Eagles Insider Drops Major Hint on Miles Sanders’ Future

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• By Mike Greger

• Updated Dec 3, 2022 at 4:16pm

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Eagles RB Miles Sanders is and always was the starter for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Miles Sanders is balling out in his contracy year. There are no ands, ifs, or buts about it. He is currently on pace for 1,390 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Sanders has tallied career highs across the board, including a whopping 5.1 yards per carry.

Still, there have been no public rumblings on a contract extension as the explosive running back nears the end of his rookie deal. What are the Philadelphia Eagles planning to do? Would they let him walk in free agency? They might.

The Eagles appear ready to look for younger talent in the 2023 NFL draft, according to Gary Cobb. The former Eagles linebacker — and plugged-in insider — recently explained what he’s hearing about the franchise’s long-term strategy on Sanders to the National Football Show.

"If he goes and continues at this pace and has a big year, I think they got to talk to him. They got to at least make some kind of offer to the kid,” Cobb told Dan Sileo. "I think they have to do that, it just would be kind of malpractice if they didn’t offer him something. I do think they do want to grab a couple of kids in the draft and have them in, some fresh legs that they don’t have to pay. I think that is their strategy.”

Eagles Coaches Saying All the Right Things

Fresh off a 143-yard rushing performance against Green Bay, Sanders seems to have all the leverage in contract talks. It marked a single-game career high for the Penn State product, topping his 134-yard outing this season against Jacksonville.

Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen was asked what has impressed him the most about Sanders’ 2022 campaign. He gave a predictable one-word answer, one that should help Sanders at the negotiating table.

"The consistency,” Steichen told reporters. "The consistency week in and week out and taking care of the football and the way he’s running with the physicality that he’s doing and taking care of the football. He’s seeing it good. I know I keep saying that every week, but it continues to be the same message. It’s consistency and the way he’s doing it and taking care of the football.”

Looking for Derrick Henry Type of Contract?

The biggest elephant in the room is how much money is Sanders looking to earn? Spotrac projects his market value at $7.2 million per year, which seems cheap considering the type of season he’s having on the field. That would be put him in the same range as Saquon Barkley, his former teammate at Penn State.

But some analysts are pointing at Derrick Henry’s four-year, $50 million deal as the better barometer. Martin Frank of the New Journal called Henry’s contract a "cautionary tale” when it comes to shelling out top dollar for a running back. By doing so, the Tennesee Titans were too cash-strapped to keep Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Brown. Frank wrote:

The Eagles, meanwhile, gave Brown a four-year contract worth as much as $100 million upon making the trade. They will also likely pay Hurts, who will be heading into the final year of his rookie contract in 2023. An extension for Hurts could surpass the $40 million per year mark.

That, of course, doesn’t leave the Eagles much room to fit in Sanders – and definitely not at the top of the running back pay scale. Then add in the context of how the NFL lifespan of a running back averages out to 2.57 years, according to Footballguys.com, and how the production starts declining at age 28.

Food for thought. Sanders will turn 26 years old on May 1. He may only have two productive years left — plus he has a lengthy injury history — so handing him a lucrative four-year deal may be too risky for the Eagles.

https://heavy.com/sports/philadelphia-eagles/miles-sanders-contract-extension-2/

Grateful for the yr. Sanders is having, and it would be difficult to argue with the brass if they looked for cheaper talent. 

I love what Sanders is doing this year but no way am I inking him to a $50M contract.  Especially with his injury history and taking into consideration the data on RBs as they approach 28. If we were able to sign him to a fairly team friendly deal then sure.  But we need the cap space to pay Hurts and fill quite a few holes expected once free agency hits with so many of our own scheduled to hit the market.  

3 years with a player option in the 4th for 27.25 milli.

Too many big contracts will be due this year to spend big money on any RB......Sanders is a very good RB but his production can be replaced much cheaper than what he'll want.

It doesn't really matter, once the eagles sign Hurts to some crazy $45-$50 million contract extension, they won't be serious contenders for a few years.  They have this year and next year with a bargain contract with Hurts.....after that, they the "big money QB" conundrum hits and they won't have enough money to balance the roster talent.

They may make an offer for him but I'm not sure they'll offer him the big contract that he's likely going to want. And I'm not sure they should either. He's a really good RB, he's having a monster year and I really do like him... But they have so many FAs this year that I'm not sure they can give him the big contract that he's very likely going to ask for. 

Two main comments:

First, Miles is having a great year, but he's really just an above average starter and easily replaceable.  He's not an all-pro, he's not a pro-bowler.  He's been injured a lot and has never broken 1000 yards (although unless something strange happens he will this year!).

Second, the shelf life for running backs is notoriously short.  Miles has plenty of wear left, but he's been injury prone and he's not getting any younger.  If I'm offering him a contract I don't know how long I'd go out for that contract.  Certainly no more than a few years.

I'd absolutely offer him a contract, but I don't think I'd get crazy about the numbers.  I'm thinking, maybe $5-7 mil per year for 3-4 years?  If someone wants to beat that then I wish him the best.

