Lane Johnson’s surprise retirement won’t just impact the Philadelphia Eagles’ on-field product. This also comes with financial and roster considerations.
PhillyVoice has learned the Eagles plan to keep Johnson on their 53-man roster this season. In doing so, it leaves open the possibility that Johnson could change his mind and return to play this season, as unlikely as that may be.
Johnson said in August that this season would be his last in the NFL. Assuming that remains the case — or if he remains retired, as expected — the Eagles would then deal with his retirement after June 1, 2027, which would delay the salary cap ramifications until 2027 and 2028. Or perhaps better said, Johnson’s salary cap situation would remain as is, as if he had not retired and played the 2026 season as originally planned.
Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com did a good job laying out all the financial possibilities regarding Johnson’s retirement. Here’s the part that discusses Johnson remaining on the roster all season:
Although Johnson has announced his retirement, there is no reason the Eagles have to deal with this now. If he keeps the bonus, the team could simply keep him on the roster this year, have a 52-man roster, and then cut him on June 2, 2027. This would allow the team to keep his cap numbers intact this year, take $16.6 million in dead money in 2027, and then take $26.276 million in 2028. This would play out more or less the same as his original contract where he was going be appointed after June. 1 cut in 2027.
Obviously, the downside is that a player who announced he is done playing football will hold an active roster spot for the entire season.
Follow Jimmy and PhillyVoice on Twitter: @JimmyKempski | the voice of Philly
Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Sports
Add Jimmy’s RSS feed to your feed reader
Gn sports
