Jordan Matthews getting cut by the 49ers (again) makes one Eagles player’s roster spot less secure

IT IS TIME FOR ANOTHER PHILADELPHIA EAGLES COMPENSATORY PICK UPDATE.

The last time we checked in on the Eagles’ comp pick situation was when the San Francisco 49ers re-signed Jordan Matthews. We wrote about how that development was good news for the Eagles because if Matthews spent 10 games on the 49ers’ roster he would cancel out with Andrew Sendejo in the comp pick formula. As seen in this chart from Over The Cap:

But now Matthews might not be spending 10 games on the 49ers’ roster after all because San Francisco cut him on Saturday afternoon. The 49ers have less of a need for Matthews after acquiring veteran wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders in a trade earlier this week.

Assuming the 49ers don’t re-sign Matthews, the Eagles’ comp pick formula now looks something like this (except it should be a “4” instead of a “5” next to Golden Tate’s name):

In other words, Andrew Sendejo’s presence on the Eagles roster is preventing the Eagles from potentially receiving a 2020 fourth-round compensatory pick. Not ideal!

The good news for the Eagles is that they can get this pick back by releasing Sendejo before he spends his 10th week with the Eagles. He’s already been on the Eagles’ roster for eight weeks now so it’s just about time to cut bait.

On one hand, Sendejo is the Eagles’ top backup safety behind Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod. The only other safety on the roster (and practice squad) is Rudy Ford, who only plays on special teams. Sendejo has played 42.95% of their defensive snaps and 70.16% of their special teams snaps. Not the kind of player you typically want to cut midseason.

And yet, keeping Sendejo around would be a real waste. A 2020 fourth-round compensatory pick is hardly an amazing asset but it’s more valuable to the Eagles than a 32-year-old safety who will be a free agent after this year. Sendejo certainly isn’t moving the needle for the Eagles in what may be a lost season.

Draft picks should be especially valuable to an Eagles team that: 1) has the second oldest roster in the NFL, 2) has the worst ranked under-25 talent in the NFL, and 3) has made the fewest draft picks (10) over the past two years.

The Eagles need to do the smart thing and cut Sendejo prior to Week 10.