PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie used the term "optionality" when talking about the team's offseason approach. The idea was to take shots on talented players on short-term deals and see if they proved to be scheme and culture fits. If it worked out, they'd be in position to try and sign them to extensions before free agency hits, and if they didn't, they could move on with minimal damage done.
That was part of the thinking when the Eagles inked wide receiver Alshon Jeffery to a one-year deal this offseason worth upwards of $14 million. Jeffery wasn't in the original plans, but when the market didn't shape up for him as expected and the one-year contract came into play, Philadelphia decided to dive in.
Jeffery has proved to be a good fit in Philly, so the Eagles worked to keep him in the fold long-term, and on Saturday signed him to a four-year, $52 million deal that includes $27 million in guarantees, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. They made a similar move in November with another offseason acquisition, defensive tackle Tim Jernigan, when they gave him a four-year extension.
The No. 1 organizational priority is to properly equip budding franchise quarterback Carson Wentz with a strong support system over the long haul. This move speaks to that objective. While it took some time to build their chemistry, Wentz and Jeffery have found their rhythm of late, with five of Jeffery's seven touchdowns this season coming in the past four games. He is now on pace for 63 catches, 900 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Let's go bro!!!!!! 😎 Pumped we get to keep ballin together for years to come! @TheWorldof_AJ https://t.co/6lwFalUpRs
— Carson Wentz (@cj_wentz) December 2, 2017
His overall numbers will almost certainly fall short of his top years with the Chicago Bears when he netted around 85 catches and close to 1,300 yards in back-to-back seasons, but that's largely because Wentz has been spreading the wealth. That method has worked extremely well, as the 10-1 Eagles lead the league in points per game (32) and are third in overall offense (382 yards/game).
Jeffery's willingness to sacrifice his numbers for the greater good has been a key ingredient to the offensive success this season.
"Winning championships, that's most important to me," Jeffery said recently. "A lot of players make a lot of money, but some of them never make the playoffs, never get to experience a lot of things. [I] like being here in Philly, the atmosphere where we all want that for each other. We all want to go to the playoffs. We all want to win a championship. We're all together.
"I think players who want a lot of individual stats, my opinion, their team don't do well. It's not basketball. In basketball, I can go out there and score 40 or 50 and we can win. ... Football, you need everybody."
The presence of Jeffery has benefited Wentz. Now he gets to grow with him over the coming seasons. Having that type of familiarity and consistency should only help the young quarterback as he tries to turn this franchise into a perennial contender.