The Philadelphia Eagles have a looming decision to make on Malcolm Jenkins and the New England Patriots may have added some clarity to the situation with a huge signing.
Free-agent safety Devin McCourty is looking to finish his career with the Pats and will likely do so after agreeing to a 2-year, $23 million deal to remain in New England.
The #Patriots are giving safety and team leader Devin McCourty a 2-year deal worth $23M, sources say. He gets $17M guaranteed – keeping him in New England for his career and allowing him to play with his brother again.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 15, 2020
McCourty gets $17 million guaranteed in the deal and it places him in the top-10 of the highest-paid at his position.
The Eagles have until the new league year begins on Wednesday to pick up Jenkins’ contract for 2020 or the veteran safety will become a free agent.
Jenkins is scheduled to make $7,850,000 this coming season with a cap hit of $10,887,000.
Jenkins made it clear after the 2019 season ended that he wanted a new contract and would not play on the current deal as it’s constructed.
The Eagles safety has made 96 straight starts since joining the team in free agency and hasn’t missed a down in two-years.
Jenkins is also 32-years-old and his days of being a constant playmaker are long gone. Howie Roseman and the Eagles know they have the consummate leader in Jenkins but will now decide if they want to give more money to a guy that some consider too slow for the position.
Making matters worse is the fact that Rodney McLeod could also be on his way out and the Eagles could be forced to address the safety position via the draft or free agency with a guy who’ll be new to the system.
Do the Eagles want to lose Jenkins’ leadership over a few million dollars?
We’ll find out shortly, but McCourty’s deal just made things difficult for the Eagles.
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