Eagles Begin Free Agency by Signing Landon Dickerson to Contract Extension
PHILADELPHIA – Just an hour before the noon start of the NFL’s legal negotiating period, the Philadelphia Eagles took care of one of their own first when they agreed to a four-year contract extension with offensive lineman Landon Dickerson on Monday.
The deal is expected to make him the highest-paid guard in NFL history, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, who reported the deal has a max value of $84 million and a $50M signing bonus with an average salary of $21.M per year.
It was a smart move and one not unexpected, especially after center Jason Kelce retired last week. Even more so considering that o-line depth pieces Jack Driscoll and Sua Opeta are scheduled to hit free agency.
Dickerson was a second-round pick in 2021 and has earned back-to-back Pro Bowl honors after his rookie season. He is also very good friends with the player he lines up next to on the line, left tackle Jordan Mailata, and Mailata served as Dickerson’s best man at his wedding last spring.
Dickerson arrived in the draft as the eventual replacement for Kelce, but transitioned first to right guard due to injury before being moved to left guard. He and Mailata form a massive wall that not only protects quarterback Jalen Hurts but cleared running lanes for Miles Sanders two years ago and D’Andre Swift last year.
Landon Dickerson
John McMullen/SI Eagles Today
Dickerson talked about wanting to remain in Philadelphia for the rest of his career after the season ended on. This is a good start for the 25-year-old.
“The only thought in my mind is I would love to stay around here and have my whole career here,” Dickerson said on Jan. 17. “Seeing a bunch of guys talk about it, they come back and talk about the worst thing they ever did was go to another team. I know it’s a business thing and you have to do whatever it takes to make the business succeed.
“But if it was up to me, I would hope to spend my entire career here. Absolutely love it here. Me and my wife love it here. It’s our home. We live here in the offseason. We’re not anywhere else. …I would love to have my entire career here. I don’t plan moving anywhere else.”
Dickerson is expected to remain at left guard even though the center job is open after Kelce’s retirement. He addressed it, though, when Cam Jurgens, who is expected to be the full-time center this season, had to leave during the regular-season finale against the New York Giants.
“The way we practice a lot of guys play backup center,” he said. “I felt comfortable being able to go in there and make the calls. Depending on where you are, for me, I was a few guys who played backup center. I was the third guy. Cam got poked in the eye or something, can’t go, then I’m up. That’s really all it is, making sure the best five guys are on that field playing.”
