Celek signs 3-year extension with Eagles

MOBILE, Ala. - Brent Celek might get to retire an Eagle. But judging from his consistency and durability during his first nine seasons, the tight end may outlast the three-year contract he agreed to on Tuesday.

Celek had two years added to his existing deal and will be signed through the 2018 season. The total worth of the contract is $13 million, with $6 million guaranteed. Celek was slated to earn $5 million in the final year of his previous contract.

While the exact details are not known, the new contract is expected to lower Celek's salary-cap number for 2016.

"In this league it's so hard to find guys who can block at the point of attack, pass protect, separate, catch the ball," Eagles vice president of football operations Howie Roseman said at Senior Bowl workouts. "Just a true Eagle."

Celek was a key figure as former coach Chip Kelly implemented a new culture three years ago. New coach Doug Pederson obviously thinks the same. But he wouldn't have kept Celek, who turned 31 on Monday, if he couldn't play.

Despite playing 17 percent fewer snaps this season, Celek finished with more receiving yards (398) than he did the year before (340). He also caught 27 passes and three touchdowns. And Celek has developed into one of the more reliable blocking tight ends in the NFL.

His extension came a day after the Eagles announced a five-year deal worth $42 million with $20 million guaranteed for third-year tight end Zach Ertz.

The Eagles also are expected to work out deals with tackle Lane Johnson and defensive end Vinny Curry.

"It's an important message to your team that if you play really well and you do the right things and that you're drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, you got a chance to stay for a long time," Roseman said. "I think it's important for the organization."

A year after missing the Senior Bowl, Roseman was back making the rounds - mingling with other executives, coaches, agents and evaluating players.

"This is a special place for me," Roseman said. "We have a summer place about an hour away. My wife's family is from here. It's just nice to kind of be back in this environment, around a lot of people that you've been around with for a long time. It's exciting."

While his exact role remains unclear, the former general manager will clearly play an instrumental part in the crafting of the Eagles this year. Owner Jeffrey Lurie declined to define Roseman's role last week because he said the team was still searching for a new "personnel head."

Roseman, who was part of the three-man committee that hired Pederson, was asked where the search stood.

"Jeffrey talked about that a little bit and I think I'll just deferred to his comments," Roseman said.

Roseman was exorcised out of football operations last year when Lurie gave Kelly full control. He was still oversaw the salary cap and contract negotiations. He said he never said stopped being an evaluator, though, and is confident the Eagles' scouting staff won't miss a beat after the front office shift.

"I never kind of stayed out of not watching," Roseman said. "Always was interested in watching guys and keeping up on it. But, more importantly, it goes back to our staff and the people that we have that are good evaluators."