Lane Item

Likely looking to clear cap space for the 2023 season, the Eagles on Friday reportedly agreed to an extension for All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson that carries his contract through the 2026 season.

Per ESPN’s source, the new deal includes an additional year and $30 million guaranteed for the 32-year-old four-time Pro Bowl lineman, who turns 33 in May.

Eagles are giving All-Pro RT Lane Johnson a one-year, $33.445 million contract extension, including $30 million guaranteed, per source. He’s now under contract through 2026. Johnson hasn’t surrendered a sack the past two seasons, even playing last postseason with a torn adductor.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 24, 2023

Prior to the extension, Johnson’s cap number for 2023 was about $24.2 million, per overthecap.com, whose info is generally close to the Eagles’ contract terms. Johnson had three more years left on his deal, carrying until 2025, and an additional three void years.

The extension and new signing bonus allows the Eagles to move the money around, with another year of flexibility, to lower his cap number in 2023, as the Eagles will look to make more moves in free agency and prepare a mega-extension for quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Howie Roseman, the team’s executive vice president of football operations, and his staff have typically relied on restructures, extensions and creative contract designs using voidable years and option bonuses to help keep individual cap numbers down each season, which the Eagles have again done this free-agent period.

On the flip side, adding another year to Johnson’s contract means Johnson will have cap charges down the road that could linger even if the former Oklahoma standout isn’t on the team anymore.

Widely regarded as the NFL’s top right tackle and possibly best overall tackle, Johnson helped the Eagles get to the Super Bowl – and almost win it – despite playing through a torn adductor tendon he suffered late in the season.

Johnson, picked fourth overall by the Eagles in 2013, only missed the last two regular-season games but still didn’t allow a sack, despite the injury forcing him to adjust his set and technique.

Johnson has missed 15 games the past three seasons but made All Pro and Pro Bowl in 2022 after making neither the prior two seasons. From 2017-2019, he made three straight Pro Bowls and one All Pro.

– Geoff Mosher (@geoffmoshernfl) is co-host of the “Inside the Birds” podcast and staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.

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