Weighing the Pros and Cons of Philadelphia Eagles' Top Free-Agent Targets
It’s beginning to look like this could be a big, expensive free-agency period for the Philadelphia Eagles.
The reported releases of cornerback Cary Williams and linebacker Trent Cole on Tuesday in addition to the anticipated trade of running back LeSean McCoy combined to save the Birds roughly $25 million in 2015, bringing the club to a grand total of $46 million under the salary cap, according to Eliot Shorr-Parks for NJ.com.
No doubt, the Eagles will push some of that coin toward their efforts to re-sign wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and linebacker Brandon Graham. That money could also go a long way toward extending defensive end Fletcher Cox and linebacker Mychal Kendricks, budding stars entering the final year of their rookie contracts.
Even if the Eagles manage to do all of that, quite a bit will be left over to dabble in free agency.
The club still won’t be able to sign every single free agent it may take a liking to. Decisions will have to be made, not just on players, but on certain positions. You can’t build an entire team through free agency. You can’t build an entire team in one free-agent class.
With that in mind, we take a look at a potential top target for Philadelphia at each of its positions of need as free agency approaches less than a week away on March 10.
We look at the pros and cons of each player and offer some sound advice as to whether or not it will ultimately be worth the Eagles blowing some of the huge stash they’ve managed to hoard.
Byron Maxwell
1 of 7
Pros
The crown jewel of free agency for Philadelphia is Byron Maxwell, a 6’1”, 207-pound cornerback from the Seattle Seahawks. Maxwell has the ideal size and length the Eagles prefer on the outside.
The versatile defensive back can line up outside the numbers or in the slot. He tackles well and makes plays on the football, recording 24 pass breakups and six interceptions over the past two seasons.
His experience in big games is a huge plus for a franchise where the playoffs are not just a goal, but an expectation. Maxwell is 27.
Cons
Maxwell only has 17 starts under his belt, and he barely played his first two seasons in the NFL. He has played well, but not to the level of a shutdown corner, ranking 25th out of 73 corners in opposing passer rating in 2014, according to metrics site Pro Football Focus.
He didn’t grade particularly well in run support, either. All of that seems relevant seeing as the fourth-year player could command upward of $10 million per year—a drawback in its own right.
It's impossible to know how much Maxwell benefited from playing in a historically great defense while surrounded by three All-Pros in the secondary.
Final Verdict
With both starters departing and only one cornerback under contract beyond 2015, this is something the Eagles almost have to do in spite of the cost. If Philly fans are expecting Richard Sherman 2.0, they’ll likely wind up disappointed, but Maxwell certainly has the potential to be a No. 1 cornerback.
There will no doubt be a bidding war for his services, but the Birds have plenty of cap space and a good reputation around the league.
Alternatives
Perrish Cox, SF; Chris Culliver, SF; Davon House, GB
Devin McCourty
2 of 7
Pros
A two-time second-team All-Pro, Devin McCourty would instantly fill the Eagles’ void at safety alongside Malcolm Jenkins. A converted cornerback, McCourty is good in man-to-man coverage—a must for Philadelphia’s scheme—ranking seventh out of 60 safeties in 2014 in coverage-snaps per reception, a Pro Football Focus statistic.
He also tackles well. The soon-to-be 28-year-old has only missed three games in five NFL seasons. Like Maxwell, McCourty is used to winning and has played in plenty of big games.
Cons
At 5’10”, 195 pounds, McCourty is admittedly a shade smaller than the Eagles prefer for the secondary, though 32-inch arms might make that easier to overlook.
He hasn’t been a huge playmaker the past two seasons with just 15 pass breakups, three interceptions and one forced fumble, perhaps partly as a result of his reputation.
As one of the top players in all of free agency, McCourty figures to command some serious coin, a concern at a position the Eagles previously have been hesitant to spend big.
Final Verdict
I thought the Eagles would pass on springing for McCourty, but they have so much space under the salary cap, and safety is such a huge need, it suddenly seems far more plausible.
There’s a lot less projecting with an established player like McCourty than there is with Maxwell, but corner is the bigger hole. If they can add both for the right price, it would go a long way toward rebuilding one of the league’s worst secondaries. If it doesn’t work out with McCourty, Rahim Moore is a decent, less expensive fallback plan.
Alternatives
Kendrick Lewis, HOU; Rahim Moore, DEN; Ron Parker, KC
Jason Worilds
3 of 7
Pros
Unlike Trent Cole or Brandon Graham, Jason Worilds is a true outside linebacker made for a 3-4 defense. At 6’2”, 262 pounds, Worilds has plenty of bulk on his frame. He already has five years in the NFL, yet he is only 27.
Worilds doesn’t excel in any one area, but he is good at everything. He’s solid against the run, comfortable dropping into coverage and can get after the quarterback, registering 15.5 sacks over the past two seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Cons
Posting 15.5 sacks over two seasons isn’t bad, but it’s not outstanding production from your “predator” outside linebacker, either, which has primarily been a pass-rushing position with Cole and Graham over there.
Worilds isn’t a huge playmaker in general with just one interception and four forced fumbles for his career. 2014 is the first time he’s ever started 16 games in a season, so you wonder what took the former second-round pick so long to develop.
Final Verdict
This really depends on what the Eagles want out of the position. If they want the predator to rush the passer three-quarters of the time as they have the past two seasons, the club would be better off trying to retain Graham, who is an extremely productive pass-rusher in spite of limited playing time.
If the Eagles want to be more flexible with their scheme and make offenses guess which linebacker is coming on any given play, Worilds can certainly help create confusion. Unless you expect Connor Barwin to go for double-digit sacks again, I think Philadelphia needs an intimidating pass-rusher more, but with Graham set to test free agency, it’s not necessarily up to the Eagles.
Alternatives
Pernell McPhee, BAL; Brian Orakpo, WAS; Jabaal Sheard, CLE
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Torrey Smith
4 of 7
Pros
Torrey Smith is one of the premier deep threats in the NFL. While Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper can make plays down the field, Smith can stretch a defense more similarly to how DeSean Jackson did for so many years in Philadelphia.
Smith also has a nose for the end zone, hauling in 30 touchdowns in four seasons. He is only 26 and has never missed a game due to injury as a professional.
Cons
For all his talent, Smith has never been consistently productive. The Baltimore Ravens wideout has just one 1,000-yard season, and ’14 was his lowest output for receptions (49), yards (767) and yards per catch (15.7).
Those are all nice totals—but not worth overpaying for in free agency. Smith has great speed but only average size at 6’0”, 205 pounds, so there’s no reason to believe he’ll ever develop into an unstoppable force.
Final Verdict
Wide receiver should really only be a concern for the Eagles if they’re unable to get Jeremy Maclin re-signed, and if that’s the case, I’m not sure how much Smith would really lessen the blow.
As far as a No. 2 to replace Riley Cooper, they already have so much money tied up there, and cutting Cooper doesn’t create any relief. A receiving corps of Maclin, Jordan Matthews and Cooper platooning with Josh Huff should be more than fine.
Alternatives
Randall Cobb, GB; Michael Crabtree, SF; Cecil Shorts, JAC
Orlando Franklin
5 of 7
Pros
Graded as the top offensive guard in free agency by Pro Football Focus, Orlando Franklin would seemingly fit in Philadelphia. Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland actually worked with Franklin at the University of Miami.
Franklin is absolutely massive at 6’7”, 320 pounds. The 27-year-old offensive guard has only missed one start in four NFL seasons.
Cons
Franklin graded second among all guards in Pro Football Focus' pass-protection score, but who knows what that means, as no quarterback gets rid of the ball faster than Peyton Manning, thus making the job relatively easy. Not really a flaw with Franklin, but Philadelphia already has a ton of cap space allocated to the offensive line.
Final Verdict
Do the Eagles even need to go out and sign a guard? We asked that very question last week, and the answer is probably not. Andrew Gardner started the final six games of 2014 and wasn’t a complete disaster, the club signed swingman Allen Barbre to a three-year extension just last offseason and another player is likely to be added into the mix via the draft.
Franklin is by far the best option for ’15, but you can’t fill all of your needs through free agency. Maybe sit this one out.
Alternatives
Clint Boling, CIN; James Carpenter, SEA; Mike Iupati, SF
Shane Vereen
6 of 7
Pros
Shane Vereen is a versatile back who can beat defenses on the ground or through the air. With the New England Patriots, he’s been doing more of the latter.
The fourth-year back carried 140 times for 599 yards and three touchdowns, and he hauled in 99 receptions for 874 yards and six touchdowns in 24 games over the past two seasons as a part-time player. Vereen is only 26 and has a solid build at 5’10”, 205 pounds.
Cons
Vereen is unproven as an every-down back and may not have the build to withstand the pounding over 16 games plus playoffs—if that would be the team’s intention. He’s fumbled twice in 324 career touches, which isn’t obscene, but is certainly unexceptional.
Final Verdict
With shocking reports LeSean McCoy has been traded, the Eagles are suddenly in the market for a starting running back. However, there is no hard evidence Vereen can be that guy. The team already has Darren Sproles and doesn’t necessarily need another player who specializes as a pass-catcher.
If the price is right, Vereen would be a nice add but would likely signal some type of committee with Sproles and Chris Polk.
Alternatives
Mark Ingram, NO; DeMarco Murray, DAL; C.J. Spiller, BUF
Jake Locker
7 of 7
Pros
Jake Locker is the prototypical athlete to run head coach Chip Kelly’s offense. He’s 6’3”, 223 pounds with a rocket arm and sub-4.6 speed—his time in the 40-yard dash, courtesy of NFL.com.
Locker turns 27 this year, so there’s still ample time to turn his career around. The fourth-year passer has 23 professional starts under his belt.
Cons
Where to begin? Accuracy—arguably the most important attribute for a quarterback—has been an issue for Locker dating all the way back to college, and even slight improvement would make him merely passable in this department.
He has had trouble staying healthy, partly as a result of poor pocket presence and a penchant to run. Locker’s record as an NFL starter for the Tennessee Titans is 9-14 with a career 79.0 passer rating.
Final Verdict
If Kelly is seeking another reclamation project in the mold of a Mark Sanchez, Locker’s athleticism might be enticing. If Kelly wants a backup who is proven capable of actually winning a few games when called upon, the Eagles would be better served trying to lure Sanchez back.
Seeing as that’s unlikely to happen—and no surprise, there aren’t many options in free agency—Locker might be the best choice to push third-year signal-caller Matt Barkley for the No. 2 job.
Alternatives
Brian Hoyer, CLE; Ryan Mallett, HOU; Christian Ponder, MIN
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