Eagles releasing Avonte Maddox. Could these 2 legends, others follow Kelce out the door?

Now that we've seen one Eagles icon in center Jason Kelce retire, could we see two more follow in defensive tackle Fletcher Cox and defensive end Brandon Graham?

It's possible that neither Cox nor Graham are planning on retirement. Graham, who turns 36 next month, said as much.

But they could still be leaving, along with several other veterans as NFL free agency begins Wednesday. The Eagles already started the process. Last Friday, they released safety Kevin Byard. And on Wednesday, it was reported by ESPN that they'll be releasing nickel corner Avonte Maddox.

The ESPN report also said that the Eagles would be open to re-signing Maddox, who would have counted $9.8 million on the salary cap this season, but clearly not at that price.

That's because Maddox, when healthy, is a solid nickel.

But the "when healthy" is the key. Maddox played in four games last season and just nine in 2022. Also, the Eagles signed nickel Isaiah Rodgers last summer while he was serving a season-long suspension for gambling. Rodgers' former team, the Indianapolis Colts, released him when the suspension was handed down.

Rodgers can apply for reinstatement once the new league year begins.

As for Graham and Cox, their future has yet to be determined.

"I want to (come back)," Graham said after the Eagles were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs on Jan. 15. "It would be my farewell tour next year. If the Eagles want me to do it one more time, I would love to be here for another year because I know we got something special. It’ll be Year 15, my farewell tour. I’ll be done next year."

Cox, 33, said repeatedly back in January that he hadn't thought about retirement.

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"Those are things that are going to take time," Cox said then about figuring out his plans. "You gotta think about those types of things."

But it's a two-way street.

Teams can start negotiating with free agents Monday, and the Eagles have about $42 million available in salary cap space. They'll save another $2 million on the cap by releasing Maddox.

Sure, that cap space could be enough to bring Cox and/or Graham back for another season. But that would prevent, or at least limit, the Eagles from spending big money on younger and more productive players.

That's just the cruel reality of the NFL. For every franchise icon like Kelce who spends his entire career with the Eagles, there are many others who do not. Most notably, Eagles legends Brian Dawkins, quarterback Donovan McNabb and running back Brian Westbrook finished out their careers elsewhere.

Graham is coming off an underwhelming season in which he had just three sacks and played just 34% of the snaps. Both are his lowest totals since 2013 (not counting 2021 when Graham played in just two games due to injury).

Graham signed a one-year deal worth $5 million last season. Cox had a one-year deal worth $10 million last season. He was still productive with 5½ sacks while playing 59% of the snaps. That was his lowest snaps percentage since his rookie year in 2012.

Both players could be designated post-June 1 cuts, thus saving the Eagles money on the cap after that date. But the Eagles' current cap space of $42 million already includes cap hits of $7.9 million for Graham and $5.7 million for Cox.

Besides, the Eagles have drafted three defensive linemen in the first round of the last two NFL drafts in Jordan Davis (2022), and Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith (2023).

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said last week at the NFL scouting combine that it's time for the younger players to play more.

"You'll have a depth chart where (the young players) will be a little bit uncomfortable because this guy necessarily hasn't shown it, but we believe in this player," Roseman said. "I think that will be an area for us to kind of maybe grow on. ... It's exciting, I think, in a lot of ways."

But Cox and Graham are hardly the only veterans who might not return in 2024. The Eagles already released safety Byard, saving $13 million on the salary cap.

Here are other veterans who could be leaving, whether it's as a free agent, or via release or trade:

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Haason Reddick, edge rusher

The Eagles reportedly told Reddick to seek a trade. He'll count the most on the cap at $21.9 million, the final year of his three-year, $45 million deal. Reddick wants an extension, most likely in the $20 million-$25 million average annual value range. The Eagles might not want to pay that much or commit to another two to three seasons, for someone who turns 30 in September.

D'Andre Swift, running back

Swift, a free agent, is coming off a career year with 1,049 yards rushing. But the Eagles didn't pay Miles Sanders, who had 1,269 yards in 2022, so it's hard to see them doing it for Swift. They could draft a running back to replace him. Or the Eagles could go after someone like Saquon Barkley if his price drops into the Eagles' range later in the spring.

James Bradberry, cornerback

Bradberry is coming off a disappointing season and turning 30, which are two big strikes against him. The Eagles could take a $15 million dead money hit and release him, or hope that Bradberry rediscovers his All-Pro form from 2022. Either way, they should draft a cornerback early as a replacement.

Zach Cunningham, linebacker

It's hard to see any of the Eagles' three veteran linebackers returning. Cunningham was better than Nicholas Morrow and late-season signee Shaquille Leonard. The Eagles need a solid − and healthy − season from Nakobe Dean. They can sign and draft others, along with returnees Ben VanSumeren and Shaun Bradley returning from a torn Achilles.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles releasing Avonte Maddox. Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham await future