The Philadelphia Eagles have over $40 million in cap space entering free agency, with multiple needs on both sides of the ball.
One of the more underrated storylines this NFL offseason for the organization, though, was the incoming negotiation to their 2021 draft picks. Pro Bowlers DeVonta Smith and Landon Dickerson are up for extensions this offseason, and how the organization handles both could determine how aggressive the team ends up being in the free agent market.
One of those dominoes, just hours before the market opened, has fallen.
Eagles Extend Landon Dickerson
When Dickerson was taken with the Eagles’ second-round pick in 2021, the belief was that the organization saw him as the heir apparent to Hall of Fame center Jason Kelce.
After some early-season struggles on the left side of the line, Philadelphia moved Dickerson to left guard. He’s been a Pro Bowl-caliber player and played in almost every game ever since.
The Eagles announced they have rewarded Dickerson’s excellence with a four-year contract extension worth over $84 million that keeps the former 37th overall pick in Philadelphia through the 2028-29 season.
The Alabama product has reached back-to-back Pro Bowls and has locked down the left side of the line with left tackle Jordan Mailata while becoming the highest-paid guard in NFL history.
The full details, announced first by Adam Schefter, detail the Eagles giving their starting guard an annual average salary of $21 million with $50 million in guarantees.
At just 25 years old, Dickerson is coming off a season in which Pro Football Focus graded him at an above-average 70.0. He has been a part of a team that has reached the playoffs in each of his first three seasons in the league.
Dickerson isn’t the only 2021 draft pick-up for an extension, though.
What Happens With DeVonta Smith?
Philadelphia is one of the more proactive teams when it comes to locking up homegrown talent with long-term extensions. In 2021, the organization signed the previously mentioned Mailata, tight end Dallas Goedert, edge rusher Josh Sweat, and cornerback Avonte Maddox during the season to keep their contracts ahead of the market.
While Dickerson’s new deal will surely be the latest example of Philadelphia acting quickly to keep one of their better players, the pending negotiation with former first-round pick Smith could be more of a challenge.
This isn’t to say the Eagles won’t come to an agreement — they almost assuredly will. But with Smith having a fifth-year option to his draft status, Philadelphia could be a little more patient with the former Heisman Trophy winner.
KEEP READING: Eagles Listening to Trade Calls for DE Josh Sweat
Smith has been as productive as Dickerson has been in their first three years. The fellow Alabama star has caught 240 passes for over 3,000 yards and 19 touchdowns since the Eagles traded up for him.
Dickerson’s contract allowing him to become the highest-paid guard in football won’t have an indication of Smith becoming the same at his position, but the organization will pay their top two picks in one of their more successful drafts over $20 million.
Ahead of free agency, though, it’s clear that the Eagles are prepared to not just be major players on the open market, but ready to land deals to their homegrown talent as well.
Every move. Every team. Don’t miss a thing with PFN’s NFL Free Agency Tracker.