Sources: Eagles close to trading Maxwell, Alonso
The Maxwell and Alonso additions were part of a frenzy of moves made by Chip Kelly, who was given full authority over personnel, last offseason.
The Eagles and Dolphins are putting the finishing touches on a trade that would send cornerback Byron Maxwell and linebacker Kiko Alonso to Miami for draft-pick compensation, NFL sources said.
The NFL Network and ESPN were first to report on the exchange.
The trade can't be officially announced until the start of the new league year on Wednesday at 4 p.m. The Dolphins and Maxwell still have to work out a new contract, the Miami Herald reported. The Alonso part of the deal is nearly complete, pending a physical, a source close to the situation said.
Maxwell, 28, signed a six-year, $63 million contract last offseason. He failed to play up to the worth of the deal. His salary-cap number is $9.7 million for 2016. If the Eagles trade him to the Dolphins under the original terms of the deal, the Eagles would save $4.9 million of the $9.7 million.
Alonso, 25, was traded by the Bills to the Eagles last March for running back LeSean McCoy. He reinjured his knee during the preseason, had arthroscopic surgery in September, and didn't play for most of the first half of the season. When he returned, he clearly looked less than 100 percent and struggled.
Alonso has one year left (at $941,418) on his rookie contract. He might have been slotted to play strong-side linebacker in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz' 4-3 scheme for the coming season. Jordan Hicks and Mychal Kendricks are expected to start at the two other linebacker spots.
The Eagles don't have much depth at cornerback and are young. Eric Rowe finished his rookie season starting opposite Maxwell after Nolan Carroll suffered a season-ending broken ankle. Carroll is slated to become a free agent on Wednesday, although the Eagles continue to talk to his representation.
The Maxwell and Alonso additions were part of a frenzy of moves made by Chip Kelly, who was given full authority over personnel, last offseason. The Eagles are also trying to trade DeMarco Murray or Ryan Mathews, or possibly both running backs, per league sources.