The 2021 Draft class for the Philadelphia Eagles was an excellent one when you’re judging based on immediate impact.
Both first-round star receiver DeVonta Smith and second-round guard Landon Dickerson have started almost every game for the Birds, and have been important cogs in the current championship window open.
As part of the natural process of having two top players on rookie contracts, though, the Eagles now need to head to the negotiating table to offer extensions to both Smith and Dickerson.
What will both new deals look like? Let’s break that down.
DeVonta Smith
After years of missing with first-round wideouts, the Eagles struck gold when they traded up for the Heisman Trophy-winning receiver in Smith.
In three seasons with Philadelphia, the former Alabama star has totaled 240 receptions for over 3,000 yards, and 19 touchdowns. He's missed just one start in his NFL career and has been a terrific playoff performer.
As he enters his fourth year in the league, figuring out the kind of deal he's in line for will be difficult for the Eagles. On any other team, Smith is easily a No. 1 wideout and could demand that kind of money. With A.J. Brown already on the team, Smith is essentially a 1A type of wideout.
So where is Smith likely to land?
There's an argument to be made that Smith will likely look for an extension that pays him nearly $25 million per year - the exact deal that Brown has with the Eagles currently.
Would an identical four-year, $100 million for Smith get the job done? Smith has shown to be well worth the money so the answer should be a resounding yes.
Landon Dickerson
Dickerson is a far more difficult player to judge.
The second-round o-lineman out of Alabama was originally thought to be the team's heir apparent to Jason Kelce at the position. After some changes at left guard, though, Dickerson has become an every-down guard and one of the best in football.
Due to his position change, the cost of Dickerson certainly changes.
Kelce's $14 million deal for centers is far different than the $20 million Chris Lindstrom is currently playing at in Atlanta. Due to that change, Dickerson will likely be looking for a contract that pays him north of $15 million per year - that alone would be fifth among guards in the NFL.
Philadelphia currently has $20 million in cap space with plenty of cap space to be had with restructures and potential retirements. The biggest need for the team going into the offseason isn't just to improve the defense, but also to keep two of their best offensive players in midnight green for the foreseeable future.
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