Andrew Gardner, Eagles Agree to New Contract: Latest Details, Reaction

The Philadelphia Eagles and right guard Andrew Gardner agreed to a three-year contract extension on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Caplan. The deal ensures that Gardner is signed through the 2018 season. 

According to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, the deal has a base value of $4.7 million, including a $500,000 signing bonus with incentives to "bring it much higher."

Entering his sixth season in the NFL, Gardner started eight games last season, the first time in his career he ever started. He also appeared in all 16 games in 2014, another first for him.

It's been a journey to get regular playing time, though, and it seems like he's finally there. According to CSNPhilly.com's Corey Seidman, Gardner is a favorite for the starting right guard job.

Gardner has impressed since training camp, receiving praise from head coach Chip Kelly, per Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com: "The one thing about Andrew is he's very consistent and you know what you're getting. He’s extremely intelligent, knows how to run angles and knows where he's going on every play. He does what you ask him to do."    

Gardner would be responsible to protect some of Philadelphia's biggest playmakers in quarterback Sam Bradford and running back DeMarco Murray as they lead an offense that averaged over 400 yards a game in the preseason. 

A versatile guard who can block varying styles of rushers, Gardner's ability to pass protect will be comforting for an Eagles offense that is reliant on the injury-prone Bradford. Locking him up until 2018 makes it pretty clear that he is in the team's plans moving forward as he seems to have finally found a niche in the NFL. 

Stats courtesy of NFL.com.