Peters to test free agency; Mornhinweg returns

The Eagles announced Thursday that 38-year-old offensive tackle Jason Peters will test the free agent market.

Peters was slated to become a free agent March 18. The Eagles said the sides “mutually agreed” to the decision. The Birds haven’t ruled out signing Peters at a later date.

A few hours later the Birds reported they’ve hired Marty Mornhinweg, an offensive coordinator during Andy Reid’s tour as head coach, to the position of senior offensive consultant. Mornhinweg helped develop quarterbacks Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick and was the guy who recommended the club draft Nick Foles.

“He gets what we’re doing,” Pederson said of Mornhinweg on the team’s website. “He gets my vision. He understands my philosophy. He understands what my

goal is and what my vision is for this offense.”

Back to Peters, the Eagles thanked the veteran tackle in a tweet for all he gave them in his 11 seasons in Philly, including “a firstballot

Hall of Fame career.”

“Jason has been an incredible leader and person both on and off the field,” the tweet read. “We will remain in communication as each side continues to evaluate its options in free agency.”

In essence that means the Eagles are comfortable right now with a competition

between Andre Dillard, their 2019 first round pick and converted rugby player Jordan Mailata battling for the starting job at left tackle. That assumes Halapoulivaati Vaitai hits the free agent market, as expected.

Dillard (6-5, 315) played 337 offensive snaps over 16 games last season, almost

all of them at left tackle. His media critics ripped him for complaining that switching from left to right tackle for a start against the Seattle Seahawks was like learning to write with your other hand. The Eagles were 2-3 in games in which he played 30 or more snaps.

The next regular season snap Mailata (6-8, 360)

takes will be his first.

At age 37, Peters opened the 2019 season as the seventh-oldest player in the NFL. Nickhamed The Godfather, he also was the oldest every-down offensive lineman in the league.

Peters has played all 16 games in just two of his last five seasons. Though Peters, near the end of last season,

his 16th in the league, got no responses when he asked the media to identify another Eagle who plays left tackle better than him, it could be difficult finding a suitor considering his age.

In other words, it would be no surprise if returned, albeit at the Eagles’ price. Peters made a total of $6 million last season.