Reports are coming in that the Eagles will tender both of their restricted free agents in Chris Polk and Cedric Thornton.
Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com reported that the Eagles will tender running back Chris Polk a one-year qualifying offer worth $1.6 million in 2015. Polk will still be allowed to negotiate with other teams. If Polk signs an offer sheet, the Eagles will have the opportunity to match. If the Eagles choose not to, they would not receive any compensation. The one-year tender is not guaranteed.
A rookie free agent signing of the Eagles in 2012, Polk had a career-high five total touchdowns in 2014 - four rushing and a 102-yard kickoff return in Week 3 against Washington. As a rusher, the 5-11, 222-pound Polk had 172 yards rushing on 46 carries. Polk earned additional snaps through the course of the season in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
Per ESPN's Field Yates, the Eagles will tender defensive end Cedric Thornton a one-year qualifying offer worth $2.356 million. The difference with Thornton is that if another team signs him to an offer sheet, and the Eagles decline to match, the new team will have to provide the Eagles with a second-round draft pick as compensation.
Thornton has been praised by head coach Chip Kelly quite often over the past two seasons. The 6-4, 309-pound Thornton started all 16 games last season and was a key component of the Eagles' young, stout defensive line. Thornton had 61 tackles, but he also recovered two fumbles. Thornton recovered one of them against the Rams in the end zone for his first-career NFL touchdown.