APThe Eagles and quarterback Sam Bradford are discussing a contract extension that would keep him in Philadelphia at least through 2016.
Ed Werder of ESPN reports that the two sides are talking about a short-term deal that would keep him in Philadelphia beyond just this season.
Bradford’s current contract, the $78 million rookie deal that he signed as the first overall pick of the Rams in the 2010 draft, expires after this season. That means the Eagles would be faced with the choice in March of either signing Bradford to an extension, letting him walk, or putting the franchise tag on him. The franchise tag next year will likely be in the $25 million range.
Bradford has said he’s willing to play for the $13 million he’s owed this year and hit free agency next year, betting on himself that he can get a more lucrative deal after a good season in Philadelphia. The risk to Bradford of that approach is that if he gets injured again, he’s not going to command much money on the free market in 2016.
Eagles coach Chip Kelly has said he believes in Bradford as the team’s franchise quarterback, so it makes sense that Kelly would try to get Bradford locked up beyond this season. Of course, Kelly has also said that Mark Sanchez will get every opportunity to win the starting job, so it seems a little premature to give Bradford an extension now, if he might be the backup in Week One.
That may be why both sides are talking about the short term. An extension through 2016 would give both Bradford and the Eagles more time to see if they’re a good fit, and more time to work out a long-term deal if he does prove to be the Eagles’ long-term answer.
How stupid! Blahahahhahaha
How about first seeing if he can make through the first few games of the season, at least?
Nothing against Bradford personally but it’s just too much of a risk injury wise. It’s like saying the Giants were discussing any type of contract with Cruz who has missed all or major parts of 2 of his 5 seasons in the league.
It would be dumb of him to sign a one year extension when he could risk injury this year and then sign a 5 year $80-100M contract in the off season – or if he does well early in the season even sign it this mid-season with the eagles. Too many teams desperate to get a franchise qb, if he hit free agency….
Can’t trade a free agent
Probably for the best since his career will be short term.
A one year extension makes a lot of sense to me; not sure why so many think it’s a bad idea. Both sides get to hedge their bets – Bradford gets one more year of good pay when the odds are he’s going to spend more time on the trainer’s table than on the field, and the Eagles get one more year to convince him to stay if he happens to beat those odds and stay healthy. The extension would probably fall in the $10-$15mm range, less than he would make if he stays healthy and plays very well, but a lot more than he would make if he got hurt again.
As he breaks his hand signing the contract extension….
Locking up Bradford could potentially hinder the new head coach search that will start the day after philly misses the playoffs this year.
He could sign one year deal. If he does well this year they can just tear it up (correct?) and redo it next year.
78 million bucks for a back up QB! He should be suspended for damaging the shield!
oh, and . . .to “schmokes” . . . . funny comment.
before bradford shows he can finish a season healthy (he couldn’t even do that in his jr year of college) the eagles are crazy to give this guy a contract extension. if kelly is the coach everyone in philly believes he is – sam will prove this year he’s worth a big contract for next season & beyond. also if he enjoys playing for chip & likes the offensive system he’s gonna stay here. so the contract will be forthcoming if he can stay healthy & perform at the expected level.
Isn’t he the reason they invented the rookie wage scale? I think when other teams saw the Rams paying ridiculous money to a paper mache qb they knew it was time to fix the system.
Who stays with the Eagles longer, Sam Bradford or Chip Kelly?
Please oh please extend him. Sanchez will give you more production than Bradford. No way Bradford lasts all 16 games.
The media has been so lenient on Bradford…
Bradford is an elite, top five QB when healthy. Sanchez is a decent top 15 type QB. That’s probably the way the Eagles see it too. They also have two more young solid QBs. The Eagles are filthy rich at the most important position in sports. Good things are happening with Chip Kelly in charge of personnel. He’s performed miracles in the few months since he’s been given control. The next couple years should even get better. Special era in Eagles’ history is just around the corner.
Bradford will get hurt, Sanchez will be ineffective and by the end of the year Tebow will be under C in the city of brotherly hate. It’s God’s plan.
Bank it.
It obviously says short term contract. How is a short term contract a bad idea ? If he plays healthy this year and tears it up(not his ACL) on the field then you get him a 2nd year for cheap. And if he does tear it up(his ACL) then we got a not so bad Sanchez to take over.It’s a win win situation for both.
laugh if you need to. re-injury probability is very low according to the experts.
tonebones says:
Aug 4, 2015 10:34 AM
Bradford is an elite, top five QB when healthy.
——————
Out of curiosity, which QBs among Brady, Rodgers, Manning, Brees, Roethlisberger, or Luck do you have behind Bradford?
I don’t like it. If he makes it the entire season and looks like a franchise QB… then pay the man! If he gets hurt or flops… then cut your losses.
You can trade a free agent because you can franchise a guy then trade him.
“Bradford is an elite, top five QB when healthy. Sanchez is a decent top 15 type QB. ”
________________
Beware of small sample sizes. Bradford had a very good half a season in 2013 before getting hurt. Prior to that his best season was 21 TDs vs 13 interceptions and his career QB rating is 79. And if Sanchez were a top 15 QB he wouldn’t be playing backup.
“It would be dumb of him to sign a one year extension when he could risk injury this year and then sign a 5 year $80-100M contract in the off season”
___
I think you and I have been watching a different Sam Bradford.
“Sanchez is a decent top 15 type QB.”
Reading this at lunch and literally almost spit my food out from laughing so hard when I read that.
By far the funniest comment ever. Next thing you’ll say is that Tebow is a top 10 QB?
Let this marinate for a min, he would have made $78m wow, no wonder they needed to change that rookie wage scale.