Byron Maxwell to Eagles appears a “done deal,” according to multiple reports

Multiple reports this morning that cornerback Byron Maxwell has agreed on a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles and will sign it when the free agency period begins on Tuesday.

In fact, Maxwell told Josina Anderson of ESPN that he has made his decision, saying “I’m going to Philly.”

That’s no real surprise as the Eagles had been regarded as a front-runner for the services of Maxwell, while it was considered unlikely that the Seahawks could keep him.

What is something of a surprise is the money that Maxwell is said to be getting — a five-year deal at more than $50 million total with $25 million in guarantees, according to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports.

That w0uld be guaranteed money that would rival that of any cornerback in the NFL and a per-year average that would put him in the top five (each based on this list from OvertheCap.com).

Richard Sherman’s deal, which he signed last spring, calls for him to get $56 million over four years (2015-18) with $40 million guaranteed and a per-year average of $14 million.

Maxwell’s deal, as reported, would be better than that of Earl Thomas (averaging $10 million a year through 2018 with almost $20 million guaranteed) and Kam Chancellor ($7 million a season through 2017 with $17 million guaranteed).

Worth pointing out that corners, in general, make more than safeties, and that the continued rising of the salary cap — it increased by $10 million this year as it also had last season — will likewise increase the salaries at all positions. The cornerback market also appears to be pretty darn hot this year with San Diego’s Brandon Flowers having also agreed today to a four-year deal worth $36 million.

Still, that’s an eyebrow-raising deal for player who has just one full year as a starter. Maxwell started the final five games of the 2013 regular season — the first starts of his career after being a backup in 2011 and 2012 — as well as all three post-season games. He started 12 games this season as well as the NFC Championship and Super Bowl — recall that he missed most of the Carolina game with an illness.

Maxwell was ranked 45th among cornerbacks this season by ProFootballFocus, and fourth among Seahawks, behind Sherman (third), Marcus Burley (33rd) and Tharold Simon (43rd).

Simon is a possible replacement for Maxwell in 2015 but also just had shoulder surgery. Another Seattle cornerback, Jeremy Lane, will likely miss the beginning of the season with an ACL injury. Burley will be back but is thought of more as an inside or slot cornerback.

Seattle has already begun looking outside for possible Maxwell replacements, last week bringing in Cary Williams — who had been cut by the Eagles, presenting the obviously intriguing possibility of Seattle and Philadelphia simply swapping cornerbacks — and also reportedly being interested in Green Bay’s Tramon Williams if he becomes an unrestricted free agent. PFF ranked Cary Williams 49th last season and Tramon Williams 34th.

Cary Williams is reportedly visiting the Jets today and also could make visits with the Steelers and Titans and might consider the Ravens.

Seattle would be in line for compensation for losing Maxwell in the form of a 2016 draft pick that would be as high as a third. But that would be offset if Seattle signs a similarly-valued free agent. That pick would not be awarded until the NFL League Meetings in March, 2016.

Since news of the deal began to surface, much has been made of the fact that Maxwell played one of his best games this season against the Eagles. Recall that in that game, the Seahawks moved Maxwell to play the slot against Jordan Matthews, leaving Simon outside. Maxwell played inside regularly in his Seattle career, but in 2014 that was really the only time he did it exclusively, as the Seahawks like the matchup against Matthews and also knew that in Philly’s up-tempo offense, the WRs don’t necessarily do much pre-snap motioning.

UPDATE: Here’s Thomas Tweeting about Maxwell’s departure:

And Jeron Johnson: