Who’s Up for Grabs? 5 Free Agents Available to the Eagles
As our nation and the entire world seems to be in the grips of a pandemic coronavirus outbreak, lives in the sports world have been turned upside down.
For the first time in certainly my memory, I cannot remember when the sports world went “dark” meaning no major sports of any kind.
However, the world of sports must go on as this virus will hopefully take its course and move on out of our society.
The Philadelphia Eagles must get ready to “get down to business” and start taking a hard look at available free agents around the NFL.
These free agents must be able to come in and fill holes in the roster or provide some sort of stability and leadership both in the locker room and on the field.
QB: Marcus Mariota
Marcus Mariota is available to become a quality backup QB and create some new level of competition to be behind Carson Wentz by the time the regular season starts. Although Mariota’s career in Tennessee was spotty at best, he does have viable playing time with 61 career starts and an overall QB rating of 89.6 and he threw 76 touchdowns to 44 interceptions. Mariotta was replaced in mid-season by then backup QB Ryan Tannehill and now Tannehill is the starter with the Titans having taken them to the AFC title game.
Mariota is a scrambling type of QB who relies on his legs and could either be a good scrambling backup QB for the Eagles or Doug Pederson and the rest of the offensive coaching committee can develop a small play package for Mariota.
RB: LeSean McCoy
Do we dare say that LeSean McCoy is available? McCoy is popular still in Philadelphia at least with the owner as his #25 jersey number hasn’t been used by any player since he left.
McCoy’s numbers in Kansas City were not strong and nowhere when he was last wearing an Eagles jersey but he did win a Super Bowl ring and this may be a great move to bring him in for his leadership in the locker room. With all things being said, LeSean McCoy would be a great backup RB to Miles Sanders and could also mentor the younger players.
WR: Phillip Dorsett
Phillip Dorsett has had a good overall run with the New England Patriots and would immediately establish a deep ball threat for Carson Wentz. Over the past two years, Dorsett has caught 61 passes for 8 TD’s and could bring long-ball passing back to the Eagles offensive arsenal.
Dorsett’s presence as an outside receiver could also alleviate some pass pressure and coverage off of the TE team of Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert.
DE: Kyle Van Noy
Kyle Van Noy could also be coming over from the Patriots. Van Noy has firmly established himself to be a top-notch pass rusher and had 6.5 sacks this past season.
DC Jim Schwartz could use a pass rusher like Van Noy all over the field making him a multiple threat rusher, exactly what the Eagles defense will need this next season to continue being competitive in the NFC East.
LB: Blake Martinez
Blake Martinez has been a steady performer in Green Bay and hasn’t missed a game since 2016 which can provide stability and personnel predictability for Jim Schwartz as well on the defensive side of the ball.
Martinez has averaged 140 tackles each of the last three seasons and again not missing a game since 2016 shows that he is healthy and dependable-qualities that the Eagles need this season since the 2019 roster was a patchwork of oft-injured players combined with backups and practice squad players.
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