Chip Kelly proved to be unafraid of shaking things up when he released No. 1 wide receiver DeSean Jackson after a career season last year. Kelly's belief in his offensive system paid off as Jeremy Maclin, 26, returned from a torn ACL and also produced a career-best campaign with 85 receptions, 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2014.
But Maclin is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and his highlight year just raised his asking price. So, how much will it cost Philly to re-sign their leading receiver?
"He's a $10 million per year receiver based on what he did," Joel Corry of the National Football Post said to Birds 24/7. "You want to say his numbers are inflated by the system? Yeah, you could say that to a degree. But what can drive it more than anything else, and I can't stress this enough, is having a viable alternative."
Corry, who previously worked as an NFL agent, thinks Maclin could land a deal with at least $20 million in guaranteed money. He expects the Kansas City Chiefs, who are led by Maclin's former head coach Andy Reid, to offer big money to the WR once free agency begins.
"I think Philadelphia needs to be very careful about how they play this whole Maclin situation, knowing that there is someone that is very familiar with him that desperately needs a receiver," Corry said. "They could be willing to pay him."
The Eagles could also end up using the franchise tag on Maclin, though that would cost them around $12 million in 2015.
