Jason Avant is a guy the Eagles can't afford to lose.
Thanks to Twitter Nation, I've learned that the Eagles have tendered several of their expected 10 restricted free agents, eight of whom would have been unrestricted free agents in a capped season.
Multiple reports are flying in every few minutes, so it's a bit difficult to keep track of and there's really no way to check the reports since the Eagles have yet to report anything themselves.
The Eagles official website doesn't have a single thing about who has received what, probably because nothing has been made official yet, and most likely won't have a thing until sometime tonight.
Teams have until 11:59 to tender their restricted free agents, then free agency officially kicks off at midnight.
Akeem Jordan
Geoff Mosher is reporting that the Eagles will give Akeem Jordan a second-round tender.
Jordan is expected to compete with Will Witherspoon to be the team's starting WILL, but will most likely be a backup and special teams contributor. Either way, Jordan is a guy the Birds were not going to let get away.
Jordan will make $1.7 million this season on the tender.
Omar Gaither
Jeff McLane is reporting that Omar Gaither will receive a "low tender." I'm not exactly sure what that means, but I'm guessing he'll receive an "original round drafted" tender. It just means that if a team wants to sign Gaither, they would have to fork over a fifth round pick to the Eagles in this year's draft.
Gaither is expected to be the primary backup in the middle if he sticks around. The Birds probably don't want to just let him walk, but would certainly take the fifth round pick for him if a team is interested.
Gaither will make $1.2 million if he does in fact receive the tender he's expected to receive.
Nick Cole
Nick Cole, according to Mosher, will receive a second-round tender. It's a bit higher than I expected, but the Eagles clearly like Cole and want to keep him for at least another season just in case Stacy Andrews is unable to go.
Cole will make $1.75 million in 2010 under this tender.
Jason Avant
Adam Caplan is reporting that the Eagles have offered a second-round tender to receiver Jason Avant. It's about what I personally expected the Eagles to do with Avant, although I think everyone would like to see him get an extension immediately.
It's absolutely imperative that the Birds keep Avant, but a first-round tender probably felt like too much. There is most likely not a team willing to give a second-round pick for Avant, so it's a safe bet.
Avant will make $1.75 million next season barring an extension agreement. There is, however, no signs that the Eagles are talking to Avant about an extension.
Chris Gocong
Chris Gocong will receive an "original round drafted" tender, according to Mosher. He actually says that Gocong will receive a third-round tender, but I'm not sure such a thing exists.
Gocong was, however, drafted in the third round so that would make sense.
Gocong will make $1.1 million if this is actually the tender that sticks.
Ellis Hobbs
There is a bit of mixed reporting going on involving Ellis Hobbs. Mosher is reporting that he's received a second-round tender, while Caplan is reporting that he's received an "original round drafted" tender.
There's a pretty decent difference in the money he'd make depending on the tender. He'll make $1.2 million under the "original round drafted" tender, and $1.85 under a second-round tender. Either way he won't be leaving Philadelphia based on the amount of compensation it would take, but it's going to make a difference for him based on salary.
And the others...
It's also believed that Max Jean-Gilles has received an "original round drafted" tender. Alex Smith will not be receiving a tender from the Eagles, so that just leaves Sav Rocca and Leonard Weaver as the only two who haven't been dealt with.
A deal could soon be coming for Weaver, and Rocca will probably receive a second-round tender.
