Eagles' spending and mock drafts
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Eagles' spending and mock drafts
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
We don't know a lot about what rules will govern league spending this offseason, but we do know how much money the Eagles currently have committed to players for 2011.
According to ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas, the Eagles have a salary-cap figure of $80.8M. On its own, that number doesn't mean much. But when compared to other NFL teams, it becomes a little more significant. Jimmy K. over at Bleeding Green Nation has put together a nice chart of all the figures, and the Eagles have the fifth-lowest number in the league. Only the Bucs ($59.7M), Panthers ($73M), Chiefs ($74.7M) and Jaguars ($78.1M) have less money counting towards the cap.
Among the teams listed below the Eagles, only the Chiefs made the playoffs last season. And the Birds currently have less money committed than all of their NFC East counterparts: the Giants ($105.2M), the Redskins ($115.2M) and the Cowboys ($136.6M).
If you're wondering what the cap number will be for 2011, well, we don't know that either. We actually are not even certain that there will be a cap. 2010 was an uncapped year, and the ceiling was about $127M in 2009.
But there are a few things worth noting when looking at these numbers. For starters, the Eagles have several players who are not currently under contract for 2011: Michael Vick, Quintin Mikell, Ernie Sims, Omar Gaither, Stewart Bradley, Akeem Jordan, Jerome Harrison, Eldra Buckley, Max Jean-Gilles, Reggie Wells, Nick Cole, Victor Abiamiri, Ellis Hobbs, Dimitri Patterson, David Akers and Sav Rocca.
Right now, we don't know which of these players will be unrestricted free agents and which will be restricted. Furthermore, we don't know which players the Eagles are even interested in bringing back. The numbers above don't include rookie salaries either, which won't be added until the draft takes place, the CBA is agreed on and rookies agree to new deals.
For the Eagles, there are a couple of other big issues still at play as well. The most obvious is Michael Vick and his future. His cap number for 2011 (operating under the assumption that he's back) has yet to be determined.
And another issue is DeSean Jackson's contract. Jackson is scheduled to make $565,000 in the final year of his rookie contract in 2011. If the Eagles choose to rework his deal, Jackson's number could also add to the $80.8M listed above.
Players could still get cut, and trades are a possibility too down the road. Right now, the Eagles look like they'd be in great shape to add free agents (keep in mind they spent a reported $131M in 2010). But depending on a number of factors described above, there could certainly be movement on how much money they have available to them when it's time to sign new players.
MORE MOCKS
Wes Bunting of the National Football Post has the Eagles taking Mississippi State offensive tackle Derek Sherrod in the first round:
A smooth, graceful blocker with good range, change of direction skills and quickness in both the run and pass game. Needs to learn to play a little lower, but has the ability to mirror in space and possesses the makeup of a starting left tackle in the NFL.
Bunting has Sherrod (6-6, 305) listed as the second-best offensive tackle behind USC's Tyron Smith. But he has Wisconsin's Gabe Carimi going 19th to the Giants.
Pro Football Weekly, meanwhile, has the Birds taking Miami cornerback Brandon Harris:
A big, physical corner could fill void left by Ellis Hobbs' injury.
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The Eagles front office makes me sick- Your drivel actually looks intelligent coming from the mouth of Ted Mosby. Hahah...we won't agree on football but at least theres HIMYM.
— adzack3441 - To me your drivel just looks like drivel. — ahab
what the hay is a graceful blocker?— potus- Makes it look easy. — Voytas
Hey Sheil,
I just published my latest mock yesterday and had the Birds taking a 6'2" CB out of Colorado, Jimmy Smith. He could be the big physical presence the Eagles need to stop all these big WRs they face now like of Dez Bryant, Kenny Britt, and Hakeem Nicks.
You can see the whole 1st round on my site SKOHRboard.com— Skohr- Heywood
- Howie, straight from the mail room and a recent graduate of JoeB's don't give them what they deserve intership training seminar is now in charge......Bet we all feel good, now that this non-football guy is the paid hatchet man for Joe....(Rumor has it Joe retired form this job because he had guilt feelings for destroying the talent level with his miserly methods.....) (oop this just in...Joe could car less about his penny pinching as it works for Jeffery and his "not comtted to winning it all" philosphy......Okay now I feel better........and to think we thought Norman was a bogus owner...— nuggett
Eagles are great with their money. Always have been since Lurie bought the team, but it pays to spend. Cowboys, Giants, Steelers and Packers spend a lot and have cap issues sometimes, but they have something we don't SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONSHIPS. It's time to change strategy.- I know its hard to comprehend, but the eagles spent more then the steelers last year and approx the same amount as the Packers. The Redskins and Cowboys outspent everyone and what did that get them? Dont let the facts get in the way of a good story though, right? — phila215
Almost makes me pine for the days of Leonard Tose ... with Lenny, there was always the chance that a 22-year-old Vegas showgirl could wind up owning the team - I think I'd prefer some bimbo over the tag-team weasel act that's running it now.- the eagles spent more money than pitt! thats a lot of money spent on undrafted free agents. they also need to stop spending money on players from other teams practice squads.— Geno D
- If the Eagles spent more dough than Pittsburgh, they need to start getting better value for the dollar. You would think a couple of accountants would be able to figure that out. Unfortunately, they're the people selecting the talent. Makes the Tonner sick.
- Just remember.....if they don't have knee issues we won't sign them.— NC Eagle Fan
- Every time a story on the salary cap comes out, the people who don't understand it use it as a cudgel to beat up the Eagles front office. Listen UP. The salary cap has little to do with how much money is actually spent. You can give out a 5 million dollar bonus and have it all count against the cap that year or you can give out 5 million in up front money and have is count against the cap as 1 million per year for 5 years. Exact same amount of money. Two very different ways of accounting for it. The Eagles are EXCELLENT at managing the salary cap. That does NOT mean they are cheap. No matter how you spin it, being good at managing the salary cap is a good, good thing. Don't try and turn it into a negative. Because it's not.— Falkirk
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