The salary cap purge has begun.
The Eagles on Wednesday released veteran cornerback Leodis McKelvin in a move that will save the team $3.2 million in cap space.
McKelvin, 31, spent just one season with the Eagles after signing a two-year deal. It's no surprise that McKelvin was released. He has a subpar season in 2015 and was scheduled to have a $3.45 million cap hit in 2017. Instead, the Eagles saved most of that money to use elsewhere.
There are still a couple moves the Eagles are likely to make in order to save more cap room. Among those names are Connor Barwin and Ryan Mathews.
While colorful in media interviews, McKelvin didn't have a good 2016 season. Despite a hamstring injury that hampered him for most of the season, McKelvin still played 58 percent of the Eagles' defensive snaps last year. McKelvin was brought to Philly in large part because of his familiarity with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz from their time together in Buffalo.
Throughout his career, McKelvin has struggled to stay healthy after being taken in the first round of the 2008 draft out of Troy.
Before the move to cut McKelvin, the Eagles were expected to have just under $11 million in cap room. This will give them some more space before free agency opens up on March 9 at 4 p.m.
NFL
The Eagles' corners will have a very different look in 2017. McKelvin is already gone and Nolan Carroll will be a free agent. That's two of the three rotational guys from the end of the season. Meanwhile, Ron Brooks is still under contract while recovering from a significant leg injury.