Howie Roseman hints about Miles Sanders' future

[time2rock]

Howie Roseman hints about Miles Sanders' future

 

 

 

Reuben Frank

EAGLES INSIDER

Maybe they’ll still move on from Miles Sanders. Maybe they’ll draft a cheap young replacement in the middle rounds and let Sanders leave as a free agent after the 2022 season. Maybe the Eagles just don’t think it makes sense to spend millions of dollars to re-sign a veteran running back who’s missed all or part of 12 games over the last two seasons.

Maybe.

But that’s not the impression Howie Roseman gave Wednesday at the Combine.

Sanders is one of the more interesting potential free agents on the roster.

When he’s been healthy, his production has been off the charts.

His 5.04 career rushing average is 8th-highest in NFL history among running backs with at least 500 carries and higher than every Hall of Fame running back other than Jim Brown. He’s one of only seven RBs to begin his career with three straight seasons with 750 rushing yards and an average of 4.5 or higher. He’s one of only nine backs in history to average 5.3 or higher in back-to-back seasons.

But the injuries are impossible to ignore.

Sanders was the Eagles’ 2nd-round pick in 2019, and his rookie contract expires at the end of 2022. Roseman on Wednesday compared his situation to four guys drafted the year before him – Dallas Goedert, Josh Sweat, Avonte Maddox and Jordan Mailata.

This is significant considering Roseman gave all four of those guys contract extensions this past August and September.

If he's thinking that way now, that's a pretty strong indicator Sanders won't be going anywhere.

"Miles is a heck of a player, heck of a person,” Roseman said. "I think you saw a lot, too, we had guys who were in their fourth year last year, whether you go back and you look at Sweaty and you look at Dallas and you look at Avonte and you look at Jordan, guys like that. Maybe I'm missing a couple guys, who even became better in their fourth year in the league."

Roseman’s point is that Goedert, Sweat, Maddox and Mailata all enjoyed their best NFL seasons in 2021, in their fourth year. And Sanders is going into his fourth year.

"We haven't even seen everything Miles can give this team,” he said. "Obviously, he's been really productive. I know he wants to get in the end zone, as well. But I think the best is yet to come from Miles.”

It’s tricky trying to determine Sanders’ value, but running backs in general are inexpensive because of their short shelf life.

According to Spotrac, the average NFL running back in 2021 earned $2.34 million, which was less annually than the average kicker ($2.70 million), not even half as much as the average outside linebacker ($5.40 million), nearly 3 ½ times less than the average left tackle ($7.75 million) and about $8 million less than the average quarterback ($10.07 million).

If Roseman follows the same pattern with Sanders this year as he did with the 2018 picks last year, an extension offer can be expected in August or early September, assuming Sanders has a healthy, productive preseason.

If you’re Sanders and the Eagles offer you $3 to $4 million per year with a decent signing bonus – let’s say $5 million - why wouldn’t you take it? Do you really want to risk waiting till March of 2023 and taking your chances on the open market at a position that earns less than placekickers?

And if you’re the Eagles, why not lock up another piece of your young nucleus who has one of the highest rushing averages in NFL history with a cap-friendly deal? Do you really think you're going to find someone better in the middle rounds.

Even with all his injuries and missed time, Sanders has the second-most scrimmage yards of any Eagle in franchise history through 40 games, just 416 fewer than LeSean McCoy. More than DeSean Jackson, more than Mike Quick, more than Wilbert Montgomery, 1,000 more than Brian Westbrook and 1,500 more than Harold Carmichael.

Roseman wouldn’t comment on whether the Eagles have started contract talks with the 24-year-old Sanders, but it really doesn’t matter at this point. If both sides want to get a deal done, it’ll get done. And why wouldn’t they?

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/eagles/eagles-gm-howie-roseman-hints-about-miles-sanders-future

[UK_EaglesFan89]

If he's willing to take a pretty reasonable deal then sure bring him back. He's a good player, very good at times in fact but he's also had injury issues and he's had issues with fumbling too.

[time2rock]

37 minutes ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

If he's willing to take a pretty reasonable deal then sure bring him back. He's a good player, very good at times in fact but he's also had injury issues and he's had issues with fumbling too.

Agreed.  I know I've been on record saying I wouldn't sign him to an extension but that was based on the assumption that he would get paid a lot more.  I don't think in today's NFL it is a wise investment handing out contracts like the way we did with Murray in 2015 paying him > $8M/year.  But if we were able to sign him for $3M/year as this piece suggests, that seems reasonable.  

[LacesOut]

Would love to have him back at a good, fair price.

The RB room is strong, and really strong with him staying in it.

[UK_EaglesFan89]

1 hour ago, time2rock said:

Agreed.  I know I've been on record saying I wouldn't sign him to an extension but that was based on the assumption that he would get paid a lot more.  I don't think in today's NFL it is a wise investment handing out contracts like the way we did with Murray in 2015 paying him > $8M/year.  But if we were able to sign him for $3M/year as this piece suggests, that seems reasonable.  

Completely agree. I mean I was thinking he'd be around the $10M a year kind of deal... Perhaps not as this article would suggest. If they could bring him back for $5M or so then absolutely. 

[ManchesterEagle]

4 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

If he's willing to take a pretty reasonable deal then sure bring him back. He's a good player, very good at times in fact but he's also had injury issues and he's had issues with fumbling too.

 

3 hours ago, time2rock said:

Agreed.  I know I've been on record saying I wouldn't sign him to an extension but that was based on the assumption that he would get paid a lot more.  I don't think in today's NFL it is a wise investment handing out contracts like the way we did with Murray in 2015 paying him > $8M/year.  But if we were able to sign him for $3M/year as this piece suggests, that seems reasonable.  

Yeah I was convinced Sanders would be gone, but if we could get him for say 3 years 15 million (including a 5 million signing bonus, say 10 guaranteed), then I would love to bring him back.

I suspect he holds out for more though.

[Breeze 44]

I'm not interested in him getting over 4 mil a year.. I'd rather move on.

[UK_EaglesFan89]

7 hours ago, Breeze 44 said:

I'm not interested in him getting over 4 mil a year.. I'd rather move on.

I think he's going to get more than 4 mil a year bud. I'm not saying I'd pay him much more than that but I think he will. 

[Rob331]

In my opinion, this draft tells the story. 

If they draft Spiller or Hall on the second day there won't be a second contract from the Eagles. 

He'll be here this year and have to go the free agent route next year regardless of his production.