Eagles
Eagles’ Rasul Douglas restructures contract, source says | What it could mean for his chances of making roster
Updated 1:37 PM; Today 1:23 PM
Philadelphia Eagles CB Rasul Douglas agreed to a contract restructure, a person with knowledge of the situation told NJ
By Mike Kaye | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Rasul Douglas might have increased his chances of making the Eagles’ regular-season roster with an adjustment to his contract.
The Eagles and Douglas recently reached an agreement on a contract restructure, a person with knowledge of the situation told NJ Advance Media. However, the exact details of the restructure have not been confirmed.
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The East Orange native was set to make $2.133 million on the final year of his rookie contract, per Over The Cap. His cap number was set to be $2.3 million due to a prorated bonus. The restructuring of his contract likely lowered his cap number and/or his salary to make it more manageable under the Eagles’ current cap situation.
Douglas will need to compete for his job this offseason after three years of inconsistent play. The former third-round pick started six games this past season -- including the Week 17 win over the Giants -- but was benched for the Eagles’ wild-card round playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks in January.
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The Eagles traded third- and fifth-round picks to the Detroit Lions to acquire Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay in March. The team also brought in veteran nickel corner Nickell Robey-Coleman in free agency. Along with those two moves, the Eagles let former starting cornerback Ronald Darby walk on the open market.
The Eagles plan to move Darby’s former partner at cornerback, Jalen Mills, to strong safety this season, leaving the No. 2 cornerback job open for competition. The presumed battle for that job will be between Douglas, Avonte Maddox and Sidney Jones. Maddox is considered the favorite in the competition.
Douglas, at least prior to the draft, was considered an underdog in the offseason battle. He was linked to trade rumors and wasn’t given a confidence boost from general manager Howie Roseman during a conference call with media during free agency.
“Rasul has a body of work that’s kind of been put out there,” Roseman said. “So for him, he’s just got to keep continuing to work on it and competing.”
On the other hand, Jones, Douglas’ 2017 draft classmate, was given a patient outlook by Roseman.
Jones "really has to have the opportunity to have an offseason where instead of rehabbing he’s really working on his body and coming into camp (healthy) because we do feel like this is a guy that when we’ve seen him healthy he does have a skill set,” Roseman said. “He’s got to go prove it, this is now really his third year, when we look at it, of playing, because of that first year (of rehab), so it’s time for him to go prove it.”
Maddox, Jones and Douglas all benefited from the Eagles’ draft, as the team failed to select a cornerback prospect throughout the three-day event. Now, it seems the trio will duke it out this offseason for the job opposite Slay. Robey-Coleman, Cre’Von LeBlanc and Trevor Williams are expected to battle for the starting nickel corner job.
Eagles’ Rasul Douglas restructures contract, source says | What it could mean for his chances of making roster
Updated 1:37 PM; Today 1:23 PM
Philadelphia Eagles CB Rasul Douglas agreed to a contract restructure, a person with knowledge of the situation told NJ
By Mike Kaye | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Rasul Douglas might have increased his chances of making the Eagles’ regular-season roster with an adjustment to his contract.
The Eagles and Douglas recently reached an agreement on a contract restructure, a person with knowledge of the situation told NJ Advance Media. However, the exact details of the restructure have not been confirmed.
Introducing Eagles Extra: Sign up for a free trial now. Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text directly with reporters
The East Orange native was set to make $2.133 million on the final year of his rookie contract, per Over The Cap. His cap number was set to be $2.3 million due to a prorated bonus. The restructuring of his contract likely lowered his cap number and/or his salary to make it more manageable under the Eagles’ current cap situation.
Douglas will need to compete for his job this offseason after three years of inconsistent play. The former third-round pick started six games this past season -- including the Week 17 win over the Giants -- but was benched for the Eagles’ wild-card round playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks in January.
Buy Eagles' Draft gear: Fanatics, NFL Shop
The Eagles traded third- and fifth-round picks to the Detroit Lions to acquire Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay in March. The team also brought in veteran nickel corner Nickell Robey-Coleman in free agency. Along with those two moves, the Eagles let former starting cornerback Ronald Darby walk on the open market.
The Eagles plan to move Darby’s former partner at cornerback, Jalen Mills, to strong safety this season, leaving the No. 2 cornerback job open for competition. The presumed battle for that job will be between Douglas, Avonte Maddox and Sidney Jones. Maddox is considered the favorite in the competition.
Douglas, at least prior to the draft, was considered an underdog in the offseason battle. He was linked to trade rumors and wasn’t given a confidence boost from general manager Howie Roseman during a conference call with media during free agency.
“Rasul has a body of work that’s kind of been put out there,” Roseman said. “So for him, he’s just got to keep continuing to work on it and competing.”
On the other hand, Jones, Douglas’ 2017 draft classmate, was given a patient outlook by Roseman.
Jones "really has to have the opportunity to have an offseason where instead of rehabbing he’s really working on his body and coming into camp (healthy) because we do feel like this is a guy that when we’ve seen him healthy he does have a skill set,” Roseman said. “He’s got to go prove it, this is now really his third year, when we look at it, of playing, because of that first year (of rehab), so it’s time for him to go prove it.”
Maddox, Jones and Douglas all benefited from the Eagles’ draft, as the team failed to select a cornerback prospect throughout the three-day event. Now, it seems the trio will duke it out this offseason for the job opposite Slay. Robey-Coleman, Cre’Von LeBlanc and Trevor Williams are expected to battle for the starting nickel corner job.
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