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When the Eagles and Jeremy Maclin hadn’t agreed on a contract extension by noon Saturday, it meant other teams would have the chance to make their best sales pitch to the Pro Bowl wideout.
One team has already reportedly emerged in the Maclin sweepstakes.
The Texans have plans to target Maclin, according to a Houston Chronicle report. Longtime Texans beat writer John McLain tweeted that Maclin, Randall Cobb and Torrey Smith are all options to replace Andre Johnson, who won’t be back in Houston.
Maclin is expected to command at least $8 million on the open market. The Texans are a big-market team that usually has money to spend.
Teams were able to start talking with free agents at noon Saturday. On Tuesday at 4 p.m., teams can officially sign new free agents.
Other teams that could be interested in Maclin are the Chiefs and Colts.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid, a former Eagles head coach, drafted Maclin with the 20th overall pick in 2009 after trading up. Kansas City went 9-7 last year without any of its wide receivers catching a touchdown.
Colts general manager Ryan Grigson worked the Eagles' scouting department when the team drafted Maclin and the Colts just parted ways with longtime wideout Reggie Wayne.
The Eagles could have kept Maclin from hitting the open market by agreeing to an extension with him before Saturday. Maclin is coming off his best season, catching 85 passes for 1,318 yards — both career highs — and 10 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl as an alternate but ducked out of the game.
