PHILADELPHIA — Large receiver DeVonta Smith’s $75 million contract extension with the Eagles continues an organizational pattern: lock in core gamers as quickly as doable and keep away from the inevitable value improve.
Smith’s new contract, introduced by the staff on Monday, ties the receiver to Philly by way of the 2028 season. Phrases weren’t disclosed, however a supply advised ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the contract ensures Smith $51 million.
In Smith, they safe a productive participant (2,262 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns up to now two seasons) who has missed only one recreation as a result of damage since becoming a member of the Eagles because the tenth decide within the 2021 draft. He’s additionally rising as a pacesetter and tone-setter for a staff that misplaced two pillars to retirement this offseason: middle Jason Kelce and defensive deal with Fletcher Cox.
Philadelphia now has two of the top-paid receivers within the recreation in Smith and A.J. Brown. How will the financials work? And with the addition of working again Saquon Barkley, are there sufficient touches to go round to justify the contracts and preserve everybody joyful?
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Listed below are three numbers to contemplate:
$175 million: The mixed worth of Smith and Brown’s contracts. The Eagles are the one staff at present with two receivers ranked within the prime 10 in complete worth and common annual wage, per Spotrac.
Each have offers averaging $25 million per season, placing them behind solely Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins ($30 million), Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders ($28 million) and Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams ($26.7 million).
The one staff with two broad receivers in 2024 making a minimum of $20 million in money worth was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, per ESPN Stats & Info. Whether or not the Eagles be a part of that group this season relies on how Smith’s new cash is allotted.
$26.5 million: Brown’s projected cap quantity in 2025 — at present the very best on the staff.
The financials are manageable in the meanwhile regardless of the eye-popping numbers. Brown carries a cap variety of $12.2 million this season and Smith is on the books for $6.4 million, which should not escalate given Smith’s extension is for the 2026-28 seasons.
However Brown’s cap quantity greater than doubles subsequent yr whereas Smith, who will probably be enjoying on his fifth-year choice in ’25, is slated to make round $16 million.
With Jalen Hurts’ cap determine additionally rising considerably in 2025 (from $13.5 million to $21.8 million), the Eagles might be feeling the squeeze this time subsequent yr and not using a Brown contract restructure — or one thing extra dramatic.
77: The typical variety of receiving targets for Barkley within the seasons by which he is performed a minimum of 13 video games.
Coach Nick Sirianni has made it clear that the offense runs by way of Smith, Brown and tight finish Dallas Goedert; that trio commanded 353 targets final season — a 67 % share.
However there’s now one other star talent participant to account for. Barkley’s receiving means was a part of the explanation the Eagles went in opposition to their norm and paid the working again a three-year, $37.75 million contract.
“You must be an ideal passing assault working again as effectively. For us it is obtained to be multifunctional,” CEO Jeffrey Lurie stated of Barkley in March. “And he exhibited a really particular talent set each within the working and the passing recreation that we predict actually might be maximized by being on a staff with higher talent positions, quarterback, offensive line.”
D’Andre Swift led all Eagles backs with 49 targets final yr. Kenneth Gainwell led in 2022 with simply 29 targets — the primary yr Brown and Smith have been paired collectively. Barkley had 60 targets in 13 video games final season. The 2 occasions he performed 16 video games in a season — in 2018 and 2022 — he had 121 and 76 targets, respectively.
A projected three-down again, Barkley ought to get extra alternatives than his Eagles predecessors by the use of being on the sphere extra. However how three extremely paid gamers in Smith, Brown and Barkley get fed within the offense this season will probably be value monitoring.
“What’s essential within the means of a season is that we construct the connection, we construct the staff, so no matter how a lot they’re consuming, everybody is happy for one another,” Sirianni stated.
