According to 97.5 The Fanatic's Jon and Sean Show, the Philadelphia Eagles will bring back wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and quarterback Mark Sanchez for their seventh and second seasons in midnight green respectively.
Update 8:40 pm from ESPN's Chris Mortensen, challenging Jon and Sean's report:
"The Eagles' wild ride will continue: Jeremy Maclin plans to reunite with Andy Reid in Kansas City once free agent market opens Tuesday.
The Chiefs will have to clear salary cap space to get the deal done with Maclin. Most logical savings would be with Dwayne Bowe's contract."
Please read our latest piece regarding Maclin: Mortensen: Maclin to Reunite with Andy Reid in Kansas City
Maclin, 26, was drafted 19th overall by the Eagles in the 2009 NFL Draft. Over 75 games, 73 as a starter, the St. Louis, Missouri-native has 343 receptions, 4,771 receiving yards, and 36 touchdowns. which ranks seventh in franchise history.
Despite missing the entire 2013 season due to a torn ACL, the six-foot, 200 lb wide receiver out of the University of Missouri surely did not disappoint last season. His 1,318 reception yards and 10 touchdowns led the team in both categories last season, and ranked 9th and 12th respectively for the entire National Football League.
Joining Maclin, Maxwell and Gore on players who have signed to new contracts today with Philadelphia is the team's backup quarterback from the 2014 season, Mark Sanchez.
According to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports 1, Sanchez has re-signed with the Eagles to a two-year deal worth $9 million, $5.5 guaranteed.
Max value on Mark Sanchez's deal with the Eagles is $16 million over 2. So very inventive laden and upside if he starts.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 8, 2015
Sanchez started in eight games for the Eagles last season and posted a 4-4 win-loss record. With a 64.1% completion percentage and a 14-11 touchdown-to-interception ratio, he took over for the injured Nick Foles upon his early exit in Week 9. In his first start as an Eagle, a primetime game in Week 10 against the Carolina Panthers, he threw for 332 yards and two touchdowns in the team's commanding 45-21 victory.
While the statistics didn't show for it, his best game came on Thanksgiving Day in Dallas. Sanchez drove the team down the field early, allowing the Eagles to score in five of their first six drives of the game for a convincing 23-7 advantage at the half over their division rivals.
Maclin is expected to earn a significant pay raise over his 2014 salary of $5,250,000. He reportedly desires $11 million per season in his new contract, according to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer. However as of last night, the Eagles only reached $9 million per year in discussions.
Sanchez, who was drafted by the New York Jets fifth overall in the 2009 NFL Draft out of USC, earned $2,250,000 in 2014. Expected to be returning as the backup quarterback in 2015, it is unclear who exactly he will be behind on the depth chart. Currently that player is Nick Foles, but recent speculation suggests a surprise move-up in the NFL draft is all but inevitable as Chip Kelly seeks to reunite with Marcus Mariota from Oregon.
Matt Rappa (@mattrappa) is a contributor to Eagledelphia.com.
