Fan Picks: Eagles Free Agents
As the Eagles regular season came to an end, the offseason began, and all of their attention has been shifted to how they can improve as a team for the next season. One of the best ways to improve the team is to bring in players through free agency who are proven in the NFL and can immediately come to Philadelphia and contribute. A lot of big-name players are hitting the free agent market this offseason and the Eagles should definitely be interested in several.
A couple of weeks ago, we asked you fans on @PHLEaglesNation Twitter who you would like to see the Eagles target at a few key positions. Well, here are the top picks by you fans and an in-depth analysis as to if they should come or return to Philadelphia.
Running Back
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Le’Veon Bell (Previous team: Pittsburgh Steelers)
Le’Veon Bell is an interesting, yet intriguing case this offseason. As we know last season, Bell held out the entire season after not reaching a contract agreement with the Steelers. Asking for $15-17M would put him at the top of the running back market before Todd Gurley landed a contract extension with the LA Rams. Ultimately, Bell was under a franchise tag and was linked to a few teams before the trade deadline, including the Philadelphia Eagles. After never signing his tender, Bell went the entire season without a contract or trade and became a free agent, available in March.
Back in 2017, Bell was the second best running back in the league behind Todd Gurley. Throughout his entire career, Bell has been a dominant back due to his patience behind the offensive line and his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. Unfortunately, money got to his main priority and he choose to miss out a season. Missing out on an NFL season is concerning and only time will tell to see if he will return to Pro Bowl form. However, other players have done the same due to an injury, Bell has been healthy this entire time.
Le’Veon Bell sitting out one season will lower his price tag, but he will still require north of $10M a season and he wants a long-term commitment with a fair amount of guaranteed money. Nonetheless, Bell is an elite player and should return to form and make him worth the money that he wants. The Eagles have lacked a dominant running back for years and Bell brings elite running ability, vision, pass catching and run blocking skill that fits all of the Eagles needs and gives them the last piece for their offense.
Jay Ajayi (Previous team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Ajayi left the Eagles early in the season after tearing his ACL. After being traded to the Eagled in 2017 for a fourth-round-pick, Ajayi was a key piece to the Eagles Super Bowl run and thrived in the Eagles running back by committee scheme. When Ajayi went down with injury, his absence was evident when the Eagles could not get a lot going on the ground on offense, causing the team to lose a few key games. Getting Ajayi back is an intriguing idea but coming off of an injury is concerning. Ajayi has struggled with knee injuries throughout his career and has a bone on bone issue in his knees which will call for major surgery a few years down the road.
The Eagles need for a running back is too big to rely on Ajayi to return as an RB1. His time in Philadelphia was solid, but not enough to make a long-term commitment considering the injury history. If Ajayi were to return to the Eagles, I would like to see a cheap, one-year contract. Whether Jay Ajayi returns or not, the Eagles need to search for a lead back in free agency or the draft.
Wide Receivers
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Golden Tate (Previous team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Tate was brought to Philadelphia in a trade mid-season where he played several games with the Eagles and two playoff games. Trading a third-round pick for Tate, the Eagles expected the yards after catch specialist that Tate was in Detroit. However, he was not. Offensive Coordinator Mike Groh failed to find a good way to incorporate Tate into the offense and give him the opportunity to show Philadelphia his elite abilities. After the Eagles season came to an end, Tate explained that he would prefer to stay in Philadelphia for less money than he may receive in free agency to have stability in the end of his career and remain with a contender. I would like to see Tate remain in Philadelphia but not at the expense of Nelson Agholor.
Randall Cobb (Previous team: Green Bay Packers)
Cobb is a solid veteran player who will most likely be walking from the Packers after they made a long-term commitment to Devonte Adams. Cobb is a good player but is not what the Eagles need in their offense. In 2018, the Eagles wide receivers included Alshon Jeffery, Golden Tate, Nelson Agholor, Jordan Matthews and with Mike Wallace and Mack Hollins on the IR. What the Eagles lacked the most this season was a deep threat, which is what Wallace was supposed to be, but not what Cobb is. The Eagles already have a jump ball, WR1 in Alshon and may keep their shifty receivers in Tate and Agholor and the only player that they need is a deep threat. Although Cobb is one of the best in the free agent market, the Eagles should not target him and look elsewhere for a fast receiver.
Safety
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Tyrann Mathieu (Previous team: Houston Texans)
Mathieu is a fantastic safety who unfortunately spent the season with the Houston Texans after being linked to the Eagles in the offseason. After a great season in Houston, he is set to hit the free agent market again. Mathieu has expressed on twitter that he does not want a big contract, he just wants a ring which would make the Eagles a great fit. However, the Eagles have recently committed to Rodney McLeod for another season which makes the probability of them brining in a starting safety slim.
