Eagles Should Shed Veterans During 2024 Offseason
There are tweaks, and then there is ripping off the bandaid. One strategy is looking to avoid pain in the short term while the other is a jolt of uncomfortable move many aren’t ready for! When it applies to the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2024 offseason, the fan base will have varying opinions on how to attack the tough roster decisions. It’s hard to say that one plan above another will be fullproof, but not being aggressive will only delay the inevitable.
I’ve got a laundry list of decisions Howie Roseman and the Eagles need to make. Play along, and see how much cash we can save on the 2024 salary cap while still being competitive!
The Big Name Veterans: Choose 2 or 3
Jason Kelce
The Eagles will save the $14.25 million they paid Kelce in 2023.
Fletcher Cox
Fletcher Cox played for a flat $10 million in 2023. Letting him go would solve a lot of financial issues while missing his production.
Brandon Graham
Graham is the player the Eagles just can’t quit. He wants to play one more season. He made $5 million last year.
GAME PLAN: Moving on from Kelce and Cox could save you just over $24 million. I’d suggest that they do it.
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Veterans With Dead Cap Penalty – DON’T BE SHY!
James Bradberry
A $17.2 million dead cap hit may preclude Bradberry exiting the roster. His dead cap hit does drop by roughly $5 million additional dollars after this season. There is a chance that Howie Roseman could attempt to restructure his deal, but whether Bradberry wants to play ball is a more complicated issue.
Kevin Byard
Moving on from Kevin Byard only cost the Eagles roughly $700K in a dead cap hit. After his arrival, his impact on the defense was minimal. There was always a chance that Vic Fangio would value him, but at a price tag of $14 million, his exit was the right decision.
Avonte Maddox
If you want to keep Maddox, you agree to pay him $9.7 million without a restructure. If you let him go, you take a dead cap hit of $7.7 million. He has not been available enough due to injury over his Eagles career to be willing to commit almost $10 million for his services. I’m okay with rolling the dice on this one.
GAME PLAN: If Howie asks, I’m telling him to do everything to restructure Bradberry so that he has another chance to make good on that contract extension. Then after waving goodbye to Maddox and Byard, I’m creating another $15 million in salary cap space.
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An extra $40 million of salary cap flexibility added to the $21 million that is currently available with their draft capital would allow for a dramatic makeover. Stop putting it off! The Eagles should get younger and begin refreshing that defense during the 2024 offseason!
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