Philadelphia Eagles: Who Stays and Who Goes in 2015 Free Agency?
The big news for the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency this offseason will be veteran wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, a six-year pro coming off a Pro Bowl berth. How the team handles the Maclin situation will directly impact Chip Kelly’s draft strategy going forward as well as the approach to the remaining free agents.
In all, there are 10 players on the Eagles hitting free agency. Maclin will remain the team’s biggest priority, and what kind of a contract he gets will give a more clear explanation as to how much free money Philadelphia has to spend before exceeding the 2015 salary cap.
Per Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk, the league salary cap will likely reach close to $145 million this year. Over the Cap currently projects the Eagles to be around $140 million in money committed to 2015 cap hits, although this figure can certainly be adjusted with veteran releases.
Based on the depth at the current positions and what kind of a contract the player will get, here’s a guess as to what the Eagles will do with their free agents.
*Contract figures are per OvertheCap.com.
Jeremy Maclin
1 of 10
Jeremy Maclin is by far the most important free agent to the Philadelphia Eagles. Re-signing him seems like an easy decision, considering the 26-year-old set career highs in receptions (85), yards (1,318) and touchdowns (10), while dropping just one pass on 140 targets.
But it seems like contract talks between Maclin and the Eagles have stalled, per Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com.
Letting Maclin walk would be a colossal mistake for this franchise. The Eagles just let go of DeSean Jackson last offseason; to do so again with another Pro Bowl receiver would force Jordan Matthews into the No. 1 receiver role.
Then again, there is always a chance the Eagles could franchise Maclin, although a one-year deal would be expensive.
"Something to keep in mind w/Jeremy Maclin. He doesn’t become a free agent in March unless #Eagles want him to. They can use franchise tag.
— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) January 24, 2015
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Because of Maclin's importance to this offense—he was arguably the most valuable player to this team in 2014—expect a new deal to be worked out, something that pays Maclin around $10 million per season for the next five years.
The Call: Stay
Mark Sanchez
2 of 10
Mark Sanchez took a lot of heat for the Philadelphia Eagles’ late-season collapse in 2014, but the reality is that his play on the field was impressive for a New York Jets castoff signed to be a backup behind Nick Foles.
Sanchez set single-season highs in completion percentage, yards per attempt and passer rating, and his 4-4 record as a starter wasn’t too bad, considering the level of competition the team played. Whether he comes back to the Eagles in ’15 depends largely on if the organization drafts a quarterback this spring.
If Chip Kelly grabs Marcus Mariota or Brett Hundley, then Sanchez would be the third-string guy behind Foles and the rookie. That’s not a feasible scenario for Sanchez, who will likely look to start somewhere or come back as the backup to an offense he knows.
Realistically, Sanchez will go to one of the quarterback-needy teams like the Cleveland Browns or Buffalo Bills (where he would be reunited with Rex Ryan).
The Call: Go
Brandon Graham
3 of 10
Despite having just 17 sacks in five NFL seasons, former first-round pick Brandon Graham is going to get paid handsomely in the open market. Graham registered 5.5 sacks as a part-time player in 2014, and his 39 quarterback hurries in just 542 snaps helped him rate as Pro Football Focus' fourth-best overall 3-4 outside linebacker.
Graham’s status will depend on what the organization does with the veteran Trent Cole; Cole is a 10-year veteran set to earn $11.6 million in 2015, and he’s either going to take a pay cut or be released. If Cole restructures his deal, he’ll start opposite Connor Barwin, and the Philadelphia Eagles will likely let Graham walk. If Cole is cut, the Eagles will make an offer to Graham.
Either way though, the Eagles won’t likely be able to afford Graham. Minnesota Vikings end Everson Griffen was a situational player for several seasons then was rewarded with a five-year, $42.5 million deal to be a starter for the team. He recorded 12 sacks as a full-time player.
It’s reasonable to think Graham will get a similar deal, with the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys both looking like logical fits.
The Call: Go
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Chris Polk
4 of 10
Chris Polk is a restricted free agent who is in no way a guarantee to return for the 2015 season despite a strong year as a goal-line runner for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Per NJ.com’s Eliot Shorr-Parks, expect Polk’s salary offer to be in the range of $1.4 million to $2.1 million next year. That’s a lot to pay for a third running back, especially considering what LeSean McCoy ($11.9 million) and Darren Sproles ($4.1 million) are set to earn.
Still, it seems logical the Eagles will keep Polk. Giving him carries at the goal line over McCoy suggests the team really likes him. He’s a bruising north-south runner who can pick up the tough yards.
The Call: Stay
Bradley Fletcher
5 of 10
Last year, Bradley Fletcher turned in one of the worst seasons by a cornerback in recent years, setting a Pro Football Focus record (statistics date back to 2007) with 1,072 passing yards surrendered. He led his position by allowing nine touchdowns, and he was particularly exposed in matchups with Jordy Nelson and Dez Bryant.
Letting Fletcher walk should be the easiest decision by the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason, but remarkably, there’s been some talk that the team wants him back.
"According to http://t.co/ztmmTXOsAe, the #Eagles told Bradley Fletcher at the end of this season that they would like him to return
— Eagles Nation (@PHLEaglesNation) January 16, 2015
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When asked by the media how Fletcher played this season, Chip Kelly gave his full support.
Still, don’t expect Fletcher to be back. That was likely just coachspeak. Fletcher very nearly cost Billy Davis his defensive coordinator job, and he did cost the team a playoff spot. He’ll be lucky to get a backup job somewhere else.
The Call: Go
Nate Allen
6 of 10
Bringing back Nate Allen wouldn’t be the end of the world. He played surprisingly well down the stretch, leading all safeties in interceptions (four) from Week 10 on, per PFF. He is a fine third safety and knows the system well.
Whether Allen comes back will depend on how the Eagles approach the draft. Malcolm Jenkins is locked in as the one starter, and it’s likely the team drafts another safety. Allen could be the third safety, or it could be 2013 fifth-rounder Earl Wolff, who spent this past season on injured reserve.
The Call: Stay
Casey Matthews
7 of 10
When DeMeco Ryans tore his Achilles tendon this year, Casey Matthews held his own for 11 starts. He had 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and 31 tackles, and the Philadelphia Eagles made it easier on Matthews by subbing him out frequently for a nickel cornerback or extra pass-rusher.
Matthews is a free agent, and while it’s almost surprising that he survived all four years on the Eagles, there’s a good chance he returns for Year 5. The market will be minimal for Matthews, and he did happen to attend the University of Oregon back in the day. With Ryans a likely veteran cut, expect Matthews to return for depth and special teams help.
The Call: Stay
Cedric Thornton
8 of 10
Like Chris Polk, Cedric Thornton is a third-year player who is a restricted free agent. Thornton isn’t flashy, but he’s a solid contributor as a starter on the defensive line. Thornton offers very little as a pass-rusher, although he’s one of the finest run-stoppers in the league.
If the Philadelphia Eagles don’t make an offer to Thornton, they will simply move pass-rushing specialist Vinny Curry (nine sacks in 2014) to a starting role opposite Fletcher Cox. Still, it makes sense to retain Thornton. He won’t cost too much, and he’s a valuable piece of a defense that finished fifth in the NFL in average yards allowed per rushing attempt.
The Call: Stay
Brad Smith
9 of 10
As a wide receiver, Brad Smith doesn’t have a role in this offense. He caught just one pass for 11 yards, and the Philadelphia Eagles too frequently use two-tight end sets to feature Brad Smith.
His outstanding contribution on special teams is what could bring Smith back; this year, he scored a touchdown on a blocked punt return score. But special teams in themselves won’t be enough to keep Smith around.
The Call: Go
Jeff Maehl
10 of 10
Jeff Maehl is in a similar situation to Brad Smith; he’s a little-used wide receiver who would have to make next year’s roster via his special teams success. The Philadelphia Eagles will likely draft a receiver though, and there doesn’t appear to be a need to retain Maehl’s services.
The Call: Go
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