Why The Eagles Reworked Nick Foles' Contract
The Eagles and reigning Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles just agreed to a reworked contract that gives Foles a $2MM raise for 2018, plus a whole host of incentives. The deal also includes a mutual option for 2019, though if Foles were to decline the option, he would have to give back the $2MM he just received.
Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com examines why Philadelphia, which is tight against the cap this year and will be again in 2019, made the move. The reworked deal probably had little to nothing to do with the Eagles’ wanting to reward Foles for his postseason heroics, so Shorr-Parks speculates that Foles and his camp could have put some pressure on the team, and he also suggests the new contract may come with a lower cap hit.
The chances that the Eagles exercise the 2019 option are very slim, as Foles would be owed a $20MM salary under that scenario. But, if the two sides want to continue their relationship beyond 2018, this gesture will certainly buy the Eagles some goodwill when it comes time to negotiate again. It also guarantees that Philadelphia, which already had the best QB insurance policy in the game, will keep that policy perfectly content this season, and even if Carson Wentz cannot stay healthy, the team has given itself a chance to deploy a capable signal-caller for at least the next two years.
Eagles Can Draft BPA, But Have Needs To Fill After 2018
- The Eagles do not have many holes that need to be filled for the 2018 season, but there are plenty of questions they need to answer for 2019 and beyond, so as Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer points out, the team may be drafting for future needs this week. For instance, the Eagles know they currently have a few young players on expiring contracts that will be in line for richer deals soon — most notably Carson Wentz — so they will need to find talent that can contribute on a rookie contract for a few years. Running back, offensive line, and safety are three positions that are at least somewhat unsettled beyond 2018, so Berman suggests the Eagles could target those positions this week.
Eagles Eyeing Rookie RBs?
- After striking out on the position last year, Jeff McLane of Philly.com says the Eagles will be eyeing running backs during the upcoming draft. While the organization did end up selecting Donnel Pumphrey in the fourth round, the team had been eyeing a number of top-tier prospects, including Christian McCaffrey, Dalvin Cook, Alvin Kamara, and Kareem Hunt (in fact, McLane notes that Philly attempted to trade up for Cook). While the team hasn’t traditionally spent high-round picks on running backs, and while they’re also armed with a relatively deep group (including mid-season addition Jay Ajayi), the writer believes the team could still be eyeing a future starter at the position.
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Details On Nick Foles’ New Contract
We learned yesterday that the Eagles and quarterback Nick Foles had reached agreement on a new contract. Today, we’ve got specific details on the new deal.
The reworked contract will ultimately earn Foles an extra $2MM in 2018, but the quarterback has the potential to earn a whole lot more. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that the contract includes another $14MM worth of incentives based on playing time, playoffs, and Pro Bowl. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo adds that Foles will earn $250K for each appearance, and that number will increase to $500K if the team wins. The 29-year-old has already earned a $3MM roster bonus and $2MM signing bonus, and he’s set to make a $4MM salary next season.
We also learned yesterday that the contract includes a mutual option for the 2019 season, meaning Foles could hit free agency next offseason. As Garafolo explains (via Twitter), the Eagles will have the ability to pick up Foles’ $20MM deal for 2019. Meanwhile, the quarterback will have the ability to “buy his way to free agency,” but that’d require him to sacrifice the $2MM signing bonus he just received.
With Foles having won Super Bowl MVP and the Eagles also rostering Carson Wentz, there was some question about how the organization would proceed at the quarterback position. As our own Zach Links pointed out, the new deal isn’t a reflection of the team’s feeling on Wentz’s recovery from an ACL injury. Rather, it’s “about giving [Foles] extra compensation in light of his postseason performance.”
Foles had expressed interest in being a starter next season, and the Eagles reportedly shopped the veteran quarterback. However, this new deal would seemingly be a reasonable compromise for both sides.
Eagles Rework Nick Foles’ Contract
The reigning Super Bowl MVP has himself a new contract. Quarterback Nick Foles and the Eagles have struck agreement on a revised deal, sources tell Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Foles’ new deal includes a mutual option for the 2019 season, giving Foles the opportunity to reach free agency next spring. Originally, Foles was slated to reach the free agency market after the 2018 campaign. The new deal gives him a $2MM signing bonus and several millions in incentives if he’s the starter and hits certain benchmarks, a source tells NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).
The new pact is about giving him extra compensation in light of his postseason performance and not a reflection of the team’s feeling on Wentz’s recovery, according to Garafolo. The Eagles remain confident that Wentz will be back at 100% this season.
With Wentz on the mend, trade rumors surrounding Foles swirled this offseason. The Eagles, who value Foles and want to have a quality backstop in the event of another Wentz injury, placed a remarkably high price tag on the veteran. Reportedly, the Eagles were seeking more than the first-round pick and fourth-round pick they received from the Vikings in the Sam Bradford deal.
