We didn't know when the news would drop. Still, based on what we've seen from Howie Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles over the years, we figured reports of a Cam Jurgens extension would come sooner rather than later. We were right about our theory! A Pro Bowler and Super Champion after his first full year as a starter, the Birds determined 51 needs to stay around for a while.
Cam signed a four-year, $68 million deal with $39.4 million guaranteed. That keeps him in the nest through the 2029 NFL season. It also means he is eligible for free agency in 2030, when he'd be just 31 years old.
And, that isn't even the best part about all of this...
The Eagles won't have to adjust their first-round draft strategy in light of the Cam Jurgens extension.
Philly owns a deep roster with so many stars or stars in the making at all the important positions. They are truly set up to win for a while now. They can also enter the NFL Draft with a stress-free mindset.
The expectation before the announcement of Jurgens' deal was that they'd add to the trenches in Round 1, whether on offense or defense. Following the report of Cam's payday, the strategy shouldn't change much. Whether they trade up or decide to stay put, we'd still wager that's what they are thinking.
Philly blends the ability to draft based on current needs and future planning as well as any organization, if not better. No one questioned Cam's standing with the franchise. He's the starting center moving forward, so that box is checked.
That means the Eagles can invest their resources into adding depth at edge rusher and along the interior of the defensive line. They can also potentially find an eventual successor for Lane Johnson.
And, there's even more good news! How's this for a core as the Philadelphia Eagles move forward? Most of their starting skill players (Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith) are all signed through 2028. So is 80% of their starting offensive line.
Jurgens, Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, and Landon Dickerson are also signed through 2028. On the defensive side of the ball, 2024 First-Team All-Pro Zack Baun signed a three-year extension early during the offseason. He's now eligible for free agency after the 2027-28 season.
He'll have help. Nolan Smith, Jalen Carter, Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean are all still on rookie deals and will be around for a few more seasons. Smith, Carter, and Mitchell have fifth-year options baked into their deals if the Birds choose to exercise them.
If we were to make long stories short, here's what we'd offer as a theory. Philly has quite a core of young talent. The future looks bright, brighter than ever. That says a lot, seeing as how things were already promising. Rest easy as a Philadelphia Eagles fan.