As the case with most NFL teams, the Philadelphia Eagles’ most important consideration this offseason is their cap space moving forward. Tied directly into this are potential cap casualties, free agents, and draft picks with one of those key free agents being defensive tackle Bennie Logan. Despite reports that the team would love to keep Logan, actions speak louder than words.
This past offseason, the Eagles dished out the most guaranteed money in the NFL mostly to players with a few years left on their contracts to avoid hitting free agency. Players like Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, Vinny Curry, Zach Ertz, and Lane Johnson all accepted contract extensions while Rodney McLeod and Brandon Brooks were brought in on reasonable money deals.
Notice a name missing from that above list of players? Howie Roseman displayed a willingness to allow Logan to go into this offseason as a free agent similar to his approach with Nolan Carroll. However, the main difference between the two is that Logan will not come at a cheap price.
As of now, with current contracts, the Eagles enter the offseason with twelve million to spend. The first important thing to note for that number is the amount required to sign their draft picks which this season will be roughly six-and-a-half million, leaving them with a mere five-and-a-half million to spend on potential free agents.
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Obviously, this isn’t the whole story as there is likely to be many players cut or contracts renegotiated to settle some performance/contract value discrepancies. Ultimately, if Roseman really wants Logan, then the team can make the space but the space won’t be worth it moving forward.
Taking a look at previous contracts and current free agents, Bennie Logan is likely to command somewhere around six-and-a-half million per year, similar to the contracts of Brandon Mebane of the Chargers and Dan Williams of the Raiders. While the length and salary of each individual year can be adjusted we would have to assume it would likely be a four year deal.
In 2018, Philly already has $37.5 million allocated to defensive line players which would rank as second overall in the league that season. The top five spending teams in defensive line players this season were the Dolphins, Jaguars, Rams, Giants, and Buccaneers; not exactly the best company. Of the twelve playoff teams this season only one, the Giants, allocated more than 15% of their cap space to the position group. With their current contracts the Eagles could be sitting close to 22%.
Outside of monetary considerations, we must consider how the league is developing and the importance of situational pass rushing. In the last few seasons we have seen the impact an edge rusher can have in this league with Denver being a phenomenal example. Players like JJ Watt and Von Miller can control games but obviously they don’t grow on trees.
Late in games it is so important for a defense to be able to generate a pass rush. Defensive backs become tired and are unable to hold coverages for long while the great quarterbacks in this league tend to get better. Bennie Logan is one of the best run stopping defensive tackles in the league but struggles to generate any form of a pass rush. The Eagles already have very few players that have quick pass rushing moves and keeping a bull rushing tackle won’t change that.
Finally, the most important consideration is the development of Carson Wentz. The Eagles’ success under Donovan Mcnabb was predicated on the team’s ability to play great defense but ultimately fell short of winning a Super Bowl due to his inaccuracy and lack of surrounding weapons. Teams like the Texans and Bengals have to spend high on defensive players because they don’t have high enough quality quarterbacks to win.
The Eagles won’t have this problem going forward. They need to allocate as many resources possible to Carson Wentz, the offense, and the cornerback position. Even Denver, after winning the Super Bowl, understood the need to let their defensive tackle Malik Jackson walk to hold onto offensive weapons and cheap contracts. Ultimately the Eagles need depth over anything else and a large contract to Bennie Logan will limit that.
READ MORE: Philly’s potential first round draft picks
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