Recent comments from Foles indicated that he would like the opportunity to be a starter again, but the new deal is a reasonable compromise for the QB.
Eagles VP On UDFAs, Draft
- Eagles vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas wonders if it will be tougher for the team to land quality undrafted free agents this year because of perception that it will be tough to make the final cut on a deep roster (Twitter link via NJ.com’s Eliot Shorr-Parks).
- In speaking with reporters, Douglas also noted that there have been many running backs from all parts drafts that have contributed right off of the bat with their teams (Twitter link via Shorr-Parks). That could give some insight into the Eagles’ plans heading into next week’s draft.
Eagles Open To Trading First Round Pick
The Eagles have traded out of the first round just twice since 1999, but they’re not ruling it out in this year’s draft. When speaking with reporters this week, Eagles GM Howie Roseman indicated that the No. 32 pick could be for sale. 
“I would say overall we’re open for business,” said Roseman (via Jimmy Kempski of the Philly Voice). “We’re open for business in every round if it’s something that we think makes sense for our team, we’re going to do it. But at the same time, we’re ready to pick. We have 32 guys we feel really good about. We can’t operate under the assumption that we’re going to bail out, so we’re ready to roll.”
The final pick in the first round has been traded in three of the last four drafts. The No. 32 pick may not seem sexy, but it holds value over the first pick in the second round since those players can be controlled for an extra year through the fifth-year option.
Most GMs like to say they are “open for business” at this time in the offseason, so it’s hard to tell how serious the Eagles are about the prospect of moving back from No. 32. However, as Kempski notes, the Eagles have moved out of their original draft slot in nine of the last 19 drafts, so, historically speaking, they are willing to deal.
Eagles Host Derrius Guice, Rashaad Penny
- The Eagles hosted running backs Derrius Guice (LSU) and Rashaad Penny (San Diego State) on Tuesday, reports Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Guice is widely considered 2018’s second-best running back prospect behind Penn State’s Saquon Barkley, and there’s no guarantee he’ll still be on the board when Philadelphia picks at the end of round one. While the Eagles lost LeGarrette Blount to the Lions during the free agent period, they still have Jay Ajayi, Corey Clement, Wendell Smallwood, and Donnel Pumphrey on their roster.
NFL Draft Rumors: Nelson, 49ers, Eagles
Good news for Wisconsin product Nick Nelson. The surgery to fix the cornerback’s torn meniscus was successful and he did not need a full repair, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Because it was not a full repair, he is expected to recover in six weeks rather than 3-4 months and should be ready for training camp. Nelson was projected to come off the board no later than the third round before the injury and he should be in consideration for rounds 2 and 3 once again after the operation.
Here’s a look at the latest NFL Draft news:
- The 49ers met with Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith on Tuesday, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. Smith had 137 tackles and 6.5 sacks last season and could be a replacement for Reuben Foster, who is embroiled in serious legal trouble stemming from a domestic violence arrest.
- Iowa center James Daniels, who is widely regarded as the top center in this year’s draft, visited with the Eagles this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. On Tuesday, he’ll meet with Bears before traveling to the 49ers on Wednesday. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com says that Daniels is one of the best center prospects he’s seen in the last five years and has him ranked as the 23rd best prospect overall in this year’s draft.
- South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst, met with the Lions on Tuesday, Rapoport tweets. If the Lions select Hurst in the first round, that will make three first round tight ends for them in the last ten years, following Brandon Pettigrew (2009) and Eric Ebron (2014).
- Louisville cornerback Jaire Alexander visited the Eagles and Dolphins this week, Rapoport tweets. Alexander is widely projected to be a first round pick and may be the second CB to come off the board after Ohio State’s Denzel Ward.
- Teams like Alabama defensive tackle Da’Ron Payne, but the belief that he is a two-down defender and not an adept pass-rusher may keep him out of the Top 10, Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com hears.
- Speaking of Payne, he visited the Redskins on Monday, a source tells ESPN.com’s John Keim (on Twitter). Washington owns the No. 13 overall pick in the draft.
Daryl Worley Charged With DUI, Firearms Felony
Former Eagles cornerback Daryl Worley was charged with violation of the uniform firearms act, driving under the influence, disorderly conduct and other offenses stemming from an early Sunday-morning arrest, Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes. 
Worley, 23, was found unconscious in a car near Broad Street in Philadelphia at 6 a.m. on Sunday morning. According to police, he was involved in a confrontation with officers who woke him and a taser was used to subdue him. Police also found a gun in the car that was not properly registered.
The Eagles released the cornerback Sunday evening while he was still in custody. His stay in Philadelphia lasted a little over a month, as the cornerback was acquired from the Panthers in a deal that sent Torrey Smith to Carolina in March.
In two seasons with Carolina, the third-round pick out of West Virginia recorded three interceptions and two sacks while starting 25 of his 31 games.
In addition to being released, Worley could face additional punishment from the league.