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Setting The WR Market, Eagles Extend DeVonta Smith

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The Eagles front office has done it again.

After speculation that the Eagles would be paying their WR2 next after agreeing to a 3-year $66M extension with Jordan Mailata just two weeks ago.

News finally broke on Monday that not only would DeVonta Smith’s 5th year be picked up, but it also came with a nifty 3-year extension.

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The Eagles will now have the following players on the offense under contract through 2026:

  • QB Jalen Hurts
  • QB Kenny Pickett
  • WR A.J. Brown
  • WR DeVonta Smith
  • RB Saquon Barkley
  • LT Jordan Mailata
  • LG Landon Dickerson
  • OL Tyler Steen
  • RT Lane Johnson

It’s not a bad thing to have 8 offensive starters under contract for the next 3 seasons!

But how did the Eagles get all these top-tier players under contract without being well over the cap? (like the Saints have been for years)

Ahead Of The League

This is now back-to-back off-seasons where Howie Roseman and co. have been able to extend franchise cornerstone players before the other 31 teams in the league came to terms with their counterparts.

QB Frenzy

Starting with Jalen Hurts on April 17th, 2023. A 5 year, $255M contract was signed ahead of the following quarterbacks

  • Joe Burrow – 5 years, $275M signed on September 7th, 2023
  • Justin Herbert – 5 years, $262.5M signed on July 25th 2023
  • Lamar Jackson – 5 years, $260M signed on April 27th, 2023

Offensive Line Mania

Not only did the Eagles get away with drafting Jordan Mailata in the 7th round of the 2018 draft. They’ve now extended him. Twice! While doing so, the Eagles have gotten ahead by signing Mailata to a 3-year, $66M deal. Now under contract until 2029.

There weren’t many Offensive Tackles looking to be signed this off-season, but getting an extra 3 years from Mailata at $22M was perfect value, giving some previously signed OTs, including:

  • Laremy Tunsil – 3-year, $75M signed on March 19th, 2023
  • Andrew Thomas – 5-year, $117.5M signed on July 26th, 2023

However, this was the perfect market to get the Left Tackle signed for those extra years. Because the following will be due for a 5th year option and probable extensions in the next year.

  • Penei Sewell – drafted 7th overall in 2021
  • Rashawn Slater – drafted 11th overall in 2021
  • Ronnie Stanley – 5-year, $98.75M signed in 2020

Setting The WR Market

And that’s exactly how the Eagles have set the WR market with DeVonta Smith’s new deal.

Had the Eagles not worked as quickly as possible on this deal., they would’ve been at risk of the following Receivers potentially getting record-breaking deals done first.

Since we don’t have contract money for these other receivers, let’s keep it simple and compare Yards/TDs.

  • DeVonta Smith – 50GP, 3,178 Rec Yards, 19 TD. signed a 3-year, $75M deal
  • Justin Jefferson – 60GP, 5,899 Rec Yards, 30 TD. On a 5th-year option for $19.74M
  • Ja’Marr Chase – 45GP, 3,717 Rec Yards, 29 TD. 
  • Tee Higgins – 53GP, 3,684 Rec Yards, 24TD. On a $21.8M Franchise Tag
  • CeeDee Lamb – 61GP, 5,145 Rec Yards, 32TD. On a 5th-year option for $17.99M

With DeVonta Smith’s extension checked off the offseason to-do list.

The next big milestone will be the draft. It’s just one week away.

Who do you have the Birds taking at pick No. 22?

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