Eagles Make Bold Move to Protect Their Franchise Quarterback

Ever since the Philadelphia Eagles hired Andy Reid to be their Head Coach in 1999, the organization has placed an emphasis on the Offensive Line and invested more into that than almost any other position on the field.

But from 1999 to 2010, the Eagles got an above average level of play from the Center Position. From Hank Fraley to Jamaal Jackson to Mike McGlynn, the Center position was a stabilizing force and not the strength of the Offensive Line.

The Duality of the Jason Kelce Era

When the Eagles drafted Jason Kelce in the 6th Round of the 2011 NFL Draft, the plan was not to start him as a Rookie. But with Jamaal Jackson returning from a Torn Triceps Injury, the opening was there for Kelce to take advantage of an opportunity.

But it wasn't until Offensive Line Coach Jeff Stoutland was hired by Philadelphia in 2013 that Kelce began to play up to his potential. As Kelce put on more size and muscle along with Stoutland's guidance, the University of Cincinnati Bearcat Alumni would end his career with six All-Pro First Team selections and a Super Bowl Championship Ring.

It was Jason Kelce who endorsed the Eagles drafting his replacement in the 2022 NFL Draft. Cam Jurgens spent two years learning from Kelce and Stoutland about playing Offensive Line in the NFL before he was asked to take over the starting Center Position.

Eagles Have Established That Cam Jurgens Is The Future

After his first season as a starting Center in which he appeared in 16 regular season games, earning a Pro Bowl Selection, and was the man snapping the ball to Super Bowl 59 MVP Jalen Hurts, the Eagles organization decided they needed to lock up Cam Jurgens long term.

ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reports that Cam Jurgens is getting a four-year contract extension with $39.4 million guaranteed and potential earning value up to $68 million.

This is the third highest guaranteed money for any NFL Center behind the Kansas City Chiefs Creed Humphrey ($50.315 Million) and the Detroit Lions Frank Ragnow ($42 Million). Jurgens, at 25 years old, has not reached his potential yet, and the Eagles are betting he will only get better after a stellar start to his career.

Projections are that the Cam Jurgens contract extension will afford the Eagles a Salary Cap Savings of approximately $3.4 Million for the 2025 NFL Season.

The only concern with Jurgens moving forward is that he is currently recovering from Back Surgery. Several days after the Eagles won Super Bowl 59, Cam Jurgens had surgery to address nerve pain in his back that was caused by a herniated disc.

Jurgens played through the postseason run to Super Bowl 59 with the pain in his back and is expected to make a full recovery before the start of Eagles Training Camp this July. Jurgens has said in recent interviews that he is already feeling better.

The man that Cam Jurgens replaced is a future Pro Football Hall of Famer. We already know Jason Kelce will be honored by the Eagles organization as one of their greats in the near future, only time will tell if Jurgens will join him in the Eagles Hall of Fame: