Free-Agent Contracts Eagles Must Pursue After Preseason

The Philadelphia Eagles concluded their preseason schedule on Aug. 27, then cut down their roster to 53 players. But that was only the start of what turned out to be quite a busy time for the franchise since then.

NFL teams are always looking for ways to improve their roster, and the Eagles have been doing that. They traded wide receiver Jalen Reagor to the Minnesota Vikings and acquired safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson in a deal with the New Orleans Saints. They claimed quarterback Ian Book and running back Trey Sermon off waivers, and they signed a host of players (including running back La'Mical Perine) to their practice squad.

Is Philadelphia done making moves? That remains to be seen. Perhaps there's still time for the Eagles to make another addition or two before they open the 2022 season with a road matchup against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

With that in mind, here are several free-agent players who Philadelphia may want to consider targeting this week (or potentially further down the line).

Laquon Treadwell, WR

AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (18) runs a route during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

After trading Reagor, the Eagles have only four wide receivers on their active roster: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Quez Watkins and Zach Pascal. That's a strong group, but it's possible Philadelphia may want to add another playmaker for valuable depth.

Laquon Treadwell could be an enticing option. The six-year NFL veteran was recently released by the Jacksonville Jaguars, so he's currently seeking his next opportunity.

Treadwell is 27, so he may still have some productive seasons ahead of him. He's also coming off a 2021 campaign in which he recorded a career-high 434 yards on 33 receptions in 12 games with the Jags, his lone year with the team.

Even though Treadwell likely isn't better than any of the wide receivers currently on the Eagles' roster, teams never know what may happen over the course of a season. So having an experienced playmaker who could step in and contribute should a need arise would likely be valuable for Philadelphia.

Dazz Newsome, WR

Steph Chambers/Getty Images

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 18: Dazz Newsome #83 of the Chicago Bears warms up before the preseason game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Chicago Bears at Lumen Field on August 18, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Instead of going for a wide receiver like Treadwell, maybe the Eagles would rather get a younger developmental player for depth at the position. In that case, Dazz Newsome could be a good free-agent target for the team.

Newsome was waived by the Chicago Bears last month, but it would be a bit surprising if the 23-year-old doesn't land with a team in the near future. Over his two seasons in Chicago, Newsome mostly contributed on special teams, so he possibly has some untapped potential.

If Newsome ended up in Philadelphia, he could learn from a talented wide receiver such as Brown. But Newsome is also able to contribute in the return game, which could make him a valuable boost for the Eagles in that regard.

Even if Newsome never ends up as a top-tier wide receiver, he's a young player worth taking a flier on for an NFL team. And maybe he'll provide some important depth for Philadelphia, too.

Jarrod Wilson, S

Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 2: Jarrod Wilson #30 of the San Francisco 49ers defends during the game against the Houston Texans at Levi's Stadium on January 2, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers defeated the Texans 23-7. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)

The Eagles have a much different group of safeties than they had at the beginning of training camp. Not only did they trade for Gardner-Johnson, but they cut both Jaquiski Tartt and Anthony Harris (although they later signed Harris to the practice squad).

Even though Gardner-Johnson should provide a big boost at the back of the secondary, Philadelphia may still want to bring in another player to further improve its safety depth. If that's the case, Jarrod Wilson could be a low-cost option.

Wilson spent some time with the New York Giants in training camp last month, but he's been without a team for several weeks. However, the 28-year-old has played 84 games and made 33 starts in his six-year NFL career (most of it spent in Jacksonville), so he could be a solid backup in the secondary.

This wouldn't be a huge move for the Eagles, but they also don't need to make blockbuster signings at this final stage of the buildup to the season. The team just needs to keep finding ways to improve by adding depth, if at all possible.