The Philadelphia Eagles continue to think about the future and find ways to save money, as general manager Howie Roseman has again done with the restructuring of edge rusher Nolan Smith Jr.'s contract.
This offseason, the Eagles picked up Smith's fifth-year option on his rookie deal, which would have given him over $13 million for the 2027 season. With the restructuring, Spotrac reports Philly converted $1.24 million of Smith's salary into a signing bonus, creating $992,000 of cap space. The Eagles also converted $12.5 million of his 2027 fifth-year option salary into an option bonus, which opened up $10 million of Philly's 2027 cap space.
Translation? Roseman just made enough space to sign or trade for someone in 2026 as a rental, while leaving enough for 2027 to re-sign players or add another piece to the roster.
Howie Roseman has something cooking after Eagles restructured Nolan Smith Jr.'s contract
Philly currently has $11.8 million in cap space for the 2026 season. Heading into next offseason, they will have $47.9 million in cap space, giving them room to make moves this year and heading into the new season.
The news that Landon Dickerson is going on IR with a knee injury leaves some wondering whether Roseman will add another guard to the picture. Many have speculated that Mekhi Becton is one option for the Eagles to target as a signing after his success as their starting right guard in 2024 during the Super Bowl-winning run.
What about the extra $10 million in cap space for the 2027 season? Well, a lot can come from that.
Cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean will be eligible for contract extensions. Because DeJean is on a four-year deal, not Mitchell's potential five-year deal, the Eagles will have to pay both. Mitchell will command a lot of money and might reset the market at cornerback. DeJean will also be expensive, but the question is whether he gets paid like a corner or a safety.
Other key free agents are coming up for the Eagles, and the team will have to decide whether to pay them. Riq Woolen, Moro Ojomo, and Dallas Goedert are either in the final year of their contracts or have signed only one-year deals. Not all of them will get paid, and there's a chance none of them will. That extra $10 million, though, gives them flexibility if they want to do something about it.
There is also the interesting decision about quarterback Jalen Hurts and whether to give him his second contract extension. They may be able to give him more money, which would create cap, but how spacemuch flexibility that provides depends on how Hurts plays in 2026.
Read more: Everything Eagles fans must know about potential new LG Drew Kendall
One quiet move on a Wednesday opened the floodgates for everything the Eagles could do over the next year. Eagles fans know, though, that Roseman did this for a reason and has a plan for what he wants to do with the money.
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