Philadelphia Eagles' Final Free-Agency Outlook and Predictions
The Philadelphia Eagles are clearing a lot of space under the salary cap ahead of free agency opening on March 10. Are they preparing to make a huge splash in the market?
They certainly could be. No doubt, the Eagles will make at least one blockbuster signing during the upcoming free-agency period. They have glaring holes. They have plenty of money. The stars are all aligned for the Birds to make some exciting moves.
Of course, not all of that cap space will go to new players. The Eagles will probably re-sign one or two of their own. They have a bunch of young players entering the final season of their rookie contracts, such as defensive end Fletcher Cox and interior linebacker Mychal Kendricks, who warrant extensions this offseason. And, of course, you always want to leave a little breathing room under the cap and carry some money over to next season in case of a rainy day.
That being said, right about now, Philadelphia is being tied to big-ticket free agents at just about every one of its positions of need. With the market set to open one week from today, we break out the crystal ball and attempt to predict the Eagles’ every major move.
Jeremy Maclin Re-Signs
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There is some concern that Jeremy Maclin could reach the open market simply because a deal hasn’t happened yet, but ultimately the Eagles should be able to come to terms with the Pro Bowl wide receiver.
Maclin has reiterated time after time that he prefers to remain in Philadelphia, according to the Philadelphia Daily News' Les Bowen. The Eagles can’t afford to let a feature receiver walk away for a second offseason in a row. Getting the contract done should be a no-brainer.
That’s likely why the team didn’t feel the need to slap the franchise tag on Maclin before Monday’s deadline. Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reported last week that the two sides are not far apart in negotiations, so why complicate matters?
Based on the contracts of some of his peers, Maclin is likely looking at a long-term deal that pays him $9-10 million per season. After finishing in the top 10 in the NFL with 1,318 receiving yards (ninth) and 10 touchdowns (seventh), it’s hard to argue he isn’t worth that.
Byron Maxwell Signs Blockbuster Deal
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There’s going to be a lot of competition for Seattle Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell in free agency, and it’s going to take a lot of coin to lure him anywhere. That being said, the Eagles have the money, they have the need, and they have the wherewithal.
Cornerback is of the utmost concern for Philadelphia heading into free agency. Aside from fielding a pass defense that finished 32nd and 31st in the NFL in consecutive seasons, the Birds have just one corner signed beyond this season—2014 fourth-round pick Jaylen Watkins.
Signing Maxwell would potentially solve a lot of problems. He fits the mold the Eagles are searching for at 6’1”, 207 pounds. He’s only 27, which means his best days are ahead of him. He can line up outside the numbers or in the slot. And he has a championship pedigree coming from Seattle, which has been to two consecutive Super Bowls.
With so much interest on the open market, bidding could push Maxwell over $10 million per year, according to DraftInsider.net's Tony Pauline. He’s not a proven shutdown corner with just 17 career starts over four seasons, but he has shown the potential to develop into one. Either way, the Eagles have to do something at the position. Despite the huge payday, Maxwell just makes the most sense.
No doubt, Maxwell is hoping to get paid. Otherwise, he could’ve remained a Seahawk. The Eagles will be appealing, though, because not only can they afford to throw a lot of money at him, but they have the pieces in place to be a championship contender during his prime.
Eagles Pass on Devin McCourty
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Granted, there’s a new sheriff in town now that head coach Chip Kelly has final say on all personnel decisions. Still, what have you see from the Eagles over the past decade that makes you believe the team is going to invest a ton of money into the safety position?
Devin McCourty may be the exception to that rule. The two-time All-Pro would certainly be a huge upgrade over Nate Allen. At 5’10”, 195 pounds, McCourty is on the smaller side, but the converted corner is excellent in man-to-man coverage. He’ll be 28 in August as well, which means his best years are ahead of him.
Yet McCourty may not be merely the best safety on the open market. He may be the best free agent available, period, and he should have no problem reeling in a contract that pays him over $8 million annually, as ESPN.com's Mike Reiss estimates.
Times change, and the Eagles have plenty of money under the salary cap and a need at safety. Maybe they make a real splash and sign both Maxwell and McCourty. It could happen.
If the Eagles could only choose one or the other, cornerback seems like the far more pressing need. No doubt, the Birds will kick the tires on McCourty and see what kind of deal he’s looking for, but if I had to guess, they’ll choose to allocate those dollars elsewhere.
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Brandon Graham Ultimately Returns
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Outside linebacker has been an underrated need for Philadelphia entering this offseason. Trent Cole will be 33, and even if he renegotiates his insane contract to remain in the nest, he is getting a little long in the tooth for an every-down player. 2014 first-round pick Marcus Smith barely got on the field as a rookie, so you can’t count on him to start, either.
That leaves Brandon Graham, except he’s currently headed for free agency. Derrick Gunn of CSNPhilly.com reported back in December that the Eagles offered the heir apparent a four-year deal worth $6.2 annually with $11 million guaranteed. Graham was said to be looking for $7.5 million per year with $20 million guaranteed and was expected to test the market.
Graham will dip his toe in the water, but he’s going to have a hard time finding any team that will give him that much guaranteed money. And when you start to bridge the gap there, you realize the two sides really aren’t all that far apart.
Graham’s return makes sense for both sides. The 2010 first-round pick should finally have an opportunity to start in 2015, so if the money is good, why not stay? From the Eagles’ point of view, they’ll have to go out and sign a replacement anyway, so why not keep the guy they are comfortable with, who also happens to be an important special teams contributor?
He’ll test free agency and see if anybody is willing to blow him away, but Graham is unlikely to get swept off his feet coming off a career year of 5.5 sacks. Ultimately, the Eagles should win out.
Right Guard Goes Unaddressed
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When Todd Herremans was released last week, the immediate assumption was the Eagles may go out and sign a free agent to replace the right guard. I’m not so convinced that’s the case.
Philadelphia has quite a few potential replacements already on the roster. Andrew Gardner started the final six games of 2014 at right guard in place of the injured Herremans. Allen Barbre was already on injured reserve at the time, but it may not be a coincidence the swingman signed a three-year contract extension the previous offseason. Matt Tobin disappointed in his first NFL playing time last season but could still be in the mix.
Not only that, but there’s little doubt the Eagles will make a push to take an offensive guard in this year’s draft. A player taken in any of Rounds 1, 2 or 3 could potentially compete with any of Gardner, Barbre or Tobin for a starting job this season.
Add in the fact that while the Eagles did save $2.8 million with Herremans’ release, they also ate $2.4 million in dead money against the cap for this coming year, according to Spotrac. The club seemingly has plenty of cap space, but is it prepared to allocate that much more money to one position with so many other options available?
My guess is not, but we’ll see. Free agency is an exciting time where anything can happen. If the Eagles see an opportunity to upgrade without breaking the bank, they will. In this case, however, it may not be entirely necessary.
Salary-cap info courtesy of Spotrac.
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