Philadelphia Eagles: Top 10 Free Agents to Target

The Philadelphia Eagles season last year was supposed to be one of building and change, but the realization of Mike Vick’s emergence as a star again in the NFL changed the landscape.

With the quarterback of the future on his way out and a new-found hope for a Super Bowl this year, the Eagles will trudge onward through the madness that will be the next month of free agency and trades.

While they played solid last season and made a nice run at the playoffs, the city of Philadelphia and the team itself want a Super Bowl now while all the pieces are still together.

With trades and free agency just hours away from kicking off, the Philadelphia Eagles look to target the best possible options for a run at the title.

These are the 10 options the Eagles will be mulling over for the next few days. Enjoy!

10. Nnamdi Asomugha

While this is the most far-fetched of all the possibilities, the Philadelphia will at least call Nnamdi Asomugha’s agent to see what the cost will be to sign him to a long-term deal.

The Eagles need a cornerback in the worst way, but there is a good chance that Asomugha will start a bidding war that Philadelphia will bow out of.

Asomugha is by far the best cornerback in the free agency market, but the Eagles can find a solid solution for a much cheaper price.

Philadelphia won’t find a better cornerback that fits their style, but there isn’t a style in the league that doesn’t fit Nnamdi well.

9. Brett Favre

While the Nnamdi Asomugha is the most far-fetched idea on this list, the thought of NFL legend Brett Favre being the Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback is as wild as they come.

Favre has shown in the past that he can’t handle retirement, and a chance to be back on the field will be too intriguing for the veteran to wave off.

As the backup in Philadelphia, Favre wouldn’t have to do all the extra work he hates, and the Eagles would have an amazing quarterback to back up the oft-injured Mike Vick.

The relationship between Favre and his former quarterback coach Andy Reid may be the key to the former star's return to the NFL.

8. Vince Young

When the Tennessee Titans finally cut bait with their trouble quarterback Vince Young, the Philadelphia Eagles will be one of the first teams in line to inquire about his services.

The Titans and their former coach Jeff Fisher never really gave Young the opportunity he needed to grow, and the change of scenery will help the possibility of him coming back as a star.

Young had personal issues as well in Tennessee, but the superior support system the Eagles have in place to take care of Mike Vick could be used to help Vince Young get on the right track.

With Vick getting older, Young could spend a year or two behind Vick as the backup and challenge for the starting job in a few seasons; or he could take the knowledge he receives and the Eagles can trade him for whatever they can get.

7. Jermon Bushrod

The Philadelphia Eagles would be taking a big risk by signing former New Orleans Saints offensive lineman Jermon Bushrod, but the risk might be worth the reward.

The 26-year-old left tackle would have to move to the other side of the offensive line in Philadelphia, but his talent level would make the transition seamless.

There will undoubtedly be a huge market for Bushrod’s services, but the intrigue of playing with a Super Bowl contending team like the Eagles may be a breaking point.

With first-round draft pick Danny Watkins as the right guard and Pro Bowlers Jason Peters and Todd Herremans holding down the left side, Philadelphia would ask Bushrod to switch to the right tackle position. 

6. Ike Taylor

As said before on the Nnamdi slide, the Philadelphia Eagles are in desperate need for help at the cornerback position, and there is a cheaper way to go than paying Asomugha an arm and a leg.

One of those options is 31-year-old former Pittsburgh Steeler Ike Taylor, but he will not be the best option for the Eagles at CB.

Taylor will be the piece of the puzzle Philadelphia will grab if all of the other top cornerbacks are off the market.

While he is not the best corner in the league, Taylor can be a solid player; but he wouldn’t help enough to compensate for the trouble Asante Samuel gets the secondary in.

5. Jason Babin

Of all the players on the free agency market this year, former Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Jason Babin might be the most likely to sign with the team.

Babin spent several seasons behind fellow defensive end Trent Cole before signing with the Tennessee Titans as a free agent.

While in Tennessee, Babin worked with legendary defensive line coach Jim Washburn and had the best year of his career.

With Washburn coaching the defensive line in Philadelphia now, the intrigue to come back to the team he knows may be too much to ignore.

4. Plaxico Burress

The Philadelphia Eagles had one of the most potent offenses in the NFL last season, but they lacked a real red-zone target that Mike Vick could depend on.

With their penchant for rehabilitating now, the option of signing former New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress isn’t too far-fetched.

There was backlash when the Eagles signed Mike Vick after serving jail time, but that quieted after a while when people saw how hard Vick was working to turn his life around.

The people of Philadelphia will do the same for Burress if he shows true remorse, and performs at a high level on the field. Vick needs a big target in close, and there might be no better in the NFL than Burress.

3. Jonathan Joseph

If I was running the Philadelphia Eagles organization, former Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Jonathan Joseph is who I would be targeting.

Joseph is a stellar corner that has the ability to play both man-to-man coverage or in zone, and his penchant for tackling people will be a welcomed addition to a weak secondary.

The Eagles could slide Asante Samuel to the No. 2 cornerback spot where his high-risk high-reward style can’t be exploited as much, and let Joseph take the opposition's No.1 receiver.

With the tandem of Samuel and Joseph, and the possibility that the Philadelphia Eagles trade Kevin Kolb for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, the team could shift one to safety and have one of the best secondaries in the league.

2. Tyson Clabo

If the Philadelphia Eagles are looking to grab another great offensive lineman, they need to look no further than the Atlanta Falcons Tyson Clabo.

Clabo is one of the most versatile linemen in the league, and the Eagles will try to move him to right tackle on their line.

The left side is secure with Todd Herremans and Jason Peters holding it down, but the right side is missing a strong tackle to compliment first-round pick right guard Danny Watkins.

With Philadelphia going after a lineman like this it will cost them some serious cash, but it will be the best move for an instant impact on the safety of quarterback Mike Vick.

1. Antonio Cromartie

The New York Jets already have one of the best cornerbacks in the league with Darrelle Revis, but they may be losing their second best in Antonio Cromartie.

With Cromartie checking out the free agency market, there will be plenty of interest; but Cromartie may lean to Super Bowl contenders. That’s where the Eagles come in.

Philadelphia needs another secondary member that can shut down the tough offenses of the NFC East, and Cromartie could fit in the defensive schemes the Eagles will run.

If the Kevin Kolb trade to Arizona doesn’t yield a cornerback, the Eagles will have no option but go hard after one of the top three corners on the market.