Eagles To Consider Jamaal Charles
The Eagles don’t have a bell cow running back on their roster, but it appears five-time 1,000-yard rusher and four-time Pro Bowler Jamaal Charles is on their radar. Philadelphia will consider pursuing Charles, whom the Chiefs released Tuesday, according to head coach Doug Pederson (via Kevin Patra of NFL.com).
“I’ve got some history with him in Kansas City for three years,” said Pederson, who coordinated the Chiefs’ offense from 2013-15. “I think he’s a tremendous running back and it’s something that we’ll evaluate now. And we’ll grade him just like we do every free agent and ever person that’s released and see where he can fit into our offense.”
Charles was superb under Pederson during his first two years atop the Chiefs’ offense, but knee injuries hampered him during the previous two seasons. The 30-year-old Charles tore his ACL in October 2015, thereby limiting him to five games and 71 carries, and he missed all but three games last season thanks to a setback that led to November surgery. As a result, Charles picked up a mere 12 carries in 2016.
On a rate basis, the Eagles last year received impressive production from rushers Ryan Mathews, Darren Sproles, Wendell Smallwood and Kenjon Barner, all of whom averaged at least 4.1 yards per carry. But none finished with more than 155 attempts, a total that a healthy Charles has eclipsed five times during his nine-year career. Adding Charles would give the Eagles a logjam of ball carriers, but it doesn’t seem as if it would affect the 33-year-old Sproles’ status. Pederson said Wednesday Sproles will be on next season’s roster, per Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com (Twitter link).
Salary Cap Numbers For All 32 Teams
On Wednesday, we learned that the 2017 salary cap will be set at roughly $167MM. However, every team’s number will be different depending on how much money each team elects to rollover from the previous season.
Courtesy of the NFLPA, we now have the total cap numbers for all 32 clubs. Here they are, listed by division and in descending order:
AFC East
- Dolphins – $175.36MM
- Patriots – $171.29
- Bills – $169.84MM
- Jets – $167.37MM
AFC North
- Browns – $217.12MM
- Bengals – $173.58MM
- Steelers – $170.27MM
- Ravens – $169.55MM
AFC South
- Jaguars – $206.31
- Titans – $191.05MM
- Colts – $173.61MM
- Texans – $171.94MM
AFC West
- Raiders – $175MM
- Broncos – $174.24MM
- Chiefs – $172MM
- Chargers – $167.11MM
NFC East
- Redskins – $182.06MM
- Eagles – $174.93MM
- Cowboys – $169.4MM
- Giants – $168.8MM
NFC North
- Bears – $175.1MM
- Packers – $174.98MM
- Lions – $171.73MM
- Vikings – $167.4MM
NFC South
- Panthers – $180.21MM
- Saints – $172.75MM
- Buccaneers – $172.33MM
- Falcons – $167.93MM
NFC West
- 49ers – $205.71MM
- Cardinals – $171.4MM
- Seahawks – $169.07MM
- Rams – $167.3MM
Eagles Interested In Pierre Garcon
- It’s no secret that one of Washington’s other impending free agents, DeSean Jackson, wouldn’t mind returning to Philadelphia, where he spent the first six years of his career. But the Eagles would be “content” to sign a different Redskins wideout, Pierre Garcon, if they’re unable to reel in Jackson, per Pauline. The 30-year-old Garcon, who has amassed 564 catches and 37 touchdowns in nine seasons, could garner $9MM-plus per year on his next contract.
[SOURCE LINK]
Eagles To Meet With Kelce, Barwin
- Center Jason Kelce and edge rusher Connor Barwin could learn a bit more about their status with the Eagles this week, as the pair’s respective agents are set to meet with Philadelphia management at the scouting combine, according to Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com, who notes the Birds haven’t made a final decision on either player. Barwin ($7.75MM base salary) and Kelce ($5MM) are both candidates to be released or traded this offseason.
Opinion: Jamaal Charles Would Be "Intriguing" Fit With Eagles
- If running back Jamaal Charles is cut by the Chiefs, ESPN.com’s Tim McManus believes he’d be an intriguing fit for the Eagles. Ryan Mathews isn’t expected to be back with Philly next season, leaving Darren Sproles and Wendell Smallwood as the only experienced running backs on the roster. Charles presumably won’t land a huge contract, so McManus believes the Eagles would be smart to take a flyer on the veteran.
