We asked for mailbag questions and you guys came through again. Since we got enough, I have split them into two separate posts.
One today, one on Sunday morning as you spend the day preparing for Eagles-Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.
Let’s dive in:
It’s an interesting question and, in a vacuum, the answer is obviously yes. Even though he’s 30, there haven’t been many more productive players than Golden Tate in recent NFL history. Here’s the problem: Alshon Jeffery’s cap number is nearly $15 million next season. If they keep Nelson Agholor on his fifth-year option, that’s around another $9.5 million (they’ve already exercised the option but it’s not guaranteed). So we’re talking about nearly $25 million between two receivers after the Eagles are allocating less than $17 million for that entire position group in cap space coming into this season. Would the Eagles be willing to spend over $30 million on three players at one position? To put that into perspective, just one team (the Buccaneers) allocated over $30 million to receivers this season.
Still, it’s possible the Eagles might re-sign Tate. They could even part ways with Agholor if they don’t want to keep him on that fifth-year option deal or they could sign him to a long-term deal and alleviate some cap space for 2019. But this is also the first offseason with the opportunity to extend Carson Wentz, which could absolutely change anything. It’s a little bit of a double-edged sword; the better Tate plays these last eight games, the more expensive he’ll be to keep. I don’t think it’s likely, but I’ll never rule Howie Roseman out.
It’s easy to look at this running backs group and the trouble the Eagles have had keeping leads and miss LeGarrette Blount. But he wouldn’t have been the answer.
Out in Detroit, Blount signed a one-year, $2 million deal and lost his starting job after three games. He’s carried the ball 65 times and has an average of 2.7 yards per carry. There are 60 players in the NFL with at least 40 carries this season. Blount is dead last among them in yards per carry.
Give credit to that guy for everything he did while he was here, but the Eagles were wise to move on.
I think the Eagles will finish the season with nine or 10 wins. Of their eight games, five of them are in this lousy division. I don’t think it’s out of the question to sweep those games, which would put them at nine wins alone. But even if they win four out of five, they have to be able to win at least one tough game — at NO, at LAR or vs. HOU.
I get why everyone is so excited to finally see Jordan Mailata. He’s the most intriguing prospect we’ve ever seen. But I just don’t think he’s ready. With injuries to the offensive line, maybe he’ll be active for an emergency situation, but I can’t see him playing. And I know everyone wants to see him at running back, but I don’t see that happening either … at least not right now.
Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.