Could Darren Sproles Become A Salary Cap Casualty?
By Matt Giraldi
Philadelphia Eagles running back Darren Sproles is preparing to enter his 11th NFL season. In the final year of his contract, Sproles faces uncertainty about what the future holds.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Darren Sproles is the old man on campus. He’s survived the rigors of the NFL for 10 years missing just seven games. As a (recently turned) 33 year old running back, the writing is on the wall that eventuality will rear it’s ugly head. Not For Long. Sproles however has done the most with his opportunity. Of the Eagles running backs that were on the roster last season, Sproles had the most offensive snaps.
Throughout the offseason, Sproles was often linked to hypothetical trade situations or rumors. His absence during the voluntary portion of OTA’s irked fans and media alike, doing nothing but fanning the flames of a nonexistent fire. Sproles and Eagles head coach Doug Pederson have both clarified the situation since then, through the media and Sproles’ subsequent presence at mandatory mini-camp.
His eventual tipping point could ultimately be that he’ll have the 10th highest cap hit in 2016 among running backs according to Spotrac. Sure he could renegotiate, but considering this is the final year of his deal, it wouldn’t make sense for he nor the Eagles. Hitting the market as one of the oldest running backs in the NFL might not pay a lot, but that line of thinking didn’t do wonders with NBA free agency and might not in the NFL either.
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That’s not to say that Sproles cannot provide the team with their money’s worth of productivity. The Eagles used their third pick in the draft, a fifth-rounder, to draft Wendell Smallwood. There is also undrafted free-agent Byron Marshall, who is a jack of all trades just like Sproles. Given their skill-set in the passing game, Sproles would be a phenomenal teacher to help refine the more difficult aspects of NFL pass protection and route running.
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The Eagles clearly want competition at the spot. There are currently six running backs on the 89-man roster. Last season, the Kansas City Chiefs kept three running backs at the 53-man roster cut down date. Unfortunately only the rookies are signed into 2018, and the Eagles don’t have a first-round pick in next year’s running back heavy draft.
Having veteran depth, even on a year-to-year basis, is a vital aide for Pederson as he gets his feet off the ground. The issue is: There’s simply not much room to carry more than four running backs. The Eagles held four running backs at the cut down date last season. In that occurrence, Sproles could very well be a safe bet to play the 2016 season as a member of the Eagles. While Pederson as been adamant about Sproles’ role on the team, what else is he supposed to say? Coach speak is eerily parallel to talking politics. The goal is not necessarily to fulfill promises, but to gain appeasement from as many as possible that are close to the situation.
Kenjon Barner‘s experience on special teams provides the versatility coaches love. Ryan Mathews is a lock. Are a fifth-round pick and an undrafted free agent simply fighting for a fourth running back spot, or could both supplant one of the entrenched veterans? If general manager Howie Roseman wants to continue playing with the salary cap and save some money that could go towards extending defensive lineman Bennie Logan, Sproles could find himself on the move in favor of the younger players.