HEADLINES

Riley Cooper

Eagles, Cooper Agree To Five-Year Deal

February 27th, 2014 at 9:22am CST by Zachary Links

9:22am: Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk provides a few more details on Cooper’s salary, reporting that $4MM comes in the form of a signing bonus, $4MM in base salary is fully guaranteed, and $2MM in 2015 salary is guaranteed for injury only. That $2MM becomes fully guaranteed if Cooper is still on the roster on the first day of the 2015 league year.

8:38am: Cooper’s deal includes $10MM in guaranteed money, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.

THURSDAY, 8:03am: The agreement between Cooper and the Eagles is actually for a five-year contract, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Schefter reports that the deal will be worth $25MM, good for a $5MM annual average.

Meanwhile, Mosher continues to hear that the deal is essentially a four-year pact, and is only five years “by letter of the law.” He tweets that the final year is likely voidable.

WEDNESDAY, 8:18pm: The Eagles and wide receiver Riley Cooper have agreed to a four-year deal, according to Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com (on Twitter). Cooper is expected to ink the deal tomorrow. Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer first reported that the two sides were nearing agreement.

Cooper, 26, closed out his rookie deal in style with a breakout season in 2013. After being at the center of a preseason controversy when he used a racial slur, Cooper got positive attention by setting career-highs in receptions (47), receiving yards (835), and receiving touchdowns (8). Terms of the deal are not yet known but some speculated that he would see multiyear offers in the $5MM per year range if he hit the open market.

In addition to Cooper, Eagles receiver Jeremy Maclin is also eligible for unrestricted free agency in March. While some thought that it would turn into a one-or-the-other scenario, today’s reports indicate that both could be back in Philly for 2014. The Eagles freed up a little cap room earlier today when they extended Jason Peters‘ contract, so it’ll be a little easier to find space for both of their free agent receivers.

Riley Cooper, Eagles Nearing Agreement

February 26th, 2014 at 4:03pm CST by Luke Adams

The Eagles and prospective free agent Riley Cooper are close to reaching an agreement on a new contract, reports Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. According to McLane, the team and the wide receiver could officially strike a deal on a multiyear contract within the next few days.

Cooper, 26, had a breakout season in 2013, the final year of his rookie contract. After being at the center of a preseason controversy when he used a racial slur, Cooper looked very good on the field, setting career-highs in receptions (47), receiving yards (835), and receiving touchdowns (8). A report last week suggested the former fifth-round pick was expected to have several interested suitors if he reached free agency, perhaps receiving multiyear offers in the $5MM per year range. It’ll be interesting to see what sort of figures Cooper and the Eagles agree upon, if he’s content not to test the open market.

In addition to Cooper, Eagles receiver Jeremy Maclin is also eligible for unrestricted free agency in March, creating what GM Howie Roseman called a “complicated” situation. There have been conflicting reports on which player the team has prioritized this offseason, but according to McLane, a new deal for Cooper doesn’t necessarily mean the club will let Maclin walk. McLane still expects Philadelphia to sign Maclin to a one-year, make-good pact. The Eagles freed up a little cap room earlier today when they extended Jason Peters‘ contract, so perhaps the club will take advantage of that extra flexibility to retain both its key free agent receivers.

This year’s deep class of free agent receivers had the potential to create a buyer’s market, particularly with several more attractive alternatives available in May’s draft. However, at least a couple of the top-tier options seem likely to come off the board before March 11. Anquan Boldin and the 49ers are also reportedly nearing an agreement that will keep Boldin off the market.

