EaglesCap.com estimates the Eagles to have a little over $25 million in cap space going into the 2013 season. With teams beginning to make salary cap cuts, we expect the Eagles to join in and add a little bit more. For those that don't know, the NFL does not guarantee their contracts. In fact, most good front offices will set themselves up be able to cut a number of players during a rebuilding year. The New York Jets made a number of roster moves today that could save them close to $30 million. Believe it or not, Howie Roseman and the Eagles front office planned this rebuilding year, just in case their big moves didn't work out (which obviously they didn't). The Eagles put themselves in a position to be able to cut certain aging players if they were no longer contenders (which obviously they aren't). Here's a look at some of the players the Eagles can and cannot cut.
Players They Could Cut
Mike Patterson is owed a little over $4 million, but they can cut him with no cost. Patterson is a good veteran player, and an even better teammate. He could certainly fit in the Eagles new defense playing the 1 technique (between the guard and center), but he'll be turning 30 in September and is due at least $4 million for the next 4 years.
Cullen Jenkins will be making $5.5 million next year, and can only cost the Eagles $1.5 million to cut him. He'll be making half of what he currently makes if kept for next year, and won't cost them any money to cut after 2013. Like Patterson, I could see Jenkins playing in new Defensive Coordinator Bill Davis' 4-3 under defense, primarily as a 5 technique Defensive End, which he played somewhat in Green Bay.
DeMeco Ryans is due over $6.5 million if he's kept for 2013, unfortunately for him he has no dead money due. DeMeco has another two years due over $6 million, and just like this year, has no dead money in the future. It makes perfect sense to cut DeMeco financially and also systematically. He wasn't particularly good in Houston's 3-4 defense, but it could be different in this 4-3 under defense where he would be playing Davis' "Thumper".
Everyone's favorite player Nnamdi Asomugha is due a whopping $15 million, which is his highest yearly salary in his 5 year $60 million contract he signed in 2011. Cutting him this year would cost them a $4 million I imagine they would happily pay to get him out of town. After this year he doesn't have any dead money due, let's hope the Eagles Front Office forgets that and just cuts him now.
Players They Could Keep
Nate Allen is only due a little over $1 million, and they can cut that in half by cutting him now. He has played terrible in his years here and I expect the safety position to be addressed this offseason. Unfortunately, he may just be kept around for a body and let walk after 2013.
Danny Watkins has also played terrible in his 2 years here, but I think Chip Kellys' zone blocking scheme could be a better fit for him. Danny is owed over $2 million, but it is basically all dead money so it wouldn't make sense to cut him. In 2014 he would be making close to $2.5 million, and his dead money cost would be around $1 million, so it's possible Watkins has one more year to work out.
Trent Cole either showed some age or simply just looked just as bad as everyone else. With that being said, he'll likely be an Eagle in 2013...and probably after that. If cut, Cole would be owed more than he would make playing here. He still has 5 years and and around $50 million owed in the contract extension he signed. Each year, the dead money goes down, which ultimately could increase his likelihood of being cut if he's not fitting into the "Predator" position in Davis' system.
Jason Peters is on this list because it would make perfect sense cutting him financially...if he's not the Jason Peters we all know. When healthy, he's a top Left Tackle in football, if not he's a 31 year old tackle owed $20 million over the next 2 years. We better hope he's healthy, he'll likely be cut if not, due to the fact he has zero dead money.
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