Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com writes that the Eagles keeping veteran RB Darren Sproles might not make much sense for them, given his age and the likelihood that he’ll be the team’s No. 3 option with Chip Kelly no longer in place as their head coach.
Parks points out that Sproles’ 2016 salary of $4.5 million is a steep price for the Eagles to pay their third-string running back, especially when you consider the kind of money they’re paying to DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews.
One option for the Eagles, according to Parks, would be for them to make Sproles available for trade, as this would reduce the amount of money they’re currently spending on the running back position.
Parks considers it unlikely that Philadelphia would release Sproles outright, even though it would free up $3.5 million in cap space. Instead, they could look for a mid-round pick in return for Sproles from a team contending team.
This move would also open the door for them to draft a younger running back to develop in the coming years who will come at a reduced rate.
Sproles, 32, will be entering the final year of his three-year, $10.5 million contract that included $5.5 million guaranteed. He stands to make a base salary of $3.5 million for the 2016 season.
According to OverTheCap.com, trading Sproles would free up $3.5 million in available cap space while creating $1 million in dead money.
In 2015, Sproles appeared in all 16 games for the Eagles and ran for 317 yards on 83 carries (3.8 YPC) to go along with 55 receptions for 388 yards receiving and four total touchdowns. He also contributed 446 punt return yards and two touchdowns.
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