Cut, Keep or Restructure: Making Calls on Philadelphia Eagles' Worst Contracts

As the Philadelphia Eagles’ new director of player personnel, Chip Kelly will have a number of decisions to make this offseason regarding contracts. The following seven players are scheduled to make enough money in 2015 that a salary cap release may be feasible.

You won’t see Jason Peters on here; after all, Peters’ $9 million cap hit for next season does rank him in the top 10 most expensive left tackles, but he’s a seven-time Pro Bowler and is coming off one of his best seasons. He’s not going anywhere.

The same applies for veterans like Evan Mathis, Jason Kelce or Connor Barwin, and younger players like Mychal Kendricks, Nick Foles and Fletcher Cox are still on their inexpensive rookie deals.

But those players scheduled to earn premium amounts will be heavily evaluated, especially if they are no longer elite performers at their position.

Whether the Eagles release these players obviously depends on the depth at the position as well as other factors, like the player’s skill level, injury history and age. Some players may be asked to restructure their contracts to lower the cap hit, while others will be flat-out released and have to find work elsewhere.

*Contract figures are per OvertheCap.com. Players are listed in order of 2015 cap hit; this will only include those currently under contract and not free agents. The opinion listed is what I would do as general manager of the Eagles.

LeSean McCoy

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Scheduled 2015 Cap Hit/Position Rank: $11.95 million (second)

The only running back scheduled to make more money in 2015 than LeSean McCoy is Adrian Peterson, who may or may not be on the Minnesota Vikings. Asking the Philadelphia Eagles to pay nearly $12 million for a running back is absurd, and McCoy’s inconsistent play for the early part of 2014 will certainly make Chip Kelly weigh his options.

Last offseason, Kelly showed he wasn’t afraid to make a bold move, as he released three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeSean Jackson. The Eagles still won 10 games and set a franchise record in points scored (although they missed the playoffs). This could make Kelly think he can do the same in jettisoning McCoy.

Realistically though, there aren’t any alternatives at the running back position. Darren Sproles is a fine change-of-pace back, and Chris Polk emerged as a goal-line threat, but neither can provide what McCoy brings to the team. Even in a "down year," McCoy rushed for over 1,300 yards, earning his third career Pro Bowl selection.

He’s still just 26 years old, and considering the Eagles aren’t paying big money to any quarterback, McCoy will be back.

The Call: Keep

Trent Cole

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Scheduled 2015 Cap Hit/Position Rank: $11,625,000 (seventh)*

Trent Cole will be one of the more interesting decisions the Philadelphia Eagles will have to make. He’s the consummate professional, a 10-year veteran and multiple Pro Bowler, but he’s set to earn more than $11 million in 2015.

That’s too much money to pay for a player who ranks just 52nd in sacks over the last three seasons. Cole provides a good pass rush and plays the run very well, and it’s likely this will come down to whether the Eagles can retain impending free agent Brandon Graham.

If Graham is re-signed, it decreases Cole’s chance of coming back. Regardless, Cole will have to accept a substantial pay cut to stay with the team. He’s hinted that he will do that, though.

The Call: Restructure (three years, $16 million)

*Cole’s contract is listed under 4-3 defensive ends, since that was his position when he signed the extension.

Cary Williams

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Scheduled 2015 Cap Hit/Position Rank: $8,166,668 (13th)

Despite his teammate Bradley Fletcher’s obvious struggles, Cary Williams actually played fairly well in 2014, aside from the costly penalties. He was rated by Pro Football Focus (subscription required) as an above-average cornerback in pass coverage, and those players aren’t easy to find.

Williams played much better as the season went on, and his 72.3 passer rating allowed in the final eight weeks rated in the top third of all cornerbacks, per PFF. The Philadelphia Eagles won’t re-sign Fletcher, and they’ve shown they prefer playing Brandon Boykin on the inside.

That means the team may have no choice but to keep Williams as one starter, sign a free agent and draft a future starter in the high rounds. But Williams hasn’t always displayed the best attitude, and his coaches may have grown weary of him in Philly. Cutting him has a minimal effect in dead money.

The Call: Cut

DeMeco Ryans

Patric Schneider/Associated Press

Scheduled 2015 Cap Hit/Position Rank: $6.9 million (10th)

DeMeco Ryans’ contract makes it incredibly easy for the Philadelphia Eagles to part ways with him; after all, he’s a soon-to-be 31-year-old inside linebacker coming off a torn Achilles tendon, and there’s absolutely no dead money should the organization release him.

But Ryans is a team player, and he’s produced during his three-year stint with the club. He has lost a step in pass coverage, but he and Mychal Kendricks complement each other well.

Ryans could leave, and the Eagles would go with a combination of Travis Long, Najee Goode, Emmanuel Acho, Casey Matthews and Marcus Smith in his place (all could be in the running to start).

But it makes sense for the Eagles to try to work out a new deal with Ryans. Considering his injury, he has to be open to restructuring.

The Call: Restructure (three years, $12.4 million)

Todd Herremans

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Scheduled 2015 Cap Hit/Position Rank: $5.2 million (seventh)

Like Trent Cole, Todd Herremans is a 10-year veteran of the Philadelphia Eagles, tied for the longest-tenured member of the team. Herremans has been an asset to the offensive line, having started at every position except center since being drafted.

His play dropped off in 2014, as he rated just 57th out of 78 qualifying guards per Pro Football Focus’s rankings. Herremans didn’t give up any sacks but surrendered 15 quarterback hurries in just seven games, a rate that would have rated him among the worst at his position. Herremans is also coming off a biceps injury that prematurely ended his season.

The Eagles got fairly good play from backup Andrew Gardner when he was forced to start, and the team liked Allen Barbre enough last offseason to sign him to a three-year extension. That marks the writing on the wall for Herremans.

The Call: Cut

Riley Cooper

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Scheduled 2015 Cap Hit/Position Rank: $4.8 million (29^th)

For those who thought Riley Cooper’s 2013 season was a fluke, you were correct. Without DeSean Jackson opposite him, Cooper struggled to separate from cornerbacks, rating dead-last among Pro Football Focus’s wide receiver rankings. 

Cooper finished with just 55 catches, 577 yards and three touchdowns. He was just the second receiver in the last three years to start all 16 games and finish with numbers that low; save for a two-touchdown game late in the season, Cooper would have scored just once all year.

The problem is that the Philadelphia Eagles can’t really release Cooper just yet; his five-year contract has more dead money in 2015 than his cap hit, meaning the team is stuck with him for one more season.

The Call: Keep

Brent Celek

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Scheduled 2015 Cap Hit/Position Rank: $4.8 million (13th)

Brent Celek has reached the point in his career where he’s no longer a threat to catch passes; he’s more of an in-line tight end who best serves as a blocker as compared to the new generation of hybrid slot receivers/tight ends, like Zach Ertz.

Fortunately, Celek is really, really good at what he does. He’s the perfect team player. He blocks exceptionally well. Chip Kelly is never shy in praising Celek, who is still rated by PFF as the 10th-best tight end in the game in 2014, despite ranking just 24th in catches.

"

Chip Kelly seemed to take exception to the idea that Zach Ertz should get more snaps. He considers Brent Celek best blocking TE in NFL

— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) November 19, 2014"

Bringing Celek back is an easy decision.

The Call: Keep