[SOURCE LINK]
Opinion: Eagles, Barwin Should Part Ways
- While Eagles pass rusher Connor Barwin has expressed a willingness to take a pay cut to remain in Philadelphia, it’s time for both sides to move on, opines Dave Zangaro of CSNPhilly.com. Barwin probably wouldn’t accept enough of a reduction from the $7.75MM he’s due next season to make keeping him worthwhile for the team, writes Zangaro, who notes that getting rid of the 30-year-old would open up more playing time for Vinny Curry. Overall, Barwin has been quite productive during his four-year stint with the Eagles, but his numbers declined last season in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz‘s scheme. Thus, Zangaro argues that Barwin deserves to play in a defense that’s more suited to his abilities. The eight-year veteran won’t have any difficulty finding a job if the Eagles do let him go.
Colts’ Trent Cole Plans To Continue Playing
Back in January, Trent Cole hinted on Instagram that he would continue playing in 2017. Roughly six weeks later, we’re getting some mixed messages. Cole told SiriusXM (Twitter link) that he will retire if he is not offered enough money on his next deal. However, he took to Twitter minutes later to say “no retirement happening here.”
[RELATED: Top 3 Offseason Needs: Indianapolis Colts]
The Colts linebacker is scheduled to hit free agency this March. For many years, Cole was a starter for the Eagles, but he has been slowed somewhat by injuries and age since joining Indianapolis. In seven games last year, Cole amassed 17 tackles and two sacks. In the year prior, he totaled 32 tackles and three sacks. His Pro Football Focus scores have been in the 70s over the last two years, framing him as a slightly above-average linebacker rather than the force that he was in his Philly prime.
Cole, 35 in October, has two Pro Bowl nods and eight playoff appearances on his resume.
Eagles To Retain Jason Peters
Despite some speculation to the contrary, left tackle Jason Peters will be back with the Eagles in 2017, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Peters was is set to earn a $9.95MM base salary in the coming year, according to Rapoport, though Over The Cap has his base pay listed as $10.45MM. 
[RELATED: Former Eagles LB DeMeco Ryans Joins 49ers Staff]
Earlier this month, the Eagles approached Peters about taking a pay cut. Apparently, those talks were not fruitful, but the Eagles are still willing to keep Peters at his current salary. The 35-year-old may be pricey, but he is still one of the best tackles in the game. Last season, Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics placed Peters as the eighth-best tackle in the entire league. His 88.3 overall score on PFF ranks as the third-highest showing of his career. In short: Peters is as good as ever and the Eagles are unwilling to leave Carson Wentz‘s blindside exposed.
For his career, Peters has made nine Pro Bowls and is a three-time first-team All-Pro.
Former LB DeMeco Ryans Joins 49ers Staff
Last summer, linebacker DeMeco Ryans pushed hard to continue his NFL career. Unfortunately, he was unable to find a landing spot in 2016. Now on the verge of his 33rd birthday, Ryans is apparently done playing. Ryans has signed on with the 49ers’ coaching staff as a defensive quality control coach, which signifies that he is officially retired. 
[RELATED: 49ers To Have Interest In Jacob Tamme?]
Ryans, released by the Eagles this time last year, spent four seasons in Philadelphia after playing for the Texans for his first six years in the NFL. A two-time Pro Bowler in Houston, Ryans had two strong seasons with the Eagles before an Achilles injury and a reduced role slowed him down. In 2015, he recorded 49 tackles to go along with an interception, a forced fumble, and five passes defended.
When he was unable to find a gig last summer, Ryans indicated that he was comfortable with calling it quits. In July, Dallas Robinson of PFR proposed Ryans as a replacement for Rolando McClain, but Dallas went in a different direction. After a lack of real interest from around the league, Ryans will now begin the next chapter of his football life.
Latest On DeSean Jackson
For months now, there has been speculation about DeSean Jackson returning to the Eagles via free agency this offseason. The wide receiver hasn’t done much to stop that talk with his latest comments to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (audio link). 
“It definitely is a great story or ending, I guess you could say,” Jackson said (via PFT). “Starting your career somewhere then going to a division rival team [and] having the possibility of maybe going back. You just kind of think about all of that when you start somewhere maybe you could finish it. There is just a lot of speculation of a lot of thoughts. It all sounds good, but you really never know until the final decision is made. I’m just a firm believer that if you work hard, you put in the work, continuously go out there and show everybody what you’re capable of [then] the sky’s the limit.”
Jackson is reportedly eyeing a return to the Eagles, though he is also on the record as saying that he wants to stay with the Redskins. Jackson, 30, could be on the verge of losing his trademark speed, but he was still productive last year as he hauled in 56 catches for 1,005 yards and four touchdowns. There will be a healthy market waiting for Jackson in March and the Eagles won’t be the only team pursuing him. That group of suitors could include the Buccaneers. Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears the Bucs could be a possible destination for DJax and his relationship with quarterback Jameis Winston could help to facilitate a deal.