 

Unless Sanders takes a cheaper deal, he's most likely a candidate where Howie let's him test the market to see his value and either return if the money is less than Sanders expects or leave if he gets a deal too rich for the Eagles.

I like Sanders but don't see him as a "must resign" player...particularly with all of the other impending free agents whose positions are harder to replace.

11 minutes ago, EaglesAddict said:

Unless Sanders takes a cheaper deal, he's most likely a candidate where Howie let's him test the market to see his value and either return if the money is less than Sanders expects or leave if he gets a deal too rich for the Eagles.

I like Sanders but don't see him as a "must resign" player...particularly with all of the other impending free agents whose positions are harder to replace.

Agreed on all of that.  If he comes back on the cheap that is good for us.  If he leaves because another team is willing to pay him a large contract then we should get a decent comp pick the following year so also good for us.  

What we have going for us is that there are a bunch of free agent RBs out there with higher pedigree's than him.  I know someone will offer him more dough than what we can, it will just depend on how much more and is Sanders willing to take a few more dollars over playing for a team and town that loves you.  I'd love to see him resigned here,  just not for tons of money.

Biggest worry for me with Sanders is what kind of player do we get after he gets a big contract 

The dude had zero tds the year before and was awful as a receiver out of the back field and not a good pass blocker either.

Then in a contract year he's all the sudden running hard breaking tackles scoring tds?

I like miles I think he's a good back but I'm not breaking the bank for a guy that's only ever had a 1000 yard rushing season in a contract year.

6 hours ago, Utebird said:

Biggest worry for me with Sanders is what kind of player do we get after he gets a big contract 

I know what you mean but he doesn't strike me as the kind of player who's going to cash in on a contract and then sit back. He seems like a good guy and he's a very popular guy in the locker room I think so I don't have that level of concern with him. But I do know what you mean and we've all seen it many times before. 

Sanders is replaceable.  The Eagles do miss having a bigger back like LaGarette Blount or Jay Ajayi.  For the better part of the Reid era, Correll Buckhalter, and to a limited extent, Dorsey Levens, filled that role.

Eagles Insider? Pfft... there's only ONE Eagles Insider!!

 

13 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

I know what you mean but he doesn't strike me as the kind of player who's going to cash in on a contract and then sit back. He seems like a good guy and he's a very popular guy in the locker room I think so I don't have that level of concern with him. But I do know what you mean and we've all seen it many times before. 

Never been 100% convinced with him to be honest. Yes, he surprised me. Has played way better than I thought he would. Is a key piece of our offense.

But I still feel like after we dish out big money to keep him there’s a big chance we regret that soon.

And yes he plays better than ever this year - but behind our OL every RB looks good. 

In the end I much rather keep Bradberry and CJGJ over him for sure. Despite age and all.

8 hours ago, Infam said:

Never been 100% convinced with him to be honest. Yes, he surprised me. Has played way better than I thought he would. Is a key piece of our offense.

I think he's a very good player. The biggest issue he's had has been staying healthy as it feels like he's missed a fair bit of time... 

Man I hope my pre-season comment best case scenario comes to fruition of

Sanders has a huge year, Eagles win the Super Bowl, Sanders signs a huge contract somewhere not Philly because we can't afford him

7 hours ago, judunno said:

Man I hope my pre-season comment best case scenario comes to fruition of

Sanders has a huge year, Eagles win the Super Bowl, Sanders signs a huge contract somewhere not Philly because we can't afford him

Would hopefully set us up for a decent comp pick in 2024.  With a need for a major shift in cap allocation in the near future (paying Hurts), and a significant number of players in key roles scheduled to hit free agency, there is going to be a huge need to fill as many holes with cheap draft picks as possible.  

Greger is a lightweight nobody.  All these reporter wannbes write stories about what other people have reported or wrote.  Any story that highlights what an Eagles "insider" said is really saying that the writer has no sources of his own.  And who are the supposed "insiders"?  Martin Frank of Del. online and Garry Cobb?  Gimme a break.

Other teams aren’t stupid.  They won’t expect Sanders to replicate his numbers behind their OL and will make offers accordingly.

He is 'ballin out' in a Contract year. That's enough said right there.

I'd lowball him an new contact offer and let him sign elsewhere for more $ if he can get it. Good for him if he does.

2 hours ago, LacesOut said:

He is 'ballin out' in a Contract year. That's enough said right there.

I'd lowball him an new contact offer and let him sign elsewhere for more $ if he can get it. Good for him if he does.

take the comp pick - he's replaceable

 

6 hours ago, eagle45 said:

Other teams aren’t stupid.  They won’t expect Sanders to replicate his numbers behind their OL and will make offers accordingly.

No - other teams ARE stupid.  The Titans traded AJ Brown

Sanders is a very low mileage back. He has less than 1100 carries and catches in his college and pro career.  He’s had hamstring and ankle injuries but has never had a major injury that required surgery.   Someone will give him a good contract.  If the Eagles move on I hope they can replace him with a guy that can take it the distance anytime he touches the ball.