Safety Walter Thurmond thrived in his first season both with the Philadelphia Eagles and at the safety position in 2015, but his future with the team still seems murky with less than a month left until he is eligible to become a free-agent.
Thurmond had success in his first season at safety in Billy Davis' 3-4 defense, though it's unclear exactly how he will fit in Jim Schwartz's 4-3 defense. It's also unclear if the Eagles wouldn't prefer to have a bigger-bodied safety across from Malcolm Jenkins, or if a new regime isn't interested in moving second-year cornerback Eric Rowe back to safety.
It does appear that the Eagles intend to at least discuss the possibility of a new contract with the 28 year-old, as Geoff Mosher of Eagles Scouting Nest and 97.5 The Fanatic reports that Thurmond's representatives are likely to meet with Eagles' brass at the NFL combine.
No extension discussions have taken place between #Eagles and pending free agent S Walter Thurmond, per source. Likely to talk at Combine.
— Geoff Mosher (@GeoffMosherNFL) February 13, 2016
The combine is set to take place in Indianapolis from January 23-29.
Thurmond suggested to a group of reporters, including Andrew Kulp of the 700 Level, that he thought following the season it was unlikely that he would get his wish and be able to return to the team.
"The decision's not up to me at the end of the day," Thurmond said. "Everyone's talking about me wanting to stay. It's not up to me. If you look at the numbers, they only have $17 million in cap space. I mean, do the numbers. It has nothing to do with me. I would love to be here, but it's just economically, it doesn't work, and I'm just being a realist with the situation."
While the Eagles still seem to have some money to spend after a slew of extensions, they need to address issues on the offensive-line, probably add another wide receiver, and still have a decision to make on the future of Sam Bradford with the team. Thurmond will only be 29 before next season, but given his injury history, it's fair to wonder if it would be in the team's best interests to retain him at what will be a fairly high clip.
Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) is an editorial assistant for Eagledelphia.com.
