Another day, another cornerback in the NFL just making life more miserable for the Philadelphia Eagles off the field.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz was the first to report overnight that the New England Patriots and cornerback Christian Gonzalez have finally come up with a contract extension. Gonzalez's new deal is a four-year, $135 million extension, with $102 million guaranteed. His new $33.7 million-per-year deal makes him the highest-paid corner in NFL history.
This is the second month in a row that an NFL corner has reset the market at the position. The Eagles knew this was coming, but it still gives them quite a headache next offseason.
Eagles' contract situation with Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean just got more expensive
Everyone knows the big decision coming for the Eagles next offseason with Mitchell and DeJean. During the 2020 season, DeJean will enter the transition to his new rookie deal, and although Mitchell has two more years, the Eagles will most likely secure more years with both guys in the future.
Mitchell was the Eagles' first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. DeJean ended up going after him in the second round of the same draft. Since then, the two have dominated on the field together.
Philly had Mitchell on the outside and DeJean in the slot/safety, making for one of the best cornerback duos in the NFL. Both had spectacular 2025 campaigns, combining for 34 pass breakups during the season. Mitchell and DeJean secured their first Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections in the process.
That has led to what will be a very difficult 2027 offseason coming for the Eagles. They will have to pay both DeJean and Mitchell hefty contracts and make them the highest paid players at their positions.
What will be interesting is how the Eagles will pay DeJean. He is technically a safety/nickel player, so he may not get the same kind of money an outside cornerback does. Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James is the highest-paid safety at $25.2 million per year so that DeJean could be looking at close to $30 million per year.
As for Mitchell, he's more like what Gonzalez got. Mitchell should easily be able to hit about $35 million per year, if not more. The Eagles are not afraid to pay their homegrown talent after giving Jordan Davis the biggest contract for a nose tackle and Jalen Carter the biggest defensive tackle contract in NFL history just this offseason and training camp.
This will make it a very expensive offseason for the Eagles, and many players won't return after the 2026 season. Key starters like Dallas Goedert, Riq Woolen, and Moro Ojomo will sign elsewhere because they can command much more money in free agency.
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It certainly makes things very difficult for the Eagles, as they try to keep improving the roster, but deals like the one Gonzalez got make life tougher. That price tag is only going to continue to go up, so Eagles general manager Howie Roseman better get Mitchell and DeJean's contracts done as soon as possible next offseason before that price goes up again.
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