Extra Points: Revis, Falcons, Eagles, Cap

February 26th, 2014 at 1:37pm CST by Luke Adams

Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported yesterday that rival teams are calling the Buccaneers to inquire on the availability of Darrelle Revis, with a number of execs believing a trade is possible. However, Roy Cummings of the Tampa Bay Times is skeptical. Speaking to Cummings, new head coach Lovie Smith said the Bucs will rely heavily on man coverage: “Whether we win or lose is going to be based on how we play man coverage” (Twitter links). That approach suggests that the team is likely to keep the league’s best cover corner on the roster, though we’ll have to wait to see if new GM Jason Licht is in agreement.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

  • In an article examining the likelihood of the Falcons releasing safety Thomas DeCoud, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution suggests that if the team can’t secure a free agent safety by DeCoud’s guarantee date (March 15), hanging on to him remains possible.
  • While multiple reports have suggested the Eagles will likely prioritize re-signing Jeremy Maclin over Riley Cooper, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk hears that it’s the other way around, and based on what he’s hearing, “it’s not even close.”
  • Not many agents and teams were close to reaching free agent or extension agreements at this year’s combine, according to Jack Bechta at the National Football Post. Bechta, who represents multiple free agents himself, speculates that the increased gap in between the combine and the free agent period this year may be contributing to slower-than-usual negotiations.
  • With 2014’s projected cap number up to $132MM, or perhaps even higher, ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert has updated his look at the salary cap space each team is expected to have heading into the new league year. As Seifert’s chart shows, the new cap projections mean that the Raiders now have $66MM+ of space.
  • Former Packers executive Andrew Brandt explains a few aspects of the NFL’s salary cap in a piece for TheMMQB.com.

Poll: Which WR Will Eagles Keep?

February 22nd, 2014 at 9:19pm CST by Peter Sowards

With the news from The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane that the Eagles are prioritizing Jeremy Maclin over Riley Cooper, we’re interested to see if you think either receiver — or possibly both — will be back next season.

Cooper’s 2013 season was well-documented, starting with video evidence of the fourth-year receiver from Florida using a racial slur at a country music concert in late July. He apologized vehemently, was accepted back by his teammates, and then went on to set career highs in receptions (47), yards (835) and touchdowns (eight). He played in all 16 games, starting 15, and totaled six receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown in Philadelphia’s 26-24 playoff loss to New Orleans.

Maclin’s season was over before it started. He suffered a torn ACL in his right knee in training camp. A first-round pick from Missouri in 2009, Maclin has put up consistently good numbers for the, hovering between 55-70 catches in each season. He has never failed to surpass 750 receiving yards, but he’s never topped 1,000, either.

What do you believe to be the fates of Maclin and Cooper? Feel free to defend your vote in the comments section below.

Free Agency Notes: Pitta, Maclin, Cooper

February 22nd, 2014 at 7:47pm CST by Peter Sowards

Taking care of free agent tight end Dennis Pitta is the top priority for the Ravens, according to Bo Smolka of CSN Baltimore.

With the contract extension for linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs in the books, GM Ozzie Newsome said at his Scouting Combine news conference that Baltimore is “concentrating” on locking up the fourth-year BYU player for the foreseeable future.

Smolka notes that Baltimore has until March 3 to apply the franchise tag on Pitta, and they can expect a fight if they do so — Pitta lined up as an in-line tight end less than 25% of the time and will argue he deserves the $11.6MM wide receiver designation, as opposed to the $6.8MM tight end figure.

We talked yesterday about Ravens coach John Harbaugh being optimistic that the team can retain Pitta, as well as offensive tackle Eugene Monroe. Newsome is arguably the finest general manager in the league, so don’t bet against the possibility of him bringing back both players at team-friendly prices.

Some other free agent notes to pass along, in particular dealing with Philadelphia…

  • The Eagles are prioritizing Jeremy Maclin over Riley Cooper, NFL sources have told Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  • In a perfect world, McClane says Philadelphia would sign Maclin to a one-year deal, then try to sign another receiver with starting ability.
  • In his Thursday interview at the NFL Combine, GM Howie Roseman said it would be a tough sell to keep both players. “You can only put a limited amount of resources into the position before it starts taking out from other places,” he said.
  • This previous PFR post takes an in-depth look at the two receivers with the help of Pro Football Focus.

