The Eagles last week officially added defensive end Ryan Kerrigan and offensive lineman Le’Raven Clark on one-year deals and they did it in ways that minimized their cap hits in 2021.
Let’s start with Kerrigan.
The former Pro Bowler’s one-year deal with the Eagles is worth $2.5 million (all guaranteed), according to a league source. But the Eagles also used four voidable years to really minimize his cap hit for 2021, when they’re up against it. This is a trick they’ve used a lot this offseason.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Philadelphia sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Here are some details of Kerrigan’s contract:
Total guarantee: $2.5 million
Base salary: $1.075 million
Signing bonus: $1.425 million
NFL
Cap hit in 2021: $1.36 million
Dead money in 2022: $1.14 million
The reason these contracts have void years is to spread out the salary cap hits. It basically allows the Eagles to spread out the cap hit over two seasons instead of one, limiting the hit in 2021.
As for Clark’s deal, there wasn’t much risk as the veteran OL returns from an Achilles tear. Clark signed a veteran salary benefit deal, which basically means his cap hit counts less than his base salary. These deals are designed to encourage teams to sign veterans instead of cheaper replacements.
Clark’s deal doesn’t include any guaranteed money, so if he doesn’t work out, the Eagles can cut him with no penalty. Clark’s base salary in 2021 is $990,000 but he also has a $75,000 roster bonus if he makes the team. His cap number for this season is $925,000.
Right now, the Eagles have $3.88 million in salary cap space but they still haven’t signed their draft class. On June 1, they’ll get around another $4 million in cap relief after carrying Alshon Jeffery and Malik Jackson’s $2 million base salaries through that date. They cut them in March with post-June 1 designations.
While Jackson and Jeffery will come off the top 51 contracts, they will be replaced by the next two, which is why it’ll be less than $4 million savings. But it should still be enough extra space to sign the drat picks.
Subscribe to the Eagle Eye podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher | Art19 | Watch on YouTube