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Logan wants to stay, but can Eagles afford him?

BENNIE LOGAN definitely wants to remain an Eagle, he said Thursday, but he can't be sure how his impending free agency will play out.

BENNIE LOGAN definitely wants to remain an Eagle, he said Thursday, but he can't be sure how his impending free agency will play out.

Logan, 27, the team's 2013 third-round pick, has shown he can play effectively as a 3-4 nose tackle or a 4-3 defensive tackle. But the Eagles have spent a lot of money along their defensive line - Fletcher Cox signed this year for six years and $102 million-plus, Vinny Curry for five years and $47.25 million, then there's Brandon Graham, with two years left on a four-year, $26 million deal, and Connor Barwin, with two remaining on a six-year, $36 million contract.

At the very least, Barwin, 30, will be asked to restructure his $8.35 million cap number in 2017 - and even that wouldn't guarantee that a team with limited maneuverability and crucial needs at wide receiver and cornerback would be able to make an enticing bid to Logan.

"I've been around here four years, I've had a great relationship with these guys, and I enjoy playing next to Fletcher, Brandon Graham, Connor Barwin - just the relationship we have, man," Logan said. "Trying to start over and do something new is not something I'm looking forward to, because I enjoy being here, the city and everything. So, this is where I see myself at."

De facto general manager Howie Roseman is all about locking up his productive draft picks, as we saw in last season's extension bonanza, which included right tackle Lane Johnson, safety Malcolm Jenkins and tight end Zach Ertz. But even though Logan is a solid, valued starter, it isn't clear he is substantially better than, say, Beau Allen, and a midround draftee could be in that spot next year.

Roseman hasn't spoken to reporters since last month, when he announced contract extensions for some key special-teams players. Asked then about Logan, he said: "Bennie fits in that group as a fiber guy, a guy that we drafted that has great character, leadership and is a really good player. We'd love to keep Bennie around."

"If I'm here, I'm going to be happiest. If I'm not here, I'm not going to take it personally or anything like that," Logan said. "You can never overlook, this is business. While I'm here, I'm going to enjoy this moment. In the offseason, we'll see what happens, but hopefully we'll get things done and I'm still here."

Does Logan think he's a top-echelon defensive tackle?

"I'm coming into being one of the best. I'm not quite there yet," he said. "I think in a year or so I'll be there."

Logan said he believes agent Todd France has spoken with the Eagles, but during the season, he doesn't concern himself with such things.

Logan missed three games, from mid-October to mid-November, with a groin injury. He has 2 1/2 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles.

Seumalo, for starters

Assuming the Eagles hold onto left tackle Jason Peters after he turns 35 next month, which seems like a pretty decent assumption, the only change in the offensive line for 2017 might be the elevation of 2016 rookie Isaac Seumalo to full-time starter.

Even if the team brings back left guard Allen Barbre, who turns 33 in June, Barbre has been a backup before and can be one again. It's clear coaches have been impressed by what they have seen of Seumalo, an emergency starter on short notice twice at right guard this season and once, with a little more notice, at right tackle.

Asked if he sees himself in the mix for a starting role going forward, Seumalo said: "I think everybody does. If you're just coming here to sit on the bench, it's kind of stupid. Obviously, I want to play. That's more on me. It's not like I look at any other teammate with a weird look - I go out there, do my job, do my best."

Seumalo missed the spring work because his Oregon State class hadn't graduated yet, had to work from behind in training camp. What has he learned about the NFL season?

"It's long. You've just gotta take care of your body. I think a lot of the older guys do that real well," Seumalo said. "You just gotta be real consistent daily, which I think is the hard thing for a lot of guys - it's a grind. You wake up the same time, you try to do all the same stuff, really prepare those six days. Those 16 Sundays are fun, you know? . . . The other days you really grind through."

Birdseed

Allen Barbre (hamstring) and linebacker Jordan Hicks (ankle) were limited practice participants, but wide receiver Jordan Matthews (ankle) again sat out . . . The Giants' 1-for-5 performance last week boosted the Eagles to third in NFL red-zone defense.

@LesBowen

Blog: philly.com/Eaglesblog