JUST IN: Eagles Secure $60 Million Extension for Pro Bowl Center
For years, Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has emphasized the importance of building the team through dominant offensive and defensive lines in the NFL Draft. His approach has yielded undeniable success, with the Eagles capturing two Super Bowls in the past eight seasons under his leadership.
A key example of this philosophy is the team’s seamless transition from legendary center Jason Kelce to his successor, Cam Jurgens, who recently played a crucial role in the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX victory. Now, with Jurgens entering the final year of his four-year, $6.86 million rookie contract, it’s widely expected that the Eagles will prioritize extending his deal.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine has emphasized the importance of locking Jurgens into a long-term contract this offseason.
“Howie Roseman’s commitment to constructing an elite offensive line is the foundation of the Eagles’ success,” Ballentine wrote. “Jurgens was drafted as Kelce’s heir and proved his worth by earning Pro Bowl honors in his first season as the starting center. Given Philadelphia’s proven track record of identifying and developing offensive line talent, signing him to a long-term deal now—before his price rises—should be a top priority.”
Estimating Jurgens’ Market Value
Currently, three of the Eagles’ five starting offensive linemen have lucrative contracts averaging around $20 million per season. These include left tackle Jordan Mailata (three years, $66 million), left guard Landon Dickerson (four years, $84 million), and right tackle Lane Johnson (four years, $80.7 million).
While Jurgens may not command a contract of that magnitude, he is positioned to be one of the league’s highest-paid centers. Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro Creed Humphrey currently leads the market, signing a four-year, $72 million extension in August 2024, averaging $18 million annually.
With that in mind, a four-year, $60 million extension for Jurgens would be a reasonable and competitive offer, keeping him among the NFL’s top earners at his position while maintaining the Eagles’ financial flexibility.
Kelce’s Role in Identifying His Successor
Anticipating his eventual retirement, six-time All-Pro Jason Kelce played an instrumental role in helping the Eagles select his replacement. The team ultimately drafted Jurgens with the 51st overall pick in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft following his standout career at Nebraska.
Kelce had high praise for Jurgens from the start.
“I knew we were taking him,” Kelce said after the draft. “This was my favorite player in the draft—not just because we picked him, but because the Eagles had me evaluate centers, and of all the guys I reviewed over the past few years, he was the one who reminded me the most of myself.”
Jurgens wasted no time proving himself, appearing in all 17 regular-season games as a rookie and playing in the Eagles’ Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2023, he started 11 games at guard before transitioning to center following Kelce’s retirement.
With Jurgens excelling in his new role and the Eagles maintaining their focus on offensive line dominance, securing a long-term extension seems like a logical step for the franchise. If the Eagles act quickly, they can lock in their Pro Bowl center before his market value escalates further.