NFC East Links: Eagles, Cowboys, Marinelli

February 21st, 2014 at 7:25pm CST by Ben Levine

A few notes from the NFC East…

  • Don’t expect to see the Eagles add a big-name safety, writes Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com. In the article, Frank speaks to Eagles general manager Howie Roseman, who has appeared to have learned from the failed 2011 Dream Team. While the team may not go after T.J. Ward or Jairus Byrd, Frank says the team knows it needs to upgrade at the position.
  • The Eagles have made re-signing wide receiver Jeremy Maclin a priority over fellow free agent Riley Cooper, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane. McLane says the team’s ideal plan is to keep Maclin and then sign a starting-caliber receiver in free agency.
  • Newly appointed Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli will have much more freedom now that he doesn’t have to defer to Monte Kiffin on decisions, writes Clarence Hill of the Star-Telegram.
  • The Cowboys have informed agent Jordan Woy that they’d like to re-sign defensive linemen Jason Hatcher and Anthony Spencer, according to Hill (Twitter link). Hill adds that the club will let the market dictate the offer, which suggests Dallas will wait until after March 11 to try to reach agreements.

Active Market Expected For Riley Cooper

February 18th, 2014 at 8:32am CST by Luke Adams

Coming off a breakout 2013 season, Riley Cooper is poised to hit unrestricted free agency next month, and the wide receiver is expected to draw significant interest if and when he hits the open market, a league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. While Eagles GM Howie Roseman has referred to the team’s receiving situation as “complicated,” the team would like to bring back Cooper, according to Florio.

Cooper, 26, became a full-time starter for the Eagles in 2013 in the absence of the injured Jeremy Maclin, and notched career-highs in virtually every category. Cooper finished the year with 47 receptions, 835 yards, and eight touchdowns. Still, with Maclin headed to free agency as well, the club may not have the cap flexibility to re-sign both players. There’s a belief among Eagles beat writers that the team will try to re-sign one of the two, then draft a receiver, though there’s no consensus on which veteran will return.

Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer expects Maclin to be a priority for the Eagles, while suggesting that Cooper could earn in the neighborhood of $5MM per year on the open market. ESPN.com’s Phil Sheridan, meanwhile, is skeptical of Cooper’s free agent value, predicting that the club is more likely to re-sign Cooper than Maclin. Sheil Kapadia of PhillyMag.com also weighed in this morning, writing that if the market for Cooper is as active as Florio suggests it will be, the Eagles would be wise to move on and focus on Maclin.

There’s a good chance that the Eagles will meet with reps for both free agent receivers at this week’s scouting combine.

Eagles WR Notes: Maclin, Cooper, McCluster

February 16th, 2014 at 2:49pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Eagles face a difficult decision this offseason when it comes to their wide receiver group, as both Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper enter free agency. Each player offers promise, but each also carries considerable risk, as the team at Pro Football Focus notes in their latest “Free Agent Duel” piece.

Maclin, who missed the 2013 season with a torn ACL, has the higher pedigree as a former first-round pick, and his speed would fit nicely in Chip Kelly’s offense, which features many screens and quick out patterns. However, Maclin has always been higher on promise than productivity, as he has never surpassed 1,000 yards receiving, and graded out poorly in 2012 by PFF’s metrics. Cooper, whose roster spot was in peril due to offseason drama until Maclin’s injury, had a breakout season as the number two option for the Eagles in 2013. He was even better at catching deep passes than fellow receiver DeSean Jackson, and he built rapport with quarterback Nick Foles. Cooper has only produced at this level for one season, however, while Maclin has offered roughly the same results for a few more years.

Their price tags figure to be roughly similar, as Maclin will be forced to take a discount due to his recent injury, and Cooper may be seen as having only succeeded in a stats-friendly system. Maclin has shown a willingness to return to the Eagles, so perhaps that will swing the pendulum in his favor. Ultimately, it seems unlikely the Eagles will be able to retain both, as they have other needs, specifically on defense, that need to be met.

