Eagles' Landon Dickerson Signs New Contract, Replacing Jason Kelce 'Not My Call'
PHILADELPHIA – Landon Dickerson has been in the league for three years and much has changed in that time.
The Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman is about to play with his third different workhorse running back and he will now have to adjust to not having All-Pro center Jason Kelce next to him. And he has to adjust to have a much fatter bank account.
Maybe there’s another adjustment in the future?
Dickerson wouldn’t commit to not playing center next year. The assumption is that job will go to Cam Jurgens since he was hand-picked by Kelce two years ago to be his replacement.
Of course, Dickerson was also picked three years ago to be Kelce’s replacement before becoming one of the best guards in the game.
Ed Kracz/SI Eagles Today
“That’s not my call,” said Dickerson when asked about the possibility of moving to center during his news conference at the team’s South Philly training facility.
“Right now, it’s the offseason. I know coaches are here meeting. But OTAs roll around and Cam Jurgens, I think, is a phenomenal player. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do, extremely talented, extremely smart.
“I think there are a lot of good options in that offensive line room, of guys who can move to center. …My philosophy has always been, put the best five guys on the field no matter where they’re going to play. Now, I’m not going to change Lane Johnson and Jordan (Mailata), so the best three guys, maybe.”
Dickerson was the first move the Philadelphia Eagles made before the legal negotiating period began on Monday at noon when he agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension with a base of $84 million with a maximum value of $87M. He will get $50M guaranteed with a $20M signing bonus.
He will pocket $21 million per year on the new deal.
On Tuesday, Dickerson signed his new contract.
“Super excited,” he said. “It reiterates how much the coaches and (general manager) Howie (Roseman) and (owner) Mr. (Jeffrey) Lurie want to keep me around here. I absolutely love being here, and I really didn’t plan on going anywhere else.
“You don’t have to tell Howie that, though. It just shows a lot of respect and how much trust they have in me to continue to grow as a player, and develop, and do good things for this team and this city.”
Dickerson wasn’t the only player to sign his new deal on Tuesday. Defensive end Brandon Graham stopped by to ink his new one-year, $4M contract that will allow him to play a 15th season with the Eagles.
Also on Tuesday, punter Braden Mann signed a two-year deal and the team extended long snapper Rick Lovato’s contract for another year.
Dickerson, though, is the present and long-term future, a two-time Pro Bowler in his first three seasons after arriving as the 37th overall pick in 2021.
When he was picked, he blocked for running back Miles Sanders. Last year, it was D’Andre Swift. This year, it will be Saquon Barkley, a teammate of Sanders at Penn State.
“I’m extremely excited to add another talented guy like that to the roster,” said Dickerson about Barkley. “Again, I’ve said this for the past three years, every team has a one-year expiration on it. So, bringing in a guy like Saquon, I think for us, is adding to the amount of talent that we have. I’m really excited to see what he does.”
The Eagles know what Dickerson can do, especially his line coach, Jeff Stoutland, who Dickerson said was a big reason he wanted to be in Philly.
“You see what he’s able to do with any guy who comes in here,” he said. “There’s no replacing Coach Stout. He’s been here for a long time, and I don’t think he’s planning on going anywhere either. It worked out for both of us.”
Then there’s Kelce, and Kelce not being there after retiring earlier this month.
“I’m not going to say impossible, but nearly impossible, to replace somebody like Jason Kelce,” said Dickerson. “What he did for, not only his teammates, but his city and everyone around him, there’s only one of him. And I think there will only ever be one of him. So big shoes to fill.”
The Eagles are counting on his feet fitting into Kelce’s shoes. Maybe even at center.
