One of the key contributors to the offense is staying around for the next five seasons. Wide receiver Jason Avant has agreed to terms on a 5-year contract, and the team will hold a 2 p.m. press conference for him today.
He had a career-best season in 2009, catching 41 passes for 587 yards and 3 touchdowns. Avant is the team's third receiver, the slot man, and his toughness and great hands, along with superb route running, make him one of the best in the league in the slot. Avant, a restricted free agent tendered last week, is now part of the long-term picture as the Eagles have their healthiest situation at wide receiver in many, many years. Avant teams with DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin to give the Eagles one of the best young wide receiver threesomes in the league.
A fourth-round draft pick in 2006, Avant has 103 catches and 8 touchdowns in his Eagles career. Thirty-seven of this receptions have come on third down, and 32 of those catches have resulted in first downs.
-- Posted by Dave Spadaro, 8:48 a.m., March 8
