Eagles Free Agency: Projecting Contract Offers for Philadelphia

This has the potential to be a pivotal offseason for the Philadelphia Eagles, particularly in free agency. The organization has a healthy cap situation, and there are plenty of needs to fill throughout the roster, the combination of which means some lavish spending could be on the horizon.

That’s good, because in order to attract the top talents on the market, it takes a willingness to open the checkbook and an ability to write plenty of zeros. If we were to only look at some of the top players in just a few of Philly’s areas of need, it becomes abundantly clear just how expensive this time of year can get.

Obviously, the Eagles can’t afford to sign every top free agent that’s on the market. Some will undoubtedly remain with their current teams. Others will simply command excessive salaries this franchise may not be prepared to pay right now. In some cases, it may be more prudent to take on a mid-level free agent.

Then again, the Birds can definitely target one or two top free agents this offseason should it work out and the front office desires. We take a look at which stars head coach Chip Kelly might have his eyes on, and what it might take for executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman to get those players to come to terms.

Byron Maxwell

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Regardless of what they do in the draft or with existing talent, the Eagles should sign a cornerback a) who can play in the NFL and b) to a contract that runs beyond 2015. The hope in Philadelphia is that means somebody better than Cary Williams, Bradley Fletcher and Nolan Carroll—prominent free-agent cornerback additions of the Chip Kelly era.

The Birds could continue to go the stopgap route and focus on rebuilding through the draft, but the organization may have a rare opportunity to acquire a potential rising star through free agency. No doubt the Seattle Seahawks would like to retain starting cornerback Byron Maxwell, only the payday he is likely to command on the open market may dictate his departure.

A sixth-round pick out of Clemson, Maxwell appeared in 29 games for the Seahawks over the past two seasons, starting in 17, during which time he recorded 24 pass breakups, six interceptions and two forced fumbles. Maxwell is 6’1”, 207 pounds and can line up both outside the numbers or in the slot.

Maxwell will be 27 in February and no doubt will attract a lot of attention should he reach the market. That means the Eagles will have competition. That being said, it’s hard to imagine there are many franchises as desperate for defensive back help as Philly.

Using recent free-agent deals such as the ones the Dallas Cowboys made with Brandon Carr (2012) and the Denver Broncos reached with Aqib Talib (2014) as a template, it’s not hard to envision the bidding approaching a $10 million average over five or six years, upwards of $20 million guaranteed for Maxwell. Sure, he doesn’t have quite the body of work as those players did when they signed, but teams will pay extra for the Seattle pedigree.

The Eagles would be wise to consider breaking the bank for a cornerback, and unless the San Francisco 49ers fail to re-sign Chris Culliver, there probably isn’t another with comparable measureables, age and resume. At the very least, Philadelphia should be in the hunt for Maxwell this offseason.

Da'Norris Searcy

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On one hand, there’s no one real established stud safety expected to hit the free-agent market in 2015. Then again, if past years are any indication, they’re often not worth the hefty price tags, not to mention Philadelphia has shied away from spending big bucks on the position for a long time.

Of course, the Eagles’ need for a reliable starting safety is as great as it’s been since the day Brian Dawkins departed in 2009. If nothing else, they could use somebody competent to replace Nate Allen for the season ahead. With those ideas in mind, though, why not shoot for a more permanent solution?

Perhaps the most intriguing safety potentially available this offseason is Da’Norris Searcy. Like Maxwell, Searcy doesn’t have the largest body of work—20 starts in 31 games with 12 pass breakups, four interceptions and a forced fumble over the past two seasons. However, the 2011 fourth-round pick out of North Carolina possesses decent size at 5’11”, 207 pounds, and he is only 26.

How much of Searcy’s success can be traced to playing in the NFL’s third-ranked pass defense and fourth overall is the question. Regardless, he may well be the top young safety on the market, which could drive the price up for potential suitors—should he make it to free agency at all.

If Searcy winds up being available, you can expect the bidding the cost to be more than what Philadelphia paid for Malcolm Jenkins in 2014. The Eagles awarded Jenkins a three-year, $15.5 million contract with $8.5 guaranteed—figures that might appear small aside of what Searcy could wind up with.

Look for Searcy’s average salary to eclipse $6 million over around four years with a guarantee breaking eight figures. Now whether the Eagles are willing to offer that is the part that remains to be seen.

Justin Houston

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Due to the sheer cost, the Eagles taking a serious run at Justin Houston is unlikely. That doesn’t mean the team shouldn’t and won’t kick the tires.

The Eagles are famous for doing their due diligence on most of the big names, whether it’s free agency or the draft. Why, just last year, they reportedly checked in on Houston’s brother Lamarr, according to Geoff Mosher for CSNPhilly.com, although not surprisingly, the price was too high.

Despite the apparent issues with paying top dollar in free agency in all but a select few circumstances, outside linebacker could be a need in Philadelphia, despite the club’s second-place finish in sacks in 2014. Houston, meanwhile, has registered double-digit sacks in each of the last three seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs, including a league-leading 22.0 this year alone.

Houston turns just 26 in January. The 2011 third-round pick out of Georgia has been to three straight Pro Bowls and has plenty of experience playing in a 3-4 defense.

As far as what it’s going to take to sign him, as if the Chiefs would even let him hit the open market, no doubt the cost will climb north of $11 million annually over no fewer than five years with a guarantee above $20 million.

In all honesty, as attractive as adding Houston to Philly’s defense would be, the team may be better off trying to re-sign Brandon Graham instead. According to Derrick Gunn for CSNPhilly.com, the Eagles have an offer on the table that would pay Graham $6.2 million over four seasons with $11 million guaranteed. He probably won’t even have 22.0 sacks in a season, but if they can get Graham to settle for close, the team should be fine at outside linebacker with Connor Barwin still manning the opposite side.

Jeremy Maclin

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Speaking of the Eagles taking care of their own, as much damage as the organization could do on the open market this offseason, they do have to worry about retaining one or two of their own free agents. The most obvious example is Jeremy Maclin, the team’s No. 1 wide receiver who was just recently invited to his first career Pro Bowl.

Maclin wound up declining for personal reasons, but that doesn’t take away from the six-year veteran’s achievements. The ‘09 first-round pick’s 1,318 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns were good for ninth and tied for seventh in the NFL in 2015, respectively.

The Eagles really can’t afford to lose feature wideouts in back-to-back seasons. Last year, you could make a case the offense would be fine without DeSean Jackson because Maclin was returning from a torn ACL. If Maclin departs, who’s supposed to replace him? Jordan Matthews? And even if he’s ready, then who steps up and replaces Matthews?

The safe play is to re-sign Maclin, and quickly—as in before he hits the marketplace in March. A five-year deal that pays him in the range of $10 million annually, similar to what Jordy Nelson of the Green Bay Packers or Greg Jennings of the Minnesota Vikings were rewarded in recent years, should suffice.

Maclin only turns 27 and is coming off a career year in which he played all 16 games for the Eagles. The best part is, he sounds committed to remaining in Philadelphia, telling Reuben Frank for CSNPhilly.com in December, “When the time’s right, [a deal will] get done.”

Jake Locker

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It will be interesting to see what the Eagles do about their quarterback situation, even just as far as the backup is concerned. Presuming Nick Foles is the starter, Mark Sanchez is a free agent. Who will play the role of understudy in 2015?

Sanchez is certainly good enough for a game or two, but there’s no upside there. Matt Barkley has presided as the No. 3 signal-caller for two straight years, but there’s no indication the organization has faith in him. The Eagles could draft somebody, but it’s an extremely weak class for passers, which will inevitably push lesser talents higher in the draft.

The only other alternative is to scour the free-agent pool for another reclamation project in the mold of Sanchez. That’s where Jake Locker comes in.

Locker was almost certainly overdrafted by the Tennessee Titans at No. 8 overall in 2011, but there’s no question he has the arm strength and athleticism to play in the NFL. Perhaps in a supposedly quarterback-friendly offense such as Chip Kelly’s, Locker could realize his true potential.

That’s not to say he’ll become an all-star or anything, but there’s at least some reason to believe he could improve on career numbers such as a 57.5 completion percentage and 79.0 passer rating. For one, he’d be surrounded by more talent in Philly. Also, almost every player who’s come through the system under Kelly has posted a career year.

It’s worth seeing. Locker started only 23 games since becoming a professional, so it’s not like there’s a huge body of work out there. Assuming the Birds can get him under contract for close to what they paid Sanchez in ‘14—$2.25 million—on a one-year deal, it may make sense to bring on Locker and let him compete with Barkley for that No. 2 job.

All contract and salary details provided by Spotrac.