Potential ripple effects from DeVonta Smith contract extension

To begin this week, the Philadelphia Eagles were able to get a new deal done with wide receiver DeVonta Smith, extending him through the 2028 season.

Philly gave Smith a 3-year extension worth $75 million and $51 million guaranteed.

Between Smith, A.J. Brown and Jalen Hurts, the Eagles have given out a trio of deals worth up to $430 million over the next several years, including almost $300 million in guaranteed money. It proves the Eagles care about paying their best players, but it's also going to impact their future in more than one way.

Sure, it helps to have your great players locked down for future years, however things might be more difficult in other areas for Philadelphia, going forward.

Flashback: DeVonta Smith hangs out with Inside The Iggles

DeVonta Smith's contract extension won't just affect the Eagles, but other players around the league

As it stands, the six most expensive contracts on the Eagles roster all lie on offense.

Historically, when the Eagles are a good football team, they also have a formidable defense. Because they have dedicated so much money to Hurts, Brown and Smith in the foreseeable future, that is going to make drafting defense all that much more important.

And, the Eagles have also done a good job drafting defensive players in recent years. They just need to add more, especially after a down year in 2023. Not being able to pay top-tier defensive players in the coming offseason or two could become an issue, but if Philly is able to draft intelligently, they can avoid disappointment in free agency.

Other than impacting the Eagles financially, Smith's contract is certainly going to impact guys like Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings and Ja'Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals, who are two of the most prominent wide receivers involved in future contract discussions at the moment. Another one that many aren't talking as much about is Dallas Cowboys wideout CeeDee Lamb, who enters his fifth-year option in 2024.

At the moment, Smith and Brown account for the fourth and fifth-most expensive wide receiver contract in football, on an annual average basis, each earning $25 million per year. You can imagine both Jefferson and Chase, and probably Lamb too, are going to either be right at the top ($30 million annually) or break that number at this stage.

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