With the start of free agency fewer than three days away, the Philadelphia Eagles have still not re-signed wide receiver Jeremy Maclin to a long-term extension.Maclin, 26, is eligible to sign with any team on Tuesday at 4 p.m. when the league's official free agency period starts, meaning he has just over two days to try to finalize a deal to remain in Philadelphia.If the Eagles are unable to bring back Maclin, they will lose one of their top skill position players for the second time in a week and the third time in the last calendar year. Last week, head coach Chip Kelly traded two-time All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy to the Buffalo Bills for inside linebacker Kiko Alonso, and last March, Kelly released three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeSean Jackson after failing to find a trade partner, per Martin Frank of USA Today.Trading McCoy is a move that actually makes sense when you consider a running back's short shelf life, McCoy's down year in 2014, his high salary in 2015 and Kelly's confidence in his offensive line to succeed regardless of the running back. And releasing Jackson, although questionable, makes some sense when you also consider his high salary in 2015, his small size and his inability to get along with the coaching staff.But can Kelly really allow a third star in the last calendar year to leave' Because if the Eagles don't work this contract issue out with Maclin, that's exactly what will happen, and like Jackson, they won't be receiving any compensation for him.Let's take a look at all of the Eagles' receivers in 2014, including Pro Bowler Jeremy Maclin.Clearly, Maclin was the best receiver on the Eagles. He led the team in catches, targets, yards, touchdowns and even dropped just one pass. He played all 16 games, regularly made impressive sideline catches and displayed a toughness that the fanbase had been calling for over the previous seasons. Oh, and he showed that he was completely healthy from an ACL tear that cost him all of the 2013 season.So exactly how much is Maclin worth in free agency' It's become obvious that Kelly values quarterback and offensive line significantly more than the other skill position players, such as running back and receiver. After all, he dumped McCoy and his high salary to go with an unproven combination in 2015. As stated above, he released Jackson. And just three days before the start of free agency, he hasn't agreed to terms yet with a wide receiver who had one of the best seasons by a receiver in franchise history.The Eagles have more than $45 million to spend in free agency, per Spotrac, meaning money really shouldn't be an issue for the team with the fifth-most salary cap space in the National Football League. During the season, Maclin reportedly turned down an offer from the Eagles that would pay him approximately nine million per year, instead seeking $11 million per season, as reported byJeff McLane of Philly.com.That's a difference of two million dollars per season, or at most, 10 million dollars over a potential five-year deal. Is it worth allowing yet another star playmaker on the offensive side of the ball to leave without any compensation over a matter of two million, just a fraction of the total cap'It really comes down to Kelly and his ego. If he thinks Maclin is replaceable, he could allow the former first-round pick to test free agency, where it makes sense for Maclin to reunite with Andy Reid in Kansas City. After all, the Chiefs' wide receivers caught zero touchdown passes in 2014, an all-time NFL record.But if Maclin leaves, the Eagles have just Matthews, Cooper and Huff currently on their roster. That's instantly one of the worst groups of receivers in the league.Matthews, a second-round pick in 2014, spent the majority of his rookie season catching passes from the slot and Kelly has already said that he likes the big receiver in the slot, per Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly. Huff, a third-round pick in 2014, struggled as a rookie, dropping four of 12 passes thrown to him, while also fumbling twice. But he did display big-play potential, which included a 44-yard catch-and-run against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15 and a franchise-record 107-yard kick return touchdown against the Tennessee Titans in Week 11.Cooper, widely considered one of the worst starting receivers in the NFL, struggled during the first year of a five-year, $25 million deal he signed after a breakout 2013 campaign. He is scheduled to make $4.8 million in 2015, per Spotrac, but it will cost the Eagles $6.2 million to cut him. Even if they cut him with a post-June 1 designation, they'll still owe $3.8 million, per Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com. And if Maclin doesn't return, it makes sense to bring back Cooper, even with as disappointing as his play was last year.Personally, the difference between $2 million isn't enough for me to allow Maclin to walk. He's done everything the Eagles have asked of him. He's not even 27 yet. He's a polished route-runner with terrific hands. He's a great leader in the locker room. And with the annual salary cap increasing each season, $11 million for a receiver who recorded 1,318 yards with two mediocre quarterbacks seems like a fair price.At some point, Kelly is going to have to pay for offensive talent. If he doesn't bring back Maclin, what does that show young players like Jordan Matthews and Zach Ertzwhen they're scheduled to hit free agency' Maclin is the type of player worth shelling out a big contract for, especially with no obvious replacement for him.The Eagles are close to contending for a Super Bowl title, needing just a few players on the defensive side of the ball. There's no point in allowing a position where they're already only average on talent, even with Maclin, to turn into a weakness without Maclin.
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