The Philadelphia Eagles have secured their top receiver, DeVonta Smith, with an extension ahead of a potential surge in the receiver market. This strategic move was made before other top receivers like Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, Brandon Aiyuk and Ja’Marr Chase were able to negotiate their second contracts.
Smith’s deal includes a signing bonus of $20,351,554, a fully guaranteed base salary for 2024 and 2025, an option bonus for 2025 and various bonuses for the following years. Additionally, there are $1 million in escalators for the later years of the contract. The new-money average of the contract is $25 million, similar to the deal Tyreek Hill received two years ago.
The Eagles have potentially saved money by signing Smith now instead of waiting to negotiate a second contract with him later. This move demonstrates their proactive approach to managing their salary cap and securing their top talent for the future. With rising costs of second contracts for high-end receivers, getting ahead of the curve could prove beneficial for the team in the long run.
