Evan Mathis Seeks New Deal, Eagles Open to Trading Him

Eagles guard Evan Mathis is reportedly eyeing a new contract and has been shopped by the team for over a month on the trade market. 

Evan Mathis now joins DeSean Jackson on the Eagles trading block after the All-Pro guard made it known that he is seeking a new contract.

Early Wednesday the NFL Network reported that the 32-year old Mathis is eyeing a new contract, just two years after inking a deal that pays $5.15 million and as a result the Eagles are willing to shop him.

Head coach Chip Kelly though says that he has yet to hear from Mathis about his desire to re-work his contract.

"I think that's just the nature of what our league is like," Kelly said from the NFL owners meetings.   "In professional sports there is a short amount of time that guys have to play this game and they're trying to get what they can, and I certainly understand where they're coming from. And part of being the general manager, cap people, is fitting that all together,

"Do I worry about Evan? No. Evan, you talk about go-to-work lunch pail mentality, that's Evan Mathis. I don't worry about Evan from that standpoint."

According to Jeff McLane, Mathis' agent Drew Rosenhaus approached the Eagles about a new deal back in February and was told to seek a trade from the Eagles brass. According to the report, Rosenhaus shopped Mathis during the scouting combine but has yet to see any significant interest from teams around the league.

By and large, Mathis seems to be viewed as a top guard in the league but mostly due to his schematic fit within the Eagles offense. 

The read here is that given Mathis has been actively been shopped for well over a month with few nibblers league-wide, ultimately being the unselfish player that he is, Mathis will be present and accounted for come training camp. Unless Rosenhaus is fully intent on forcing the Eagles hand, then of course a training camp holdout could be in the cards.

As high as the Eagles are on backup Allen Barbre, it's difficult to envision the team actively creating a need along an offensive line that emerged as one of the top in the league last season.

Last season Mathis played more snaps than any other player on offense and has become a steadfast leader along the line.

News of the Eagles shopping Mathis follows closely behind the rumors and speculation surrounding DeSean Jackson's future with the team, which Kelly did not dispel Wednesday.