Nelson Agholor’s $9.4 million salary with the Eagles in 2019 is now guaranteed

The new 2019 NFL league year is here, which means that Nelson Agholor’s fifth-year contract option worth nearly $9.4 million is now officially guaranteed.

It was previously thought the Eagles might look to move off that cap number by either signing Agholor to an extension or trading him. Those options are still possible but multiple reports indicate it’s unlikely to happen. Jeff McLane was first to report this sentiment earlier in the week and now ESPN is reporting the same thing:

$9.4 million is a significant amount of money to be paying Agholor. In terms of annual value, his contract makes him the NFL’s 23rd highest paid wide receiver in 2019.

On one hand, keeping Agholor is good because getting rid of him would’ve opened a hole at slot receiver. The Eagles should have a real nice starting trio of wide receivers with him, Alshon Jeffery, and DeSean Jackson in the fold.

On the other hand, one must wonder if the Eagles are making the best use of their resources. Agholor’s 2018 numbers aren’t too far off from his 2017 numbers, yes, but his efficiency stats dropped last year. Agholor ranked 18th out of 79 wide recevers in yards per route run in 2017, per Pro Football Focus. That ranking dropped to 46th out of 72nd in 2018. Agholor’s drop rate also increased by 2% and his DYAR numbers took a hit:

Perhaps Agholor’s step back wasn’t entirely his fault. Maybe the combination of Carson Wentz not being fully healthy, Mike Groh taking over in his first year as Eagles offensive coordinator, and Gunter Brewer (who only lasted one year in Philly) coaching wide receivers didn’t help him.

Whatever the case, the Eagles better hope to get real good production out of Agholor in 2019 because they’re certainly paying for it.