Landon Collins (Previous team: NY Giants)
Collins has been a great player his entire career, something that the Eagles are aware of after playing him twice a year for the last few seasons. If the Giants let him walk in the spring, Collins will be one of the best safeties on the market and will land a big contract, which makes it unlikely for the Eagles to sign him after restructuring Rodney McLeod’s contract.
Cornerback
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Ronald Darby (Previous team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Darby was one of the many Eagles who missed extended time this season with injury. Going into the 2018 season, Darby was the Eagles best cornerback and started on the outside opposite Jalen Mills. After missing time with a torn ACL, the Eagles had many different players in the secondary try to take over his role. Toward the end of the season, the secondary was solidified and held the Saints to 20 points. The emergence of Avonte Maddox as an outside cornerback may make Ronald Darby replaceable, but it would be smart for the Eagles to keep Darby around even if he does not start. They could sign him for a one-year “prove-it” deal and see if he still has potential as he is a young player and the best cornerback to hit the market. Bringing him back would be smart, but the price has to be right and a long-term commitment is not smart.
Bradley Roby (Previous team: Denver Broncos)
Roby is a good option for the Eagles in free agency. After experiencing a lot of injuries in the 2018 season, the need for depth in the secondary was evident. Roby is a solid, young cornerback who will be paid at around the middle of the cornerback group in the NFL. The Eagles have shown interest in Roby before, as it was speculated that they were targeting him before the trade deadline this season. If the Eagles are looking for a young option who can immediately start on the outside for a good price, Roby is one of the best options out there.
Linebackers
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Jordan Hicks (Previous team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Linebacker is an underrated need for the Eagles this offseason if Hicks walks. After getting drafted by the Eagles four years ago, Hicks has shown flashes of excellence but is remembered more for his injury history. Hicks has missed many games in his short career and when he was off the field, other players like Nigel Bradham and Kamu Grugier-Hill stepped up in his absence. The Eagles do not value the linebacker position and would be in good shape with Bradham and Grugier-Hill starting next season, not to mention Paul Worrilow has just resigned with the Eagles giving them another option at the linebacker position. Given the Eagles current salary room and options at the position, it would not be smart to commit to Hicks for multiple years and a lot of money. Hicks should come back to Philadelphia on a small deal just like Ajayi and Darby may, but Hicks needs to prove that he can stay healthy before his payday. Otherwise, the Eagles should look at the next option on this list or the draft.
Kwon Alexander (Previous team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
The Bucs are in a place to rebuild, not retain many players currently on the roster, and this is shown as it is reported that Gerald McCoy, Beau Allen and Vinny Curry may all be cut this offseason. If those defensive linemen leave, I do not see them signing Alexander either as he would require a decent contract after playing very well his few years in the NFL with 7 sacks, 6 forced fumbles and 6 interceptions. Alexander would step in as the starter and give the Eagles a talented turnover-maker on defense that they have lacked. After performing very well, his first 4 years in the NFL, Kwon has the potential to become a very good linebacker in the NFL and if the price is right, the Eagles should take a look. Not to mention, he is a great friend of Jalen Mills and would definitely change his hair color from red to green.
Defensive Line
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Brandon Graham (Previous team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Brandon Graham will forever be remembered in Philadelphia for his excellent play and contributions in the Super Bowl. However, his time as an Eagle may be ending. The Eagles are looking to become younger at the defensive line position and Graham would not add any youth. At 30 years old, Graham is still producing well which sets him up for another big contract which he would not be able to find with the Eagles. The Eagles are already tight in salary cap and will likely use that money on other positions. Graham has also expressed that he will test the free agent market to do what’s best for him and his family but would not rule out a return to the Eagles. It would be sad to see Graham leave the Eagles, but they may not have the cap space to retain him.
Ndamukong Suh (Previous team: LA Rams)
After landing a huge one-year deal with the Rams, Suh will hit the free agent market and may be looking for a long-term deal which he would not find in LA next to the highest paid defender, Aaron Donald. Adding Suh to the Eagles defensive line is an instant upgrade and would disrupt any offensive line with Suh and Cox rushing up the middle. However, like with Graham, the Eagles may not have the money to do so or Suh’s age may be a concern. Therefore, it is unlikely that the Eagles would be able to acquire Suh and their next defensive tackle will likely be Tim Jernigan or a player from the draft.
Drop a comment below including what players you would like to see the Eagles target.
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