A few other Eagles morsels:

  • Phil Sheridan chimes on the receiver situation as well, noting that he believes Cooper is the most likely to remain with the Eagles. Cooper might find that his league-wide value is not as high as thinks, and staying in Philadelphia will be the most logical decision.
  • Maclin, meanwhile, could end up with the Chiefs or the Jets, where he would have familiarity with Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinwheg, respectively.
  • Sheridan thinks that receiver Dexter McCluster could be an interesting add for the Eagles, as he could offer some versatility on offense, as well as help on special teams.
  • Finally, Sheridan speculates that the top four options on the 2014 Eagles receiver depth chart will be Jackson, Cooper, a first-round pick, and Arrelious Benn.

Eagles Facing ‘Complicated’ WR Situation

February 5th, 2014 at 11:10am CST by Luke Adams

The Eagles’ wide receiving corps played a large role in Nick Foles posting a ridiculous ratio of 27 touchdown passes to just two interceptions during the 2013 season, but multiple key pieces of that unit will be facing free agency this offseason. With both Riley Cooper and Jeremy Maclin poised to hit the open market next month, GM Howie Roseman tells Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com that the Eagles’ wide receiver situation is “complicated.”

“You have guys that you want to have back,” Roseman said, “And also, what resources are you going to devote to that position with the guys who are already on the roster? And then you look at it in the draft, obviously a very strong position, so I think … it’s a complicated situation but we’ve never ruled out bringing both of those guys back.”

As Mosher writes, the Eagles have the cap flexibility to re-sign both players, particularly since a knee injury wiped out Maclin’s season and likely derailed his chances of earning a lucrative long-term deal. Still, the club has other positions to address, as well as a few players who will need to be extended within the next year or two. Throw in the fact that Roseman’s comments suggest the team is eyeing receiving options in the draft, and it stands to reason that perhaps Philadelphia will let Cooper or Maclin walk.

A source tells Mosher that the Eagles and Cooper have yet to engage in extension talks of any substance, though that will likely happen later this month, perhaps at the league’s scouting combine. It’s not clear how far talks with Maclin have progressed, if they have at all. But for what it’s worth, Mosher wrote last month that he had a “hunch” the club would re-sign Maclin to a one-year pact and let Cooper walk.

Eagles Notes: Cooper, Maclin, Peters, Allen

January 25th, 2014 at 10:23am CST by Matt Feminis

With free agency looming and approximately $20MM worth of cap space to work with, the Eagles have decisions to make on key players. At the top of the list are receivers Riley Cooper and Jeremy Maclin. The belief among NFL people is that both players will be back next season, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane.

  • A combination of factors could work to keep the 26-year-old Cooper, whom GM Howie Roseman calls a “young asset,” in Philadelphia. Cooper made a favorable impression on Chip Kelly, but other GMs could be reluctant to bring him into the locker room after last summer’s incident.
  • Maclin, 25, has been a playmaker when healthy, and his skill set is ideal for Kelly’s system, but he’s coming off his second right ACL tear. Consequently, Maclin acknowledges he might be willing to settle for a one-year, “prove-it” contract in an effort to cash in next year.
  • The team is pleased with its three tight ends. Zach Ertz is a bargain on his rookie deal, while Brent Celek ($4MM) and James Casey ($3.99MM) are reasonably priced, meaning the trio could remain intact.
  • DeMeco Ryans is scheduled to make $6.8MM next year and might have to take a pay cut to stay.
  • Franchise left tackle Jason Peters has one year remaining at $9.65MM and could be in line for an extension.
  • Free safety Nate Allen is also a free agent and a question mark to return. A second-round pick in 2010, Allen has not taken his game to the level expected when he was drafted, and was “afraid to hit,” according to an unnamed former coach.