Eagles' Team Needs to Fill in 2023 NFL Free Agency
The Philadelphia Eagles are loaded with talent at key positions all over the field. They have a franchise quarterback (Jalen Hurts), a true No. 1 wide receiver (A.J. Brown), a lockdown cornerback (Darius Slay) and more.
But the Eagles aren't set at every position at this early juncture of the offseason, especially because they could lose some notable players in free agency.
Philadelphia is in a good position, though, as it comes off a 2022 season in which it won the NFC title and reached Super Bowl LVII. As long as it makes the right moves this offseason, they should be a championship contender again in the 2023 campaign.
Here's a look at the Eagles' biggest needs they have to address as they head into free agency, which begins March 15.
Cornerback
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Philadelphia may have Slay as one of the leaders of its secondary, but it doesn't have much cornerback depth behind him. James Bradberry is about to become a free agent, so the Eagles could be losing one of their starting CBs from the 2022 season.
Although some cornerbacks are set to return, such as Avonte Maddox and K'Von Wallace, Philadelphia can't go into the 2023 season without adding another starting-caliber CB. So it will need to either sign one during free agency or target one during the 2023 NFL draft.
The Eagles are projected to have about $6.3 million in available cap space (per Over The Cap), and they should be able to create more room. It may be worthwhile for them to bring in a cornerback as their biggest move of free agency, considering their secondary could also be losing safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who will be a free agent.
Bradberry is likely to sign a sizable deal after a strong 2022 season in which he notched three interceptions and started all 17 games for Philadelphia. While the Eagles would likely be best off trying to bring him back, they need to be wise with their limited financial flexibility. Either way, they need to find a way to acquire a CB who can start opposite Slay on their defense.
Running Back
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Another key Philadelphia player set to hit the free-agent market is running back Miles Sanders. And like Bradberry, the 25-year-old RB is poised to sign a large contract after he rushed for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns (both career highs) this past season.
Boston Scott is also set to become a free agent, leaving Kenneth Gainwell, Trey Sermon and Kennedy Brooks as the remaining running backs on the Eagles' roster. For a team that runs the ball a ton, they need to upgrade that unit this offseason.
The best move could be for Philadelphia to try to draft a top running back (such as Texas' Bijan Robinson) with one of its two first-round picks. But the team should also at least explore the free-agent market for potential options.
If the Eagles can land a talented running back (or find a way to get Sanders to return), their offense should be set up to continue to have plenty of success moving forward.
Wide Receiver
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With A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in its receiving corps, Philadelphia has two talented playmakers for quarterback Jalen Hurts to throw the ball to. But the Eagles don't have much depth behind that pair, which could prove to be a problem as defenses game plan to limit Brown and Smith.
Zach Pascal is set to become a free agent. Quez Watkins underperformed this last season. Other wide receivers still on Philadelphia's roster are much less proven.
The Eagles shouldn't spend big on a wide receiver, as Brown and Smith are a reliable duo to anchor the unit. It wouldn't make sense for them to sign a top-tier WR when they have more pressing needs. Plus, there aren't a ton of star receivers hitting free agency this offseason.
Still, by adding more depth at wide receiver, Philadelphia's offense could reach another level. It also needs to have more capable players behind Brown and Smith in case either gets injured at any point in the future.
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