When Will Eagles’ Big Contracts Become a Problem?
Last season, Jalen Hurts’ cap hit was just $13.56 million, according to overthecap.com.
When a superstar quarterback takes up just 5.2% of overall cap space, good things can happen—the Philadelphia Eagles built a terrific roster around him en route to a Super Bowl.
Similarly, in 2017, Carson Wentz and Nick Foles combined made less than 5% of the overall salary cap.
Though that perhaps wasn’t absolutely necessary to win their first-ever Lombardi Trophy in the subsequent winter, this allowed for immense flexibility.
The question for the Eagles: When it’s time to start paying Hurts and others legitimate money, even if they continue to defer, will it hinder their Super Bowl upside?
Eagles Have Taken Full Advantage of Deferred Money
General manager Howie Roseman loves to defer money. But who can blame him? The Eagles had arguably the NFL’s best all-around roster in 2024, despite signing several big-money contracts in recent memory. They have nine players with an average annual value of $17 million or above, with Hurts coming in at a lofty $51 million. How are they doing it?
Roseman and the Eagles love their kick-the-can-down-the-road approach. They’ll pay the bulk of the money in their superstars’ contracts at a later date.
A lot of teams do this, but Philadelphia uses it to its fullest potential. It’s a very risky thing to do, mind you, but not when you’re contending for and winning championships.
The salary cap was easy to navigate when Hurts, especially, was still on his rookie deal. But following the team’s loss in Super Bowl LVII, the star quarterback signed a massive five-year extension. Going from second-round quarterback money to a quarter-billion in total value ($255 million) is a step-up.
Roseman’s been able to manage, though. Hurts has yet to be paid anywhere near his overall cap number, and the same can be said about a few of the other expensive guys on the team.
To that point, the Eagles won’t be feeling the pain on that front for a little while. Hurts has a cap number of a ridiculous $97.55 million in 2029, however. While the Eagles almost definitely won’t be paying that much, they evidently won’t get away with their current approach forever. They should have a few more years, though.
Where the Eagles Stand in 2025
The Eagles lost some pieces in the 2025 offseason, but a lot were negligible in the grand scheme of things. The core is still very much intact, and the Birds are in a position to become the NFL’s next dynasty.
Entering 2025, the Eagles still arguably have the league’s best roster. With top-tier offensive linemen, offensive skill position players, and a defense that was a nightmare for even Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LIX, it should be another memorable season in Philadelphia.
Roseman and the Eagles’ approach allows for a pretty sizable window to win championships. When the salary cap starts looking less ideal, that’s when some big decisions have to be made. Perhaps, they consider a complete retool. But that’s a problem for years down the line—the Birds are trying to win another championship now.
Hurts’ cap percentage is a very reasonable 7.5% for the 2025 season, resulting in a salary of $21.87 million. As a result, Philadelphia still has one of the best rosters in football.
They won’t be able to do this forever, but taking big risks is necessary for achieving big rewards. A possible dynasty is that reward.
PHOTO: James Lang/Imagn Images
Discover more from Philadelphia Sports Nation
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categorized:Eagles