Eagles LT Jason Peters signs one-year contract extension through 2019; deal likely allows him to retire with Eagles

One day after Jason Peters said he wanted assurances that he could retire with the Eagles, the nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle signed a one-year extension through 2019 that will allow him to finish his career in Philadelphia.

"No doubt," Peters said. "… I'm year-to-year. I feel good. I feel like I've got more than three years, but it's just a three-year extension. I'm going to keep going and chase a ring."

The new deal is worth $32.5 million over the next three years with $15.5 million guaranteed and an $8 million signing bonus, according to his agent, Vincent Taylor.

Peters, 35, signed a four-year, $38.3 million contract extension in 2014 that would have expired after the 2018 season, although there would be only $1 million in dead money and $10.25 million in salary-cap savings if the Eagles released him after the 2017 campaign. So the question would have loomed all year about whether Peters was finished in Philadelphia.

The yearly splits of the new contract will reveal the salary-cap implications, but the early indications are that Peters is in the Eagles' plans beyond this season.

"Do you want to win a Super Bowl or do you want to save money?" Peters said. "It's their decision. I give us a good chance on a line to help all the other guys and get where we want to go."

The question, though, is what position Peters will play beyond this season. He's a potential Hall of Famer who started all 16 games at left tackle last season. But the Eagles had already established a succession plan, with Lane Johnson eventually taking Peters' place. Johnson signed a five-year, $56.25 million deal last offseason that was structured in such a way to pay him to be the left tackle. With Peters expected to be in an Eagles uniform in 2018, he could move to guard if the team wanted Johnson protecting Carson Wentz's blind side.

"It's hard to speculate, obviously, on that," coach Doug Pederson said. "In the future, that's something that we would definitely cross that bridge if we needed to move him inside, for instance. But right now, he's left tackle, Lane is right."

Pederson said it would be more difficult for Peters to eventually move to right tackle because his experience is on the left side. He thinks Peters could play inside because of his size, athleticism, and strength. Peters said he would be open to making the switch if asked, but he does not know if or when that would happen.

"I don't worry about that," Peters said. "I'm the left tackle now and that's what I'm going to do."

Peters, who was asked to take a pay cut earlier this offseason, credited owner Jeffrey Lurie for the contract extension. The two share a close relationship, and Peters said Lurie "stood up for me and got the deal done."

"We're best friends," Peters said of Lurie. "We talk all the time. We text, we talk before every game. That's my guy. He brought me here and he stayed loyal to me."

The hiring of Pederson has also been helpful to Peters. Pederson allowed Peters to take plays off during practice to keep Peters' body fresh. It might be two out of seven plays during a drill, but those accumulate during the course of the season. Peters said by the Eagles taking care of him last season, they "saved me 200-something reps." Peters started all 16 games, took 97 percent of the offensive snaps, and had perhaps his best season since 2013.

"We'll try to keep that same formula going," Pederson said.

And it might go longer than anticipated. When Peters signed his last contract, it seemed it would keep him Philadelphia throughout his career. But he's still playing at 35 and the Eagles made another commitment to him. Both Pederson and team executive Howie Roseman said they wanted Peters to finish his career with the Eagles. Peters is confident he will — and what is motivating Peters is winning a Super Bowl before he signs his retirement papers.

"The fans deserve a Super Bowl," Peters said. "Get in the playoffs, make the Linc rock, get home field, and go from there. The city of Philly deserves it."