Philadelphia Eagles: 5 Candidates to Take Todd Herremans' Spot in 2015

The Philadelphia Eagles confirmed Friday that they have released Todd Herremans.

A 10-year veteran and the team's longest-tenured offensive player, Herremans was scheduled to make $5.2 million in 2015. That's a lot of money to pay for a 32-year-old lineman coming off his second season-ending injury in three seasons (this one a biceps tear), and the Eagles need to get younger on their offensive line.

After all, Jason Peters and Evan Mathis—while both still All-Pro players—are 33 years old. Coupled with Herremans, the Eagles were set to field the NFL's oldest starting offensive line in '15.

With Herremans' release, the Eagles will save $2.8 million against the cap, per Spotrac. Will Chip Kelly go with an in-house option to take Herremans' place next season or will he look to free agency? There's also the draft, which would allow Philadelphia to either draft an immediate starter or groom an eventual starter while going with a cheaper option for now.

Here are five possibilities for who lines up as the team's right guard in 2015.

Allen Barbre

Al Bello/Getty Images

The Philadelphia Eagles signed top backup, Allen Barbre, to a three-year contract extension last offseason, and he may see an increased role in the offense with Herremans now released. In fact, Barbre is likely the odds-on favorite to start at right guard in 2015.

Barbre missed all of last season with an ankle injury, forcing the Eagles to shuffle in a slew of players in Evan Mathis’ early-year absence. Barbre has the versatility to play both tackle and guard, and he’s the quintessential Chip Kelly lineman. He clocked a 4.84 in the 40-yard dash back in 2007, setting a then-record for a lineman. And he’s had success when he has played.

"

In 122 snaps since 2013, Allen Barbre has allowed 0 sacks, 0 hits, 0 hurries. Very small sample size. Also very impressive. #Eagles

— Bryn Swartz (@eaglescentral) February 28, 2015"

Barbre is cheap and the team wouldn’t have signed him to that kind of a deal if they didn’t expect him to at least compete for a starting job in the future.

Andrew Gardner/Matt Tobin

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

The Philadelphia Eagles made the most out of their backup guards in 2014, with both Mathis and Herremans missing extensive time due to injuries.

Andrew Gardner struggled when asked to fill in at right tackle, but he played pretty well at right guard. Pro Football Focus actually graded Gardner with a positive mark for the season, and he thrived in two late-season divisional games.

Meanwhile, Matt Tobin was the star of preseason, grading by PFF as the best offensive lineman in the entire NFL. That didn’t carry over into the regular season, as Tobin rated just 52nd among 78 qualifiers, per PFF. Still, Tobin can play both tackle and guard, and he comes with a very cheap price tag for 2015.

Gardner and Tobin are the simple answers in terms of saving money; a camp battle between those two would be logical.

Stefen Wisniewski

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

A former Penn State star, Stefen Wisniewski has been a solid center since being drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2011. He’s started 61 of 64 games during that span, rating annually in the middle of the pack, per Pro Football Focus.

Wisniewski—the nephew of Hall of Fame lineman Steve Wisniewski—has played center the last three seasons, but he saw extended action at guard as a rookie. That versatility could be intriguing to Chip Kelly, especially considering Jason Kelce has missed 18 games since 2012.

Wisniewski would likely command an average annual salary of $3-4 million, which is reasonable for a 25-year-old starter who can contribute at multiple positions on the line.

Mike Iupati

Rob Carr/Getty Images

Mike Iupati is the best offensive lineman among all the free agents, and he will command a hefty salary that could be out of the Philadelphia Eagles’ price range.

Iupati is a former first-round pick who has started 75 games, made three Pro Bowls and earned a First-Team All-Pro selection. Iupati is only 27 years old and would be a long-term option at right guard over the next five or six seasons.

The problem is the price. The Eagles can expect to pay Iupati at least $9-10 million annually. The Tennessee Titans signed Andy Levitre to a six-year, $46.8 million deal back in 2013, and Iupati is a better, younger player. It’s doubtful Chip Kelly wants to commit that much money to an interior lineman.

A Draft Pick

USA TODAY Sports

Sooner or later, the Philadelphia Eagles will have to replenish their offensive line via the NFL draft. Jason Peters and Evan Mathis are nearing the end of their careers, and they’re commanding a lot of money.

Lane Johnson is the heir apparent at left tackle. But Chip Kelly will likely look to spend a high draft pick on an offensive lineman, perhaps even the first-round selection should the team not get Marcus Mariota and a talented lineman drop to pick 20.

Ereck Flowers, Andrus Peat and T.J. Clemmings are three offensive linemen that could step in and make an immediate impact, or be groomed to be long-term players on the line. A mid-round option may be combine sensation Ali Marpet, a freak of an athlete who would be perfect for Kelly’s hurry-up offense.