February 08, 2017
The Philadelphia Eagles have approached 35-year-old long-time starting left tackle Jason Peters about taking a pay cut, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.
ESPN Sources: #Eagles recently approached Pro Bowl LT Jason Peters about reducing his salary: https://t.co/frVyUa7TfY
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) February 8, 2017
A couple weeks ago, PhillyVoice reported that the Eagles are going to free up a lot of cap space this offseason by releasing or trading players, as well as potentially asking Peters to take a pay cut.
• OT Jason Peters: The Eagles want Peters to return, so they are unlikely to release or trade him. However, with a cap number of $11,700,000 (highest on the team in 2017), the Eagles could ask Peters to take a pay cut or restructure. Despite a high number of false start penalties in 2016, Peters had a good season, and remains a high quality left tackle who will likely not be agreeable to a pay cut. The Eagles, however, could push the impact of his cap hit into future years with a restructure.
The Eagles could save $9,700,000 of that $11,700,000 if they cut or traded him.
There are some who believe Peters' money could be better used elsewhere. I disagree. At $9,575,000 per year, Peters is the 11th highest-paid LT in the NFL, on a per year basis, according to overthecap.com:
| Player | Team | Avg./Year |
| Trent Williams | Redskins | $13,200,000 |
| Terron Armstead | Saints | $13,000,000 |
| Tyron Smith | Cowboys | $12,200,000 |
| David Bakhtiari | Packers | $12,000,000 |
| Eric Fisher | Chiefs | $12,000,000 |
| Cordy Glenn | Bills | $12,000,000 |
| Joe Thomas | Browns | $11,500,000 |
| Anthony Castonzo | Colts | $10,953,000 |
| Russell Okung | Broncos | $10,600,000 |
| Nate Solder | Patriots | $10,031,000 |
| Jason Peters | Eagles | $9,575,000 |
One could make an argument that he's actually a bargain.
With so many holes on the roster, if Peters plays in 2017 as he is expected to do, the Eagles could put off addressing the offensive tackle position for one more year. Peters and Lane Johnson would give the Eagles a high-quality bookend tandem and would allow Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Dillon Gordon to continue to develop behind the scenes.
If the Eagles released Peters, offensive tackle would instantaneously become every bit as big a need as wide receiver or cornerback, perhaps even more so.
The Eagles have almost no leverage. If Peters were to take a pay cut, he'd be doing so out of the kindness of his own heart.
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