Jason Peters said he wanted some more contract stability.
A day later, Jason Peters got some more contract stability.
The Eagles on Wednesday morning signed the veteran left tackle to a one-year extension that will keep him in Philadelphia through the 2019 season.
"It means a lot. This is reassurance that I'm going to retire here and don't have to go year to year. It's just another way of them reassuring that I'm going to be here," Peters said, via the team's website. "I love Mr. (Jeffrey) Lurie, the whole organization, the City of Philadelphia, and the fans. It speaks volumes for them to still look at me that way, it's nothing but love."
The next three years on his contract are now worth a maximum of $32.5 million, with $15.5 in guaranteed money and Peters was handed an $8 million signing bonus, according to a league source.
So basically, this deal gives Peters more stability and with the signing bonus, should also give the Eagles some extra cap room this season, when they didn't have much.
Philadelphia Eagles
Complete coverage of the Philadelphia Eagles and their NFL rivals from NBC Sports Philadelphia.
"I'm just glad he's here," head coach Doug Pederson said, "that I get to work with him now for the next few years."
Peters, who will turn 36 in January, had two years (2017, 2018) left on his current contract, but was seeking more guaranteed money before he entered this season. He was set to count for $11.7 million against the cap in 2017.
After somewhat of a down season in 2015, new head coach Pederson worked with Peters to manage his health in 2016.
"I know that the way we handled him last year, he started 16 games for us, he was a Pro Bowl left tackle," Pederson said on Wednesday. "And those are some of the same things we will continue to do with him and same way with Brent Celek and other guys on the team. We were able to manage their reps and keep them healthy for 16 weeks. We'll try to keep that same formula going."
"To be honest with you, since I've been here, [Peters] had his best year," offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland said earlier this week. "I think he was fresh all the way through the entire season."
He admitted on Tuesday that part of the reason he stayed away from OTAs was because of his contract (see story).
"A little bit," Peters said. "I want to retire here. I don't want to go anywhere. Plus, I wanted to rest a little bit.
"I show up every year. I don't miss a day. I just wanted to rest a little bit this year."
The Eagles asked Peters to take a pay cut during the offseason in January.
He declined.
"They're going to send you the lowest bid they can," Peters said. "Nothing against them and nothing against me - it's business."
Peters is entering his 14th NFL season and his ninth with the Eagles. The nine-time Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer has made it clear that he wants to retire with the Eagles. He has previously said he really wants to try to win a Super Bowl and hopes Carson Wentz will be ready to do that before he retires.
"I hope so. I really hope so," Peters said in December (see story). "Because I really want a ring. It would be sad to play all these years and not even get close."
While the Eagles have Lane Johnson (on a big contract himself) waiting to be the left tackle of the future, that future got pushed off more Wednesday. On Wednesday, Pederson opened the door to possibly moving Peters to guard sometime during the next three years, but said he's definitely the left tackle of 2017.
"In the future, that's something we would definitely cross that bridge ... if we needed to move him inside, for instance," Pederson said. "But right now, he's left tackle and Lane is right."
If Peters plays through the 2019 season, he'll be 38.
"Like I said, I want to retire here," Peters said. "I don't want to be year-to-year, doubting. 'Are they going to release me? Are they going to do this?' Taking pay cuts and all of that.
"I want to make sure I have the reassurance that I'm going to retire here, don't have to worry about it, show up and show out."
