3 Contracts Eagles Must Prioritize in 2023 Offseason

The Philadelphia Eagles are still in the hunt to win the championship, but there are those in the front office whose job it is to already be thinking about how to keep this team together.

The Eagles are obviously a well-constructed team based on their run to the NFC title game this season. However, the league is set up to make it challenging to continue to field elite teams, and the Eagles will feel the pressure this offseason with some difficult choices.

The 2022 offseason was marked by multiple acquisitions that ended up contributing to the team's massive success. From trading for A.J. Brown to signing Kyzir White and drafting Jordan Davis, the team made several good additions.

This offseason is going to be about player retention.

As the offseason approaches, here are the three players whose contracts must be prioritized.

CB James Bradberry

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 16: James Bradberry #24 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on October 16, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

The fact the Eagles had the third-best quarterback rating allowed of any defense in the league is thanks in no small part to the addition of James Bradberry. The Eagles made the New York Giants pay for the decision to part ways with the veteran corner.

Bradberry had a career year registering three picks, but he also held opposing quarterbacks to a 45.3 completion percentage and 51.6 passer rating when targeting him in coverage. Playing alongside Darius Slay, teams have had to pick their poison if they want to throw to outside receivers.

Getting a deal done with Bradberry is going to take some cap gymnastics. The 29-year-old is projected to command a three-year, $51.6 million contract by Spotrac. The Eagles will start the offseason with just $5 million in cap space.

Obviously, there's a lot they can do about it. Restructures, cuts and trades all have the ability to create more room for the next season.

Bradberry is worth the investment to put more money onto the 2024 payroll to make sure they continue to have Slay and Bradberry on the outside.

S C.J. Gardner-Johnson

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 21: C.J. Gardner-Johnson #23 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts against the New York Giants during the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 21, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

The trade to bring A.J. Brown to Philly is the one that gets all the attention. The trade that brought C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Eagles' secondary was important too, though.

Gardner-Johnson has elevated his game to a new level this season. After three years in New Orleans, he has been the missing piece that has transformed the secondary into a formidable unit.

In 12 games this season, he has six interceptions, eight passes defended, a sack and five tackles for loss.

Perhaps most importantly, his versatility has allowed them to work through some injuries. He has primarily played safety, but with Avonte Maddox getting hurt, he has shown that he can play in the slot too.

The best example of Gardner-Johnson's worth to the team might be their performance while he was recovering from a lacerated kidney. The Eagles were 3-2 in the five games he missed and 11-1 in the 12 games he played.

If Gardner-Johnson walks in free agency, it's going to be difficult to find someone who can play the roles he does in the Eagles' defense with the same passion and energy.

DT Javon Hargrave

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 04: Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (97) warms up during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Philadelphia Eagles on December 4, 2022 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

There's a case to be made that the Eagles have the most talented defensive front in the NFL. However, several of them are set to hit free agency.

Philadelphia only has so much cap space, and with Javon Hargrave, Fletcher Cox, Robert Quinn, Brandon Graham, Ndamukong Suh, Linval Joseph all set to hit the market, they will be saying goodbye to more of them than they retain.

Of all of the important players up for a new deal, Hargrave is the most important. While players like Cox and Graham have been lynchpins for the franchise for a long time, both are well over 30 years old.

Cox was released briefly last offseason before signing a new contract. Graham is nearly 35 years old and could be a candidate for retirement.

Meanwhile, Hargrave is still just 29 years old and has the pass-rushing chops to elevate the whole defensive line. His 11 sacks were third among interior defenders. Only Chris Jones (15.5) and Daron Payne (11.5) had more.

The Eagles have some young players who are going to have to step up next season. Milton Williams and Jordan Davis are among them. But neither can offer the same skill set as Hargrave, and he should be able to continue to produce for the life of at least one more contract.