eight games in three Georgia seasons. Six of Mims’ starts came at right tackle last season. The 6-foot-8, 340-pound tackle missed time at Georgia, requiring ankle surgery early last season, and suffered a hamstring injury while running at the Combine. Viewed as high-ceiling talent, Mims has drawn understandable concerns about his durability, per ESPN.com’s Jordan Reid.
  • The Eagles and Broncos are two teams to monitor with regards to an early-round tackle investment, ESPN.com’s Matt Miller writes. Although Philadelphia just extended left tackle Jordan Mailata, stalwart RT Lane Johnson is heading into his age-34 season. The Eagles are typically proactive on their O-line. The Broncos have two high-priced tackles (and a rather glaring QB need) in Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey, but Bolles is going into a contract year. The second pick going to the Saints in the Sean Payton trade is the Broncos’ 2024 second-rounder, leaving Denver with only a third after its No. 12 overall slot.
  • Add the Packers to the list of teams to meet with cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. The Alabama product visited Green Bay on Monday, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein. This will follow McKinstry meetings with the Jaguars, Buccaneers and Lions. Regarded as a more highly touted prospect going into last season, McKinstry has seen teammate Terrion Arnold leapfrog him. The latter ranks higher now, though McKinstry should still hear his name called early. Save for the Jordan Love pick, the Packers have used a defense-focused approach in Round 1 for more than a decade. Beyond Love, Green Bay’s last offensive player chosen in Round 1 was tackle Derrick Sherrod in 2011.

Washington OT Troy Fautanu Generating Interest

April 8th, 2024 at 5:49pm CST by Ben Levine

Troy Fautanu is turning into a popular name on the workout circuit. The Washington offensive tackle will travel to Jacksonville tomorrow to take a top-30 visit with the Jaguars, per Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz.

[RELATED: Bengals Host Washington OT Troy Fautanu]

In addition to his previously reported visit with the Bengals, the projected first-round pick has also met with the Ravens. Fautanu is expected to take future top-30 visits with the Steelers and Eagles.

Fautanu spent the past two seasons as a full-time starter at Washington, including a 2023 campaign where he earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors while blocking for Michael Penix Jr.. That performance helped put the lineman in the first-round conversation for the 2024 draft. Fautanu has generally been lauded for his speed and athleticism, and the six-foot-four, 317-pound lineman certainly has the physical attributes to compete as an NFL offensive tackle.

Notre Dame’s Joe Alt is still expected to be the first lineman off the board. Fautanu will likely be competing with the likes of Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga, Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu, and Alabama’s JC Latham to be the second OT selected.

Considering the league-wide need for offensive tackle depth, it’s not a surprise that the Washington product is generating plenty of interest from NFL teams. Besides the Ravens, all of the teams connected to Fautanu are currently picking in the teens or earlier 20s. While the prospect may be hard pressed to crack the top-10, he’ll likely hear his name called during the first night of the draft.

NFC Contract Details: Packers, Moore, Maddox, Burns

April 7th, 2024 at 8:05pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are some details on recent new contracts around the NFC:

  • Eric Wilson, LB (Packers): One year, $1.38MM. According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, Wilson’s new contract with Green Bay includes a base salary of $1.21MM and a signing bonus of $167.5K.
  • Kristian Welch, LB (Packers): One year, $1.21MM. Demovsky also tells us that Welch’s re-signed deal will have a base salary of $1.13MM and a signing bonus worth $20K. Welch can earn an additional $20K with a workout bonus as well as a per game active roster bonus of $2,647 for a potential season total of $45K.
  • Chris Moore, WR (Cardinals): One year, $2MM. Moore’s contract with the Cardinals will have a guaranteed amount of $750K comprised of $250K of his 2024 base salary (worth a total of $1.28MM) and a $500K signing bonus, according to Howard Balzer of USA Today Sports. Moore will add another $50K with a workout bonus and an additional $10K per game that he’s on the active roster for a potential season total of $170K in per game active roster bonuses.
  • Avonte Maddox, CB (Eagles): One year, $1.5MM. Maddox’s new deal will have a guaranteed value of $875K consisting of $500K of his base salary (worth $1.13MM in total) and a $375K signing bonus.
  • Brian Burns, OLB (Giants): Five years, $141MM. We noted recently that Burns’ deal was not worth the reported $150MM amount and was actually for $141MM. Thanks to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, we now know that the $9MM difference comes from incentives wherein he can earn an additional $1.8MM for each year that he either reaches 12.5 sacks, makes a Pro Bowl, or earns first-team All-Pro honors. He’s reached that sack total once in 2022 and made two Pro Bowls in 2021 and 2022, but because he didn’t reach any of those achievements last year, the potential $1.8MM won’t count against New York’s cap space in 2024.

Eagles S Sydney Brown Addresses ACL Recovery

April 6th, 2024 at 7:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

As the Eagles dealt with several injuries in the secondary during the 2023 season, safety Sydney Brown saw starting duties down the stretch. His rookie campaign came to an abrupt end thanks to a torn ACL, an injury which threatens to keep him sidelined for the start of the 2024 slate.

As things currently stand, however, Brown may be able to avoid missing time in the regular season. The 24-year-old Canadian recently provided an encouraging update on his recovery process. Plenty is yet to be determined, of course, but he could be available as early as Week 1.

“I feel amazing. I can start working out for you right now if you want to,” Brown said, via Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I feel like I’m miles ahead of where I should really be. I will be ready for when the season comes around.”

The Illinois product suffered the ACL tear in early January, so he is a strong candidate to begin training camp on the reserve/PUP list. If he manages to return to full health in time for the start of the campaign, however, his presence will be welcomed on the Eagles’ defense. Philadelphia used Brown as a starter for six games in 2023; among his statistical output, one figure which sticks out is the 99-yard interception he recorded in Week 17. He added 45 tackles and three pass deflections while also playing a regular role on special teams.

The Eagles have reunited with C.J. Gardner-Johnson along with extending Reed Blankenship, moves which will give the team veteran starters at both safety spots. Brown could be a valued backup contributor in his second season, though, provided his recovery continues to proceed along an encouraging path. Fellow defensive back Zech McPhearson could likewise be available at the start of the coming season.

The latter missed all of 2023 due to an Achilles tear, but he also said (via Zangaro) he expects to be healthy in time for Week 1. McPhearson will bring special teams production while also serving as a backup contributor at the slot corner position behind the recently re-signed Avonte Maddox.

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