Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Logan, fellow free agents in wait-and-see mode
PHILADELPHIA >> The conquering complete, the Eagles came, autographed footballs for each other and cleaned out their lockers Monday.
It was their last locker room together.
“We won last night and that was cool, but it was weird last night and this morning coming in,” Carson Wentz said, referencing the season-ending 27-13 win over Cowboys substitutes. “That team locker room will never be the same. And it’s kind of a crappy feeling. But we’re going to use that now. I know I’m personally going to use that. I never want to have that feeling again. I know I want to be playing into January for the rest of my career, God-willing. And we’re going to see what happens.”
Nine free agents whose contracts have expired also will see what happens.
With the Eagles up against the salary cap following an offseason of extravagant spending, the group may have to go elsewhere to get paid.
That list begins with Bennie Logan, an unrestricted free agent who doesn’t need an alert to realize the Eagles invested $102 million, including $62 million guaranteed, in defensive tackle Fletcher Cox.
“Of course I want to be back,” Logan said. “I enjoy it here. I enjoy the guys I’ve been with for four years and this is where I want to be. I’ve put in the work and whatnot but hey, all the film and everything speaks for itself. So we’ll just go and see what happens.”
The Eagles are unlikely to slap the franchise or transition tags on any unrestricted free agents, making them eligible to sign anywhere.
Veteran Stefen Wisniewski, a guard/center whose one-year contract expired, would like the security of a longer contract. He’s been through the process that “definitely can test your resolve.”
“I liked it here, and I think they liked me,” said Wisniewski, who started six of 16 games this season. “As far as whether I’ll be back or not, it’s kind of too early to tell. We’ll see. But I think there’s definitely mutual interest. We’ll see what happens.”
For cornerback Nolan Carroll, an unrestricted free agent, the process is an annual rite. He’s not in a hurry to jump into it after rehabbing a leg injury in the previous offseason.
“This is the fourth time I’m about to go through it,” Carroll said. “I’m going to go home and enjoy my time because I didn’t get to do it last year. I spent the whole time rehabbing. So I’m going to go home, clear my mind and not even think about football for a couple of weeks and let my agent take care of it.”
The Eagles need help at cornerback, where Carroll concedes he had an up-anddown year. Leodis McKelvin is the only veteran signed through 2017.
The Eagles have no worse than the 15th overall pick, acquired from Minnesota for Sam Bradford, in a draft that’s rich in corners.
The remaining unrestricted free agents are looking at taking a hometown discount, at best. The group includes linebackerspecial teams star Bryan Braman, who hasn’t missed a snap playing special teams the last three seasons with the Birds, and linebackers Najee Goode and Stephen Tulloch.
“I haven’t heard anything,” Braman said. “Obviously there’s a protocol they go through. However they handle it is how they want to do it. But I definitely want to be here. I’ve made a lot of friends and have a lot of relationships out here that would be kind of hard to lose.”
Tight end Trey Burton and running back Kenjon Barner, who hurt a hamstring and completed the season on injured reserve, are restricted free agents, having three or fewer seasons in the NFL. The Eagles can reserve the right of first refusal by tendering them at first-round, second-round or original-draft position levels.
At best, Burton and Barner are looking at the low tender of $1.8 million. The Eagles would get a sixth-round pick with a low tender to Barner, and no compensation with it to Burton, an undrafted free agent. If the Eagles don’t tender either, they’re unrestricted free agents.
With the Eagles in a tight cap situation, Burton and Barner might find better opportunities elsewhere. (free to sign with any team) LB Bryan Braman CB Nolan Carroll LB Najee Goode DT Bennie Logan LB Stephen Tulloch G Steve Wisniewski
“I’m excited bro, I can’t wait,” Burton said. “I can’t wait to figure out where I’m going to be at next year. There’s been talks, but nothing serious. I know their situation. There’s a lot of stuff. You never know. I would love to be here obviously. I love all the guys on the team. And I feel like we have a lot of chemistry especially in my group.”
Defensive back Jaylen Watkins, who has fewer than three years in the league, is an exclusive rights free agent. If the Eagles don’t make a qualifying offer, he becomes unrestricted.
A lot can happen before now and the start of free agency March 9th. The Eagles could get rid of or restructure contracts to open up cap room. Or they could trade players.
The bottom line is free agency is pure business.
“If it doesn’t happen and whatnot, you can’t take it personally,” said Logan, who’s started 51 games in four seasons. “I’ve seen guys leave here that I thought were going to retire here. With me, I can’t take anything personally. You can never overlook the business side of the league.”