Eagles’ GM Howie Roseman a big believer in Miles Sanders
Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman struck an optimistic tone when talking about Penn State Football alum Miles Sanders’ future, contract talks
Miles Sanders’ role in the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense seemed to fluctuate in 2021, but the former Penn State Football standout is off to a borderline historic start to his NFL career.
While Sanders, 24, has yet to eclipse 1,000 yards in a single season, he is averaging 5.1 yards per attempt through his first 40 games after being chosen in the second-round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Sanders is entering the final year of his contract, and while Howie Roseman didn’t divulge any details of where negotiations stand, the Eagles’ general manager was effusive in his praise for the team’s star running back.
"“We haven’t even seen everything Miles can give this team,” Roseman told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. “Obviously, he’s been really productive. I know he wants to get in the end zone, as well. But I think the best is yet to come from Miles.”"
What is Miles Sanders’ market value?
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni showed a strong commitment to the running game last season, and it isn’t difficult to envision Philadelphia building a scheme around Sanders’ explosiveness in 2022 and beyond.
However, Sanders has missed nine games due to injury through his first three seasons, and the NFL landscape is littered with cautionary tales of running backs who never lived up to their second contracts.
Roseman and the Eagles have historically been aggressive about extending the contracts of homegrown players before they reach their final season. Spotrac projects Sanders’ value as somewhere in the range of $4.2 million per season.
If that’s the deal Sanders winds up signing, he would rank somewhere around the 19th highest-paid running back in the league.
Sanders’ contract negotiations will be worth watching because it will be telling just how much upside Roseman and the Eagles believe the running back has, and could have a trickle down impact on how running back deals are negotiated across the league.
"“Miles is a heck of a player, heck of a person,” Roseman said. “I think you saw a lot, too, we had guys who were in their fourth year last year, whether you go back and you look at Sweaty and you look at Dallas and you look at Avonte and you look at Jordan, guys like that. Maybe I’m missing a couple guys, who even became better in their fourth year in the league.”"