The new Eagles personnel boss is the same as the old boss. And executive vice president Howie Roseman is already starting to move on from some of former coach Chip Kelly's personnel decisions.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday that the Eagles have agreed to trade cornerback Byron Maxwell and linebacker Kiko Alonso to the Dolphins, according to two sources who have spoken with the players.
Maxwell was not an outright disaster in Philadelphia, but he gave up too many plays for someone getting paid as a top-shelf cornerback. He essentially played like a league average starter while getting more than $13 million in 2015 pay. The Dolphins would get him at a more reasonable rate, avoiding the big signing and roster bonuses that the Eagles swallowed last year. Maxwell is due $8.5 million this season and $10.5 million in 2017, including $3 million guaranteed. So the Dolphins would still be taking on a considerable risk and could count on him to rebound in new defensive coordinator Vance Joseph's unit.
For the Eagles, the deal would essentially be dumping Maxwell's contract despite being thin at cornerback. Nolan Carroll, a starter from last year, is also slated to be a free agent. It would be a big surprise if the Dolphins had to give up anything more than a late-round draft pick in order to grab Maxwell.
The Dolphins should be front and center this week with free agency set to kick off. The trade bringing in Maxwell raises questions about cornerback Brent Grimes' future with the team. Tight end Jordan Cameron could wind up taking a pay cut to stay in Miami, sources told NFL Media's Rand Getlin on Sunday. Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon, who received the transition tag, also face uncertain futures.
