Philadelphia Eagles' Salary-Cap Breakdown by Position

With the NFL season officially completed, the Philadelphia Eagles need to look at the contractual side of their team over the next few months. First, they have the matter of trying to re-sign their own free agents. Then they have the free-agency period, when they can sign players from other teams. And then they will look to build their team through the NFL draft. 

Former general manager Howie Roseman is still in charge of individual player contracts, something he's already well-accustomed to doing. With Chip Kelly now running the show as head coach with complete control over the 53-man roster, it'll be interesting, to say the least, to see what happens with players currently on the roster bubble for the 2015 season. 

As it stands, the Eagles have $15,715,700 in rollover cap space from the 2014 season, giving them a total of $18,954,544 in cap space. They have $73,591,882 committed to the offensive side of the ball, $61,984,601 committed to the defensive side of the ball and $3,663,333 committed to special teams, per Over the Cap. 

The Eagles have some interesting roster decisions to make this spring, as there are a number of aging veterans who could be asked to take a pay cut or walk. The Eagles also have the money to be spenders, if they choose, in free agency, although Kelly's style has been to be cautious in free agency.

The following nine slides will highlight the Eagles' likely salary-cap plans at each of the nine positions this spring. All contract figures are per Spotrac. 

Quarterbacks

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The Eagles were preparing to spend a boatload of money at the quarterback position following the 2014 season. But Nick Foles didn't build on his breakout year from 2013, and right now, there's absolutely no reason to extend him before he's scheduled to hit free agency, which is after 2015.

Foles is making just $660,000 in 2015. Had he earned a contract extension, that number would be eight figures per season. The Eagles will likely lose Mark Sanchez to free agency, and Matt Barkley is also still on his rookie deal. So the Eagles can either draft a backup or spend a few million for a veteran in free agency. 

Running Backs

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Whether the Eagles keep LeSean McCoy at his current price, ask him to restructure or release (or trade) him is one of the most fascinating stories this offseason. 

McCoy, who turns 27 in July, is scheduled to earn close to $12 million in 2015, but he's also coming off a down year in which he averaged just four yards per carry. He also plays the most replaceable position in football, and the Eagles have some quality backups in Darren Sproles and Chris Polk. Plus Chip Kelly may view running back as the type of position where any player could succeed behind the Eagles' dominant offensive line. 

Wide Receivers

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The Eagles saved about $12 million in salary-cap space by cutting DeSean Jackson last offseason, but they face a similar financial predicament this offseason as well. 

Veteran Jeremy Maclin is a free agent, and he's coming off a career year in which he caught 85 passes for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns. He turns just 27 years old in May and should receive a four- or five-year deal worth close to $10 million per season. That's a lot of money to spend on one player, but Maclin is the type of team-first player the Eagles need to keep.

The problem at wide receiver is Riley Cooper, who signed a five-year deal worth $25 million last offseason. Cooper, who enjoyed a breakout season in 2013, failed to build off his success in 2014 and is best suited as a No. 3 receiver. He cannot be cut this offseason unless the Eagles want to pay more than $7 million in dead money as compared to his salary of just over $5 million. 

Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff are both still in their rookie deals, so if for some reason the Eagles cannot bring back Maclin, they do have the cap space to pursue a big name like Randall Cobb. 

Tight Ends

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Brent Celek is the type of player who looks like he might be on the roster bubble when you see his $4.8 million cap hit in 2015. Plus he turned 30 years old in January and is no longer as productive of a player as he was a few years ago. 

But Kelly loves Celek, who is one of the best blocking tight ends in the National Football League, and Celek should be safe for at least one more season.

Zach Ertz is still on his rookie deal, and veteran James Casey is an obvious roster cut based on his $4 million salary and limited role.

Offensive Linemen

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The Eagles have a high amount of money committed to their offensive line in 2015. They also have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. Is it worth it? 

To Chip Kelly, this is an easy decision. He knows the importance of dominant blockers in his offense.

Veterans Jason Peters and Evan Mathis are among the highest-paid players in the league at their position, while Jason Kelce just signed a seven-year deal that will keep him in Philly through his age-33 season. 

Lane Johnson, although still on his rookie deal, is making top-five first-round money. The likely roster cut or restructure is Todd Herremans, the 32-year-old veteran who suffered through the worst year of his career and missed the final eight games of the season with a torn biceps. If the Eagles choose to start undrafted free agent Matt Tobin or Andrew Gardner over Herremans, they can save about $5 million in cap space. 

Defensive Linemen

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The Eagles had one of the youngest, best and most inexpensive defensive lines in the National Football League in 2014. That will change in the next few seasons, as the Eagles have a number of players eligible for contract extensions. 

Fletcher Cox, the team's first-round draft pick in 2012, is one of the best 3-4 defensive ends in the league and will earn a contract extension this offseason that should pay him close to $10 million per season. 

Cedric Thornton is an unrestricted free agent but should be brought back on a one- or two-year deal worth a couple of million per season. The Eagles have a decision to make with Thornton's backup, Vinny Curry, who is one of the best pass-rushers in the league but only plays on a limited basis. Curry isn't a free agent until after the 2015 season, so the Eagles don't have to pay him yet.

At nose tackle, Bennie Logan and Beau Allen are both still in their rookie deals. 

Linebackers

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The Eagles could have a lot of money committed to linebacker depending on what happens in future years. 

Veterans Connor Barwin and DeMeco Ryans are each earning about $7 million per season in 2015. Barwin, who collected 14.5 sacks in 2014 and established himself as arguably the most complete player on the defense, is easily worth the money for a couple more seasons.

But Ryans, who is 31 in July and trying to recover from a torn Achilles, could be released or asked to restructure. The same applies for Trent Cole, who is scheduled to earn more than $11 million in 2015 and is no longer an every-down player.

The Eagles also need to decide if they want to bring back Brandon Graham, their first-round pick in 2010 who is one of the top pass-rushers in the league but only on a limited snap count. He's never been a full-time starter and probably won't be worth the $7 or $8 million per year that he'll command. 

Mychal Kendricks, the Eagles' second-round pick in 2012, has emerged as one of the top inside linebackers in the league over the last year. He's the player in the middle of the defense the Eagles will most want to build around, and he's likely going to earn a contract extension this offseason worth $8 to $9 million per season.

A lot depends on Cole, Graham and Ryans, but the Eagles will likely have a lot of money committed to the linebacker corps this season. 

Secondary

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The Eagles need to start over at cornerback. They're that bad. Veterans Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher both don't deserve to be back next year. 

Williams, who turned 30 last season and is scheduled to earn more than $8.1 million in 2015, seems like an obvious roster cut. If the Eagles do for some reason decide to keep him for the final year of his deal, he should be asked to restructure. 

Fletcher is a free agent and almost certainly will not be brought back by the Eagles. Expect the Eagles to look to both free agency and the draft to replace one or both cornerbacks. 

The Eagles have the cap space to bring in a potential star like Byron Maxwell or a veteran mid-range player like Antonio Cromartie. 

At safety, the Eagles are committed to Malcolm Jenkins for two more seasons, but that's money well spent, as the former first-round pick intercepted three passes and was named a second alternate to the Pro Bowl in 2014.

Nate Allen is a free agent and doesn't deserve to be brought back, even though he collected seven turnovers this season. The Eagles can look to go all in for a talented player like Devin McCourty, or they can spend a few million per season on a player like Rahim Moore. 

Special Teams

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There's not a lot to say regarding the Eagles' special teams, as there aren't expected to be any surprises before the 2015 season.

Kicker Cody Parkey will enter Year 2 of his rookie deal making close to minimum wage. Punter Donnie Jones is one of the higher-paid punters in the league, but his tendency to provide the Eagles with great field position makes him worth his contract. And long snapper Jon Dorenbos enters his 10th season with the team. During his time with the Eagles he's botched exactly